Provings

Provings, like many elements of dwarven life, are unique to the dwarven race. To a casual observer a Proving match between dwarves may appear mere bloodsport but to dwarves the Provings embody far more. Provings are duels between dwarves held in the arena in the Orzammar Commons known as the Proving Grounds. When dwarves do battle in the arena it is a matter of great honor. The outcome of a Proving is believed to represent the favor of the dwarven Ancestors, those venerable dwarves of ages past whom all dwarves revere.

With Provings embodying the will of the Ancestors, the matches take on great gravity and are therefore used as a means to settle disputes of honor, vengeance, debates in the Orzammar Assembly, and conflicts between noble houses, among other reasons.

Any dwarf may fight in a Proving but typically noble houses choose champions from the Warrior Caste.

Provings are not explicitly fought to the death but that is often the outcome as it is commonly believed better for a single dwarf to die to settle a dispute to avoid greater bloodshed and death.

Provings have over time evolved into a form of entertainment, as demonstrated by the number of Proving fans one can witness loitering in the Orzammar Provings Grounds during Dragon Age: Origins. The Warrior Caste holds tournaments in which outsiders may sometimes fight.

Lower caste dwarves typically do not participate in Provings unless their honor is at stake, and Casteless are not allowed to participate at all, as dwarves believe their presence would insult the Ancestors.

The great gladiatorial battles of the ancient Tevinter Imperium are based on this dwarven tradition.

Types of Provings

 * Honor Provings: The most typical proving in which combatants fight for the honor of a particular person, house, cause, or in order to settle a dispute.


 * Memorial Provings: Held in the memory of a person.


 * Celebratory Provings: A Proving held to celebrate an event.


 * Glory Provings and Grand Provings: These are presumably more prestigious Provings but the circumstances under which they occur have not been fully revealed.


 * Unregulated Provings: In Dragon Age: Origins the Warden and their companions may enter secret unregulated Provings against a wide range of enemies.


 * "Trials of Blood": Each year the best fighters in Orzammar meet for the Trials of Blood, a great tournament that crowns the kingdom's best and most popular fighter.