Surface Dwarves
Surface Dwarves are a sub-group of dwarves who have chosen to live above ground, often in human or mixed-race cities rather than the traditional underground strongholds. They are seen as outcasts by their underground kin, viewed as having abandoned the ancient ways and traditions. Surface Dwarves typically adapt more easily to other cultures, adopting elements of human and elven society while still retaining some dwarven traits, such as their skill in craftsmanship and their resilient, stocky build. They often work as merchants, artisans, or traders, and while they are generally more open-minded and cosmopolitan, they struggle with the stigma from their underground relatives who see them as having betrayed their heritage.
Naming Traditions
Feminine names
Surface Dwarves often choose names that reflect a blend of traditional dwarven strength and the influences of the cultures they live among. Some feminine names include:
Elara
Brin
Kara
Mira
Thalia
These names are typically shorter and easier to pronounce, reflecting their adaptation to surface life and interaction with other races, while still retaining a touch of their dwarven heritage.
Masculine names
Surface Dwarves often select masculine names that are a blend of traditional dwarven and more common surface culture influences.
Examples include:
Garin
Thorn
Brek
Durin
Lorin
These names maintain a rugged, strong sound that honors their dwarven roots while being more adaptable to the broader cultures they interact with on the surface.
Unisex names
Surface Dwarves often choose unisex names that are versatile and can be used regardless of gender.
Examples include:
Arin
Korin
Tarin
Bryn
Fen
These names are simple yet strong, reflecting the adaptability and practicality of Surface Dwarves, while still holding onto a sense of their dwarven heritage.
Family names
Surface Dwarves often adopt more simplified or altered versions of traditional dwarven family names, reflecting their integration into broader societies and their departure from the deep traditions of their underground kin. Some examples include:
Stonewalker: Reflecting their choice to live above ground.
Hillforge: A nod to their roots in craftsmanship, but acknowledging their new environment.
Brightstone: Indicating a connection to light and the open sky, contrasting with underground darkness.
Ironfoot: Suggesting resilience and adaptability in their new, less familiar surroundings.
Riverstone: Combining the solidity of stone with the fluidity and movement associated with surface life.
These names often reflect a blend of their dwarven heritage with their new lifestyle and environment, serving as a bridge between their past and present identities.
Other names
Surface Dwarves might also use names that reflect their new life on the surface, combining elements of nature, geography, or their professions. These names often deviate more from traditional dwarven naming conventions:
Leaf
Ash
Stone
Glen
Harbor
These names can serve as either first names or surnames, reflecting the Surface Dwarves' connection to their new environment and way of life. They often symbolize their integration into broader societies, embracing elements of the natural world or their new roles within surface communities.
Culture
Major language groups and dialects
Surface Dwarves primarily speak a version of Dwarvish that has been influenced by the languages of the surface races they interact with, such as Common, Elvish, and occasionally Human regional dialects.
Major Language Groups and Dialects
Surface Dwarvish
Description: A dialect of traditional Dwarvish adapted with loanwords and phrases from Common and other surface languages. It retains the core structure of Dwarvish but is more flexible and easier for non-dwarves to understand. Usage: Commonly spoken among Surface Dwarves in mixed-race communities, especially in trade and social interactions.Trade-Tongue
Description: A simplified version of Surface Dwarvish that heavily incorporates Common and other trade languages. It is optimized for commerce and quick communication across different cultures. Usage: Used in markets, trade routes, and by Surface Dwarves who frequently deal with non-dwarven merchants and travelers.Hill-Speak
Description: A dialect spoken by Surface Dwarves living in rural or isolated communities, blending Dwarvish with local human dialects. It often includes unique phrases and terminology related to farming, hunting, and rural life. Usage: Found in smaller, more traditional Surface Dwarf settlements, particularly those in hilly or mountainous regions. These dialects reflect the adaptability of Surface Dwarves, blending their ancestral language with the influences of their new environments and the cultures they interact with regularly.Culture and cultural heritage
Surface Dwarves maintain a deep connection to their dwarven heritage while integrating the influences of the surface cultures around them. They honor traditional dwarven values such as resilience, craftsmanship, and community, but they also embrace adaptability and innovation from their new environments.
Cultural Heritage
Craftsmanship remains at the heart of Surface Dwarven culture. They continue to produce high-quality goods, blending traditional dwarven techniques with new materials and designs inspired by surface cultures. Storytelling is vital, with Surface Dwarves often sharing tales of their ancestors and great dwarven heroes, as well as their own adventures and experiences on the surface. These stories are passed down through generations, ensuring the survival of their rich history. Festivals and rituals celebrate both traditional dwarven events and local customs adopted from their new neighbors. For example, they might celebrate the founding of a settlement alongside a harvest festival common to the area they live in. Music and dance incorporate both traditional dwarven instruments, like the drum and the horn, and surface instruments, creating a unique fusion that reflects their dual identity.Cultural Adaptation
Surface Dwarves have become more open to cultural exchange, often learning new trades, languages, and customs from humans, elves, and other races they interact with. They are known for their ability to integrate these new elements while still preserving their core dwarven identity. Their architecture, art, and cuisine reflect this blend of old and new, showcasing their adaptability and respect for their surroundings while still honoring their roots. Despite their integration into surface societies, Surface Dwarves remain proud of their dwarven ancestry and continue to uphold the traditions and values that define them as a people.Shared customary codes and values
Surface Dwarves adhere to a blend of traditional dwarven values and the more open-minded customs of the societies they live in. Key shared values include resilience, adaptability, and craftsmanship, with a strong emphasis on maintaining one’s word and honouring commitments. Honesty and loyalty are deeply ingrained, and Surface Dwarves expect these traits in their relationships and communities.
Customary codes include showing respect for others’ work and skills, regardless of their origin, and maintaining a strong work ethic. Surface Dwarves also value community involvement and often participate in local events, contributing their skills and labour. While they respect their dwarven heritage, they are open to cultural exchange and often adopt beneficial practices from other races, blending them with their own traditions. Independence is also prized, with an emphasis on self-sufficiency while still supporting the wider community.
Average technological level
Surface Dwarves have attained a technological level that combines traditional dwarven engineering with innovations influenced by their surface environment. They excel in advanced metallurgy, creating durable tools and weapons adapted for various climates. They've developed efficient agricultural techniques suited for surface farming, incorporating irrigation systems and crop rotation. Surface Dwarves are also skilled in fortification architecture, designing sturdy yet adaptable structures that can withstand both natural elements and potential threats. They've integrated wind and water mills into their settlements for energy and production, and their craftsmanship in clockwork mechanisms has led to the creation of intricate devices like automated gates and complex locks. Overall, Surface Dwarves maintain high standards in practical, durable, and efficient technologies while blending surface influences with their ancestral knowledge.
Common Etiquette rules
Surface Dwarves practice a blend of traditional dwarven etiquette with the more casual manners of surface societies. Respect for craftsmanship remains central, and it’s customary to compliment someone’s work or trade. Handshakes are the standard greeting, often accompanied by a nod or a brief bow, especially when meeting someone of higher status.
When visiting someone’s home, it’s polite to bring a small, handmade gift, often something practical. Punctuality is important, as Surface Dwarves value time management and reliability. Direct communication is preferred, with an emphasis on honesty and clarity, but always with respect.
During meals, it’s customary to offer a toast to the host or to ancestors, blending traditional dwarven values with surface customs. Thanking others for their hospitality or assistance is expected, often with a small token of appreciation later. Surface Dwarves also observe personal space and are more open to physical gestures like patting on the back or hugs, reflecting their broader social interactions.
Common Dress code
Surface Dwarves adopt a practical and adaptable dress code that blends traditional dwarven durability with the influences of surface cultures. Everyday attire includes sturdy tunics and trousers made from durable materials like leather or heavy cloth, often in earth tones. Clothing is designed for functionality and comfort, suitable for both work and social settings.
Surface Dwarves incorporate lighter fabrics and layering to adapt to changing weather conditions on the surface. Footwear is typically sturdy boots, but in more urban settings, they may wear simpler, more comfortable shoes.
Accessories such as belts, pouches, and hats are common, often crafted with a mix of dwarven and surface designs. Jewelry is less ornate than in traditional dwarven culture, favoring subtle pieces made from materials like silver, iron, or wood.
For formal occasions, Surface Dwarves wear embroidered vests, cloaks, or robes that reflect their clan heritage, often with intricate patterns that blend dwarven runes with surface symbols. Armor is worn only during ceremonies or when necessary, and it tends to be more streamlined and less bulky than traditional dwarven armor.
Art & Architecture
Art
Surface Dwarven art often features functional design with intricate details, combining practicality with beauty. Wood carving, metalwork, and jewelry are common, with pieces often incorporating natural motifs like leaves, animals, and landscapes, reflecting their connection to the surface. Paintings and murals are less common but may depict important historical events or landscapes from their surroundings, blending dwarven styles with influences from human or elven art.Architecture
Surface Dwarves adapt their architectural style to above-ground environments, building sturdy, low structures with thick stone walls that echo their underground heritage. However, they incorporate more windows and natural light, using large panes of glass or open courtyards. Roofs are often steep and designed to shed rain or snow, reflecting the climates they live in. Buildings might include stone carvings or friezes that depict dwarven myths and history, while also embracing surface elements like wooden beams or thatched roofs. Surface Dwarves favor small, close-knit communities with buildings arranged around a central courtyard or gathering space, designed to foster community interaction while remaining practical and secure. This blend of dwarven tradition and surface influences creates a unique, functional aesthetic that honors their roots while embracing their new lives above ground.Foods & Cuisine
Surface Dwarves have a cuisine that blends traditional dwarven hearty fare with ingredients and cooking techniques from their surface surroundings.
Staple Foods
Hearty Stews: Often made with root vegetables, meats (like beef or game), and thickened with grains or barley. These stews are a mainstay of Surface Dwarf meals, providing warmth and sustenance. Baked Breads: Dense, whole-grain breads, sometimes flavored with nuts, seeds, or dried fruits, are common and often accompany meals. Roasted Meats: Surface Dwarves enjoy roasting meats, often over open fires, with a preference for rich, savory flavors enhanced with herbs from their surroundings.Influences from the Surface
Fresh Vegetables and Fruits: Unlike their underground kin, Surface Dwarves incorporate fresh produce like leafy greens, berries, and orchard fruits into their diet, often as side dishes or desserts. Herb-Infused Ales: Traditional dwarven ales are often flavored with local herbs, flowers, or honey, giving them a unique twist compared to the more robust underground brews.Common Dishes
Mushroom and Herb Pies: Combining wild mushrooms with fresh herbs in a savory pie crust, reflecting both their dwarven roots and surface influences. Grilled Fish: For those near rivers or lakes, fish grilled over open flames and seasoned with surface spices is a popular dish. Honey-Glazed Root Vegetables: Roasted root vegetables like carrots and turnips, glazed with honey and herbs, blend sweetness with earthiness.Preservation Techniques
Surface Dwarves continue to use traditional methods like smoking, salting, and pickling to preserve food, which are essential for surviving harsh winters or when fresh supplies are scarce. Overall, Surface Dwarven cuisine is hearty and flavorful, reflecting their enduring love for rich, nourishing food while embracing the freshness and variety of surface ingredients.Common Customs, traditions and rituals
Surface Dwarves have a rich set of customs and traditions that blend their dwarven heritage with surface influences
Common Customs
Crafting Rituals: Every significant crafting project begins with a brief ritual to honor Terre, Titan of Mountains, asking for strength and precision. This tradition is deeply ingrained, even in surface settings. Gift-Giving: Surface Dwarves maintain the tradition of exchanging handcrafted gifts on special occasions, symbolizing effort, skill, and personal connection. Daily Toasts: At every meal, it's customary to toast to health, ancestors, or successful endeavors, a practice carried over from traditional dwarven customs.Observed Traditions
Founding Day Celebrations: Surface Dwarves commemorate the founding of their settlements with a day of feasting, storytelling, and crafting competitions. Ancestral Reverence: Regular observances to honor ancestors are common, often including a visit to a family shrine or a shared meal in their memory. Seasonal Festivals: Surface Dwarves participate in local seasonal festivals, often adding their own customs, such as the lighting of forges to symbolize renewal or strength during these celebrations. Coming-of-Age Ceremonies: Young dwarves undergo a rite of passage that involves completing a significant task or craft, marking their transition into adulthood and earning them their first personal tool or weapon. These customs and traditions help Surface Dwarves maintain their cultural identity while embracing their life on the surface, ensuring a strong connection to both their past and their present.Birth & Baptismal Rites
Surface Dwarves observe a special Birth Rite shortly after a child is born, blending traditional dwarven practices with surface influences:
Naming Ceremony: The child is given a name during a small, intimate ceremony held at the family hearth. The parents present the newborn to the clan or community, and the name is often chosen to reflect both dwarven heritage and the surface environment.
Gift of the Forge: A small, symbolic item, often a crafted tool or a piece of jewelry, is made by the parents or a close family member and given to the child. This item is meant to represent the child’s future and the skills they will develop.
Blessing Ritual: A respected elder or family member conducts a blessing, invoking the protection of Terre, Titan of Mountains, and asking for strength, resilience, and prosperity in the child’s life. The blessing may also include a prayer for the child to thrive in both the dwarven traditions and the surface world.
Marking the Stone: In some communities, the child’s name and birth date are carved into a communal stone or wall, marking their place in the history of the settlement and symbolizing their connection to both their ancestors and the land.
This rite ensures that even as Surface Dwarves adapt to their new environments, they maintain a strong connection to their dwarven roots from the very beginning of life.
Coming of Age Rites
Surface Dwarves celebrate Coming of Age Rites with a ceremony that marks the transition from childhood to adulthood, focusing on individual skill and community contribution:
Craftsmanship Test: The young dwarf must complete a significant project, such as forging a tool, crafting a piece of jewelry, or building something of value. This test demonstrates their mastery of a skill and their readiness to contribute to the community.
Presentation to the Community: Upon completing the task, the young dwarf presents their work to the community during a special gathering. This presentation is a moment of pride, where the community acknowledges their new status as an adult.
Naming of the Tool: The crafted item is often given a name and kept by the individual as a symbol of their newfound adulthood. This tool or piece is expected to be something they will use throughout their life, representing their skills and the work they will do.
Community Feast: The rite concludes with a feast where the entire community celebrates the young dwarf’s achievement. During the feast, toasts are made to the individual’s future, and elders may share advice or blessings.
Oath of Responsibility: The young adult takes an oath to uphold the values of their people—honor, hard work, and loyalty. This oath is a commitment to their community and to living a life that respects both their dwarven heritage and their surface environment.
This rite not only marks the individual’s passage into adulthood but also reinforces their connection to their community and their responsibilities within it.
Funerary and Memorial customs
Funerary Customs
Stone Burial: The deceased is often buried in a stone-lined grave, sometimes within a family tomb or beneath a cairn. If underground burial is possible, it is preferred, symbolizing a return to the earth and the ancestral roots of the dwarven people. Forged Tribute: A small item, such as a weapon, tool, or piece of jewelry crafted by the deceased or their family, is placed in the grave. This tribute honors the individual’s life and work, ensuring they are remembered for their contributions. Fire Ritual: In some cases, especially when stone burial is not feasible, a cremation ceremony is held, with the ashes interred in a stone urn. The fire represents purification and the enduring spirit of the dwarf.Memorial Customs
Carving of Names: The names of the deceased are carved into a communal memorial stone or wall, ensuring they are remembered by future generations. This stone is often located in a central area of the settlement. Annual Remembrance: Surface Dwarves hold an annual day of remembrance, where families visit the graves or memorials of their ancestors, leaving small offerings and sharing stories of their lives. Legacy Crafting: It’s customary for the family to create a piece of work in the deceased’s memory, often something that reflects their skills or passions. This item is kept as a family heirloom, passed down through generations.Common Taboos
Surface Dwarves consider abandoning one's craft or disrespecting ancestral traditions as major taboos. Dishonoring family or community is deeply frowned upon, as is betraying trust or breaking an oath. Associating with dark magic or neglecting to honor the dead are also considered serious breaches of their values. Additionally, shunning the dwarven heritage in favor of fully adopting surface culture is seen as a betrayal of their identity.
Common Myths and Legends
Surface Dwarves retain many traditional dwarven myths and legends, often adapted to reflect their new lives on the surface.
One popular legend is that of Thrain Brightforge, a dwarf who is said to have discovered the secret of forging metal that shines as brightly as the sun, a gift from the surface gods for embracing both the above and below worlds.
Another tale speaks of The Lost Vein, a hidden mine rich with precious gems that can only be found by those who honor both their dwarven roots and the surface lands.
The Legend of the Everlasting Flame tells of a forge fire that never dies, believed to be hidden in a mountain where only the most skilled Surface Dwarves can reignite it to create weapons of immense power.
These stories emphasize the balance Surface Dwarves strive for between their ancestral traditions and their new lives above ground.
Historical figures
Borin Stonewalker: The first dwarf to successfully establish a thriving surface settlement, blending dwarven architecture with surface elements, and promoting peaceful relations with neighboring races.
Elara Brightstone: A legendary diplomat who forged crucial trade alliances between Surface Dwarves and human kingdoms, ensuring the prosperity of her people.
Korin Ironfoot: A renowned explorer who mapped vast surface territories, discovering new resources and safe havens for Surface Dwarves.
Thalia Greenleaf: A master herbalist and healer who integrated surface plant lore with traditional dwarven medicine, revolutionizing healthcare for Surface Dwarves.
Garin Hillforge: A skilled engineer who adapted dwarven construction techniques to surface environments, leading the construction of many fortified surface towns.
Ideals
Beauty Ideals
Surface Dwarves' beauty ideals blend traditional dwarven values with influences from other cultures. They still value strength and robustness, appreciating a solid, muscular build. However, there's also a growing emphasis on practicality and adaptability, with lighter, more versatile clothing and hairstyles being favored.
Grooming remains important, but beards and hair are often trimmed shorter or styled differently to suit surface life. Jewelry and accessories might incorporate surface materials like wood, glass, or finer metals, reflecting a blend of cultures. Surface Dwarves also appreciate weathered skin and sun-kissed complexions, signs of time spent working outdoors, and an indication of a well-adapted surface lifestyle.
Gender Ideals
Surface Dwarves have more fluid gender ideals compared to their underground kin, reflecting their integration into broader, more diverse societies. Strength, skill, and adaptability are valued across all genders, with less rigid distinctions between traditional male and female roles. Both men and women are expected to contribute equally to the household and community, whether through craftsmanship, trade, or leadership.
There's a greater emphasis on individual capability and choice, allowing Surface Dwarves to pursue roles that suit their personal strengths and interests, regardless of gender. This adaptability and openness to change is seen as a strength, helping Surface Dwarves thrive in their varied environments.
Courtship Ideals
Surface Dwarves’ courtship ideals emphasize compatibility and mutual respect over traditional rituals. Given their more integrated and diverse surroundings, Surface Dwarves often look for partners who share similar values, adaptability, and a strong work ethic.
Courtship is typically marked by shared experiences rather than formalized customs, such as working on projects together or supporting each other in their respective trades. Gifts exchanged during courtship often reflect personal effort or craftsmanship, like a hand-forged tool or a piece of jewelry.
Family approval is still valued, but Surface Dwarves place greater importance on the personal connection between partners. Equality in the relationship is key, with both partners contributing to decision-making and the future they build together.
Relationship Ideals
Surface Dwarves value partnership and equality in their relationships, prioritizing mutual support and shared responsibilities. They seek relationships where both partners contribute equally, whether in work, household duties, or decision-making. Trust and communication are crucial, with an emphasis on open dialogue to navigate challenges together.
Flexibility is also important, as Surface Dwarves often adapt to changing circumstances and environments. They appreciate individual growth within the relationship, encouraging each other to pursue personal goals while maintaining a strong, unified bond. Respect for each other's skills and contributions is a core ideal, fostering a balanced and harmonious partnership.
Major organizations
Kazad Stro'Morn Confederation
A loose alliance of Surface Dwarf settlements that maintain strong ties with Kazad Stro'Morn, the greatest dwarven city. The Confederation coordinates defense, trade, and cultural preservation among Surface Dwarves.The Wydale Council
A governing body representing the Surface Dwarves of Wydale, focused on agriculture, trade, and relations with neighboring human and elven territories. The council includes elders and leaders from various communities who work to balance traditional values with surface life.Organized Religious Establishments
The Stone and Sky Temple
A religious order that blends worship of Terre, Titan of Mountains, with reverence for surface deities of the sky and land. The temple serves as a spiritual center for Surface Dwarves, promoting harmony between their underground heritage and their new lives above ground.The Hearthkeepers
A group dedicated to preserving and teaching dwarven traditions, particularly those related to craftsmanship and ancestral worship. They oversee rituals, festivals, and the maintenance of sacred sites within Surface Dwarf communities.
Parent ethnicities
Encompassed species
Related Organizations
Related Locations
