Dwarves
The Dwarves are an Echorian race known to prefer living in mountain or hillside regions. They are among the shorter of humanoid races and possess generally high constitutions, being highly resistant to most to the elements and able to live in harsh climates as well as showing signs of resistance to most poisons and sicknesses.
Often considered greedy for this, dwarves value their crafts and arts highly and thus tend to hold on to their belongings, especially those made by close personal friends and ancestors, closely and fiercely.
Basic Information
Biological Traits
Dwarves have a lifespan of up to around 400 years. Although, they often tend to lead hard lives in mines or as warriors that leaves a toll on their health and shortens their life expectancy considerably.
Dwarves are short and stocky on average, with broad, strong bodies and an undeniable sturdiness about them. Long marches and hikes are an easy feat for most dwarves, having little need for rest and catching their breath. On top of that, they are able to carry heavy burdens across distances other races would not be able to. They have shown great aptitude in the past with traversing difficult terrains, making them into the first species to settle in many places and colonize them, just because they were the first that could get there.
Common hair colours for dwarves are usually darker shades of browns, blacks or reds. Dwarven population has a very low percentage of light hair colours especially light browns and blondes. There are also dwarves known to have extremely rare hair colours for humanoids like blues or greens.
Growth Rate & Stages
A Dwarf reaches adulthood with 40 years, which is only at about ten percent of their expected lifespan. Before the age of twenty-five they are referred to as a Dwarfling. Dwarflings are all treated equally regardless to gender and are traditionally dressed in robes of house colours.
Additional Information
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Their settlements are found scattered through all of Echora. Dwarves have been one of the earliest races to set out and establish new colonies and grow their territories. The main reason for this having been a desire to find new and unexplored minerals and ores to work with or supply their main strongholds with grains and food, as well as how well they could traverse certain terrain other races couldn't.
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Dwarves have exeptionally good sight in the dark, up to double the distance the average human can see.
Civilization and Culture
Naming Traditions
Dwarves on Echora are given a prename at birth and in later years of their life compliment it with an earned epithet. These are earned with great deeds or showing exceptional talent and passion in a certain field. Most dwarves will have gained such an epithet by the age of ninety. Before that, they will further identify themselves with the name of their father in combination with the suffix -son.
Major Organizations
Each dwarven state makes up a dense and concentrated kingdoms that usually focuses on a geographically dense domain such as a single hill land or part of a mountain range. These smaller kingdoms are largely independent and self-governing, yet are subjugated by the High Kingdom of the Dwarves that rules over all of them in a representative manner. The function of the High King of the Dwarves is important to the understanding of a cohesive, unified dwarven race and furhters the communication and exchange of knowledge between the often far-apart lying kingdoms.
Common Customs, Traditions and Rituals
Tattoos
Tattoos have great cultural importance to dwarves and many dwarves gain their first tattoos when coming of age at forty years old. Unlike the braiding ceremonies the tattooing is done in private and the dwarf may choose to reveal the motifs publicly or only to a smaller circle or to no one. Throat or neck tattoos are very uncommon among dwarves or only meant for very personal motifs, as these body parts are often covered by their hair and beards. On the other hand, face and esspecially forehead tattoos are widespread among nobility, not to show status but to signify to their subjects that they are their servants and must be easily identifiable to be approached with concerns. Dwarven leaders are also always expected to serve at front lines in times of war and these face markings make them easily distinguishable. Most adult dwarf of any status or gender will have their arms and back tattooed, legs and backs are also often seen if a bit less than the arms. Chests and stomachs are uncommon again, because of the hair growth that would cover them. Mouth - meaning lips and tongue - tattoos are a new fad among younger dwarfs and older generations oftens hake their head at these, especially if chosen for their coming of age.Adornments
Adornments and jewellry of any kind are a given in dwarven society. Even among the poorest of dwarven houses these can be afforded and worn. Especially inside dwarven domain, showcasing fine accessoires is expected and contrary to other societies not at all a risk, as theft of these things is considered a a grave offence. Dwarves especially love to adorn their ears with truly ostentatious jewellry. In turn, they do not particularly like to wear necklaces for the same reasons as neck tattoos are unpopular.Common Taboos
Theft is considered a grave offence among dwarves and is punishable by banishment from dwarven society or even execution in particularly maliciously motivated cases. This comes from the great value dwarves place in their crafts, in particular those given to them by close personal relations or those inherited from ancestors.
Lifespan
400 years
Average Height
Dwarves heights vary between 1.30cm up to 1.60cm. For example, the Dwarves of Dol Cadarn are known to be quite tall compared to other subgroups.
Average Physique
Dwarves have very broad, strong built bodies.
Geographic Distribution
Related Ethnicities
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