From: Sandy Petersen (sandyp@idgecko.idsoftware.com)
Date: Tue 03 Oct 1995 - 23:04:17 EET
>A possibility is that of conducting electricity. I'm sure that
>dwarves have batteries and rudimentary electronics. Gold is used in
>cable on Earth for its conductivity.
I don't believe that there is any such thing as electricity
in Glorantha. Lightning bolts are the natural result of the
unnatural hybridization of fire and storm -- thus, they are hot and
fierce like fire, and randomly violent like storms. You notice they
only ever are found during storms? And that they are exceedingly
loud, like most Storm stuff? Contrariwise, fire deities are usually
reasonably quiet, except for other hybrids, like Lodril's earth-like
nature.
Gold dwarfs have lots of uses for gold.
1) As everyone knows, gold when properly treated will glow.
It thus serves as a non-diminishing source of light. In areas that
it is inconvenient to use the usual dwarf light source (little
channels or bowls containing flowing lava -- literally, lava lamps),
gold is very handy.
2) Gold is extremely heavy. When a heavy weight is needed
that cannot be too large, gold is perfect. Thus, gold timing
mechanisms are common in dwarf devices.
3) Gold does not corrode because of its moral purity. If
you need a metal to endure in a hostile environment, gold, once
again, is useful.
4) Gold is the most malleable metal.For this reason, it can
be hammered into leaf to plate a non-metal item, or be rolled into
exceedingly thin wires. For detail work, gold is best.
5) As everyone knows, gold is the best metal to use in
making machines to edify or teach, because it stimulates the mind.
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