Cotton Candy Dwarves

When visiting the Sugarcanaan Isles, be sure to find a cotton candy dwarf and buy them a drink. You'll have the time of your life.

— 'Ma' Bonnie Appetit, Culinarian Explorer

Natural hosts, the cotton candy dwarves love to show others a good time. Many stay on Sugarcanaan to act as tour guides for the beautiful islands.

General Location: The Sugarcanaan Isles
Population: Low
Lifespan: Approx. 350 years
Size: 4'-5', Medium

Cotton Candy Dreams

Naming Traditions

Family Names: Sweetums, Choclette, Nougade
Given Names: Cookie, Taffy, Licorick, Butterscott

The Sweet Life

Cotton Candy Beards

The iconic beards of cotton candy dwarves are their most striking feature. Most of the body hair on these dwarves is made of naturally grown cotton candy, no matter the gender of the dwarf. Due to their pacifist natures, a cotton candy dwarf will only trim their beard in shame after getting into a violent situation. The loss of beard length is considered enough of a punishment from their peers.

Pacifists by Nature

Surrounded by the Gingerbreadfolk on Sugarcanaan, cotton candy dwarves discovered they had little need fo violence. They have an unspoken understanding with the gingerbreadfolk for protection as long as the dwarves continue to preserve the islands.

Despite their calm personalities, there are a number of dwarves who have devoted their lives to aggressive protection. They will not resort to violent methods but have no qualms with scaring away or threatening unwanted tourists. It's rare for a cotton candy dwarf to follow through with any threats.

Roles and Society

Cotton candy dwarves don't worry themselves with gender like humans do. Those who choose to become parents are paired by the clan leaders based on personality and likelihood to remain a pair. All other dwarves are free to live as they choose and often are entirely unaware of the gender of their partners.

All individuals help the community where they're able, only limited by their personal abilities. Although many work as tour guides for the islands, those who wish to help the village gather food, firewood, and other essentials to keep everyone safe and strong.

The Hidden Histories

Much of the earliest history of the cotton candy dwarves has been lost due to the Swarm attacks during the First Frenzy of Sugarcanaan. What has been uncovered leaves many questions about the evolution of the distinct cotton candy beards, but they appear to have first popped up within the dwarven population of Sugarcanaan nearly seven centuries ago.
The cotton candy dwarves showed up in many gingerbreadfolk tales throughout the years, particularly surrounding the First Frenzy. Always the eager aid to their more vicious neighbors, the dwarves offered peaceful negotiations between the gingerbreadfolk and Pollenesia before the Frenzy broke out. Unfortunately, the only records that remain claim the dwarves lost over half their population during the fight due to a reluctance to strike back.
Nowadays, the dwarves have found their peace again and follow a vow to look after the island and its inhabitants. The villages they've built remain off-limits to tourists and only trusted adventurers are allowed inside. Some believe the dwarves destroyed their own historic logbooks to prevent secrets of their society from being revealed.

Homes for Dwarves

With the help of the local gingerbreadfolk, the dwarves have developed their own form of gingerbricks to build their villages.

Cuisine of the Cotton Candy Dwarves

The diets of those on the Sugarcanaan Isles is less limited than most may think. Although they do eat primarily sweets, gummies, and candies, they also import fresh fruit and vegetables from Herbacium and livestock from Simmeroon and Lactasia for special occasions.

Dwarven Brittle

• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup Pollensian honey
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
• 1/2 cup chopped nuts
• 1/2 cup chopped dried fruit

• Pinch of salt
• Pinch of cinnamon
• Dribble of vanilla extract
• Pinch of baking soda

1. Combine sugar and honey in a heat-safe pan, heat until sugar is melted.
2. Add your choice of nuts and dried fruit to the mixture. Stir until well-coated. Grease cooking tray.
3. To melted sugar, add in butter, salt, cinnamon, and vanilla extract. Continue to stir and cook until mix becomes caramel-colored.
4. Remove from heat and add baking soda. Stir vigorously.
5. Immediately pour onto pre-greased cooking tray. Let sit in undisturbed place until cooled, 15-20 minutes. Break into chunks and serve.

Serving suggestion: Place a scoop of your favorite ice cream in a bowl and stab a shard of dwarven brittle into the side of the dollop. Drizzle chocolate syrup over the top and enjoy!

The Festival of Color

Licorick had been waiting for this day for years. The Festival of Color: the time when a young dwarf discovers the color of their cotton candy. Sure, some had cheated and seen their tufts of candy growing in patches along their upper lips, but not Licorick. He followed the rules. He was determined to join the leaders of the clan one day and a leader doesn't lie or cheat.

"Here ya go, Rick. Ya gunna be a real dwarf today. No more kiddie stuff." Straightening his vest, he looked himself over in the muddled mirror. Did he look adult enough? Would they take him seriously? What if he approached and they found no color? Had there even been a cotton candy dwarf without color?

"Don't work yourself up, kid. Ya gunna be fine." Rick's father Tootsie leaned against the doorframe, a broad smile across his face.

"But what if-"

"There's never been a dwarf without a color, Rick. Ya bein' ridiculous, c'mon, ya gunna be late. What would ya mother think?" Tootsie walked to the front door, slipping on a light jacket before cracking open the door. Rick shuffled out of his room, running his fingers along a small, handmade clay urn sitting atop the hall console table.

"Love ya, Ma. Be lookin' out for ya today," he kissed his fingers and swept them to the sky on his way out the door, trotting quietly behind his father. The pair made it to the center of town and joined the growing group of young people collecting in the square. Some were already showing with lightly colored, fuzzy neckbeards. Rick settled in next to some friends, pounding out a quick, smooth handshake with a laugh.

"Good morning, our newest clan members! It's lovely to see all of you here to share in this ceremony. A magical time for any young dwarf, the Festival of Color does not determine standing or position, as it may have in the past. Here we seek only to celebrate the growing of our clan members into adult dwarves. We show our appreciation and love for our young ones and help carry them into the next chapter of their lives." The leader of the clan stood in the center of the group, raising his hands up and out to gesture around. Faces lit up at his words and a wild cheer broke out through the crowd. The ceremony was about to begin.

Rick glanced back at his father nervously, swallowing the fear and focusing his gaze back at their leader. This was it, no turning back. the clan would know his color and his intentions. As the ceremony began, young dwarves stepped onto a small platform and had their chins inspected. The leader shouted out blues and pinks, letting each dwarf state their future plans within the clan. Some planned to leave and spread the culture of cotton candy dwarves throughout Culinaria, but most remained in the village to protect their lands.

When it was finally time, Rick took his spot upon the platform and closed his eyes, waiting patiently for their leader to announce his color. Coarse fingers ran along Rick's jaw, seeking out the smallest big of fluff.

"Purple!" The leader held out his hand, gesturing to a small patch of cotton candy growing in along his chin. Although a slightly rare color, Rick was too caught uo in sharing his ideas to notice. The audience cheered him off the platform as the next dwarf was called up. Rick rushed to his father, throwing his arms around the man with a grin.

"Your mother would be so proud of you, Rick. A real clan member. My boy, purple! Destined for greatness, I say!" He clamped a hand down on Rick's shoulder, leading him off to find some lunch.

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Images created by Emily Armstrong using Wombo.Art.