Book of Names

A Book of Names is a sacred book kept by dwarves. There are many types of these books from individual books up to massive clan books. They record the names and deeds of their owners as well as those of their relatives and sometimes their friends. The purpose of these books is to ensure the memories of those recorded within endure. Dwarves believe that the quality of their afterlife is determined by how well they are remembered by the living and will commonly recite the names from their personal book of names before rest each night. Heads of dwarven families recite names and stories to the family weekly and on certain festival days and clans have sects of monks known as Namespeakers who spend their days reciting from their clan books.

The most severe punishment that can be visited upon a dwarf is to have their name stricken from the book of names, potentially dooming them to oblivion.