Mountain Dwarves

TLDR:

• +1 Constitution, -1 Charisma.
• +1 for every 3 1/2 point in constitution bonus to saving throws for poison, rods, staves and wands.
• Gain a +1 to Armorer, Blacksmithing, Mining, Smeltery, Stone Masonry or Weaponsmith (only 1 crafting base)
• Detect grade or slope in passage upwards or downwards (75%/d4 1-3). Detect new construction or passage/tunnel (75%/d4 1-3). Detect sliding or shifting walls or rooms (66 2/3% /d6 1-4). Detect traps involving pits, falling blocks and other stonework (50%/d4 1-2 or d6 1-3). Determine approximate depth underground (50%/d4 1-2 or d6 1-3).
• Infravision 6" Range
• Speak Mountain Dwarf, Dwarf Common, Common, Alignment Language

The mountain dwarves are the most commonly thought of sub-race of dwarves, as they are the ones who dig underground (which of course is the most well known trait of the dwarves). The mountain dwarves, sometimes even called the king dwarves (often compared to the high elves), they more often than not have more power and authority than hill dwarves, and have the greatest chance of producing a Clan King for a clan kingdom. The mountain dwarves are the must stubborn of all the dwarves, and are the most secluded, preferring their fortified cavernous kingdoms to the outside world. Mountain dwarves also have a higher understanding of stone constructions than other people. As a result, any secret door or passage built out of stone, or a gate disguised as a stone wall.
Common starting classes for mountain dwarves are: Cleric, Fighter, Thief, Assassin. Rare starting classes for mountain dwarves are: Knight, Paladin, Ranger. Very rare starting classes for mountain dwarves are: Druid, Magic-User, Illusionist.

Additional Information

Social Structure

The clans of a mountain dwarf are very kingdom-like in structure. There is the king of the clan, who rules over the six chiefs (usually the heads of the founding families). And the six chiefs will oversee a number of dwarf families, the number depending on the size of the clan itself. For example, a clan with six families (small) would mean one family for each chief to oversee. A clan with eighteen families (moderate) would mean three families for each chief to oversee. The king and the chiefs are considered nobility, while the rest of the clan are clanmates. It is important to note that beyond these two separate social classes there is no other, for they do not discriminate the weak from the strong. However depending on their opinion of race, outsiders can be equal to their clanmates, or below them.

Facial characteristics

A mountain dwarf will always have hair color ranging between black, gray, silver, white, or brown. Occasionally they can have a blend of these hair colors with that of the hill dwarves should their parents be of both sub-races, in which case they have a hair color in between one from the mountain dwarves and one from the hill dwarves. Such a blended shade is referred to dwarves as 'dirty hair'.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Mountain Dwarves exclusively dwell underground. The primary difference between them and the denizens of the underdark, is that they will still travel to the surface, travel, trade, interact with, and overall still keep connected to the surface nations, kingdoms and races, oftentimes moreso than the denizens of the underdark, for whom the mountain dwarves have no tolerance for, and drive away from their territory. Mountain Dwarves will always choose to place the entrance of their cities, kingdoms and mines, in the following locations, in this exact order: Large mountains, small mountains, large hills. When choosing mountains, they will usually build into the interior of the mountain first, before they descend underground. Thus most cities other races visit end up being within the mountain, and rarely further down. The same is said for small mountains. When building in large hills, they will not construct much inside the hill, only the doorway and entrance to their underground city.

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

Mountain Dwarves in general have three names: one personal and two family names. In order, the first name spoken is their personal name. This can be anything, but most mountain dwarves prefer to name their children after things of the earth such as stones, minerals, crystals, gemstones, metals and precious metals. Other times they might name them after some sort of phrase or special meaning as many humans do. Their first family name is that of their immediate family. These tend to relate to their family's profession, status, and/or overall theme. Their second family name is their clan name. This is by far a mountain dwarf's most important name, as to have left your clan name behind or have it stripped from you is the greatest shame any mountain dwarf could possibly have.
Mountain dwarf royalty will always have some form of fortune name. A fortune name is discovered when an astronomer reads the stars, planets, celestial bodies and their alignments in the skies upon the child's birth, and predict what kind of person they will be. This fortune name will be said either before or after the child's personal name, depending on which name carries more weight, importance and the like.

Gender Ideals

While it is true that there has never been any female dwarf to rule as a chief or king in a clan or kingdom, that information tends to be misunderstood as the mountain dwarves being a 'men are on top' race. Far from it. While male mountain dwarves are always the ones who go out to war, or handle political affairs, it is the women who are the real head of their families. Male dwarves are all incredibly proud and stubborn to the point where a single dwarf could be considered a mountain sized wall himself. Thus it is most surprising and humorous to other races once they discover that it is the women such as their wives, who humble them without fail. It is partly why dwarves rarely invite guests to their homes, and instead to their city and great halls; they don't want their guests to see them be humiliated in front of their wives.

Relationship Ideals

While the women tend to be the ones who humble the men, the men have no right to return the favor. No male dwarf would ever attempt to do anything such as belittle, insult, or humiliate their women. Thus, no matter how blunt, curt, and even abrasive their tone and attitude, or even actions, they always act in faith and kindness to their wives, sisters and daughters. Furthermore, while the female will humble and chastise their husbands, sons and brothers, they also laud them for their strength and successes and overall support them in their endeavors.

Average Technological Level

There are two areas in which the Mountain Dwarves are most superior in than other technologies, and are widely known for. These two categories are their skills in architecture, and their skills in metal smithing.
Many races seek to find new methods of constructing buildings that will last forever. Buildings to last long against the eroding of time, the destructive force of storms, earthquakes and other natural phenomenons. But also buildings to last long against conflict and war. On top of this, many races such as the humans, ambitiously seek to design buildings with their own unique style to bring about a beauty along with it's strength. But among the races, the mountain dwarves put them all to shame. Their architecture is by far the longest living, strongest and sturdiest, and naturally beautiful in it's own unique way. The mountain dwarves have named this architecture style Khrad Vihldal (Guide the Mountain). It has been attempted to be mimicked and copied by other races, but with poor results at best. They refuse to use any other architecture style for their homes. They've mastered it to the point where all of the edges and runes built can be lined with, and etched with gold, silver and platinum, which they use to show off their might and glory.
There are very few races who could match the mastery of metal crafting as the mountain dwarves. They specialize in all forms of metals from soft, to hard. They were the first to conquer the metals known as orichalcum and adamantine, and while the elves claim they mastered mithril first, the dwarves loudly declare this to be false. All of their tools are said to never break, their armors and weapons of the highest quality most of the time (75%), and of higher quality the other amount of the time. Not a single item leaves a smithy's workshop of poor quality. Furthermore, their ability to smith goes beyond metalworking, continuing further to gem carving and crafting jewelry. As a result, armors and weapons crafted for royalty and champions were often wrought and made with precious metals and gemstones decorating them.
A technology both they and the hill dwarves share in common is the creation of mechanical stone and iron golems. This was done with the help of the gnomes, and these sentinels guard and protect all of their kingdoms.

Major Language Groups and Dialects

Mountain dwarves have their own language, which they call "Tongue of the Mountain". Other than this, the languages they know conform to the main dwarf article.

Common Etiquette Rules

The attitude and etiquette of the mountain dwarves is more strict and prominent than their hill-dwarf cousins, and they lack the grace and beauty of the elves. Most of their gestures are short and sharp, and others would even go so far as to say they seemed cold. The dwarves do not feel the same way however, as they relate to it. Most of their culture is revolved around the earth and stone, and their etiquette was no different.
Somatic Etiquette: The mountain dwarves do not appreciate any form of physical contact from strangers. The most forgiving are handshakes, which they will curtly refuse, while more extreme measures such as patting on the back can lead to a very strong fist to the face. Should one become good friends with a mountain dwarf, then they will always greet you by a clasping of hands, grasping onto the forearm rather than the hand, a tight squeeze, then let go (which they call binding). That is as far as most mountain dwarves go. Their etiquette also goes further into expressions: During any point while working, or performing dangerous operations such as patrols, guard duty, exploring a dungeon or on an expedition, they expect everyone to remain serious about the task at hand. Thus any non-serious expression (not necessarily grim or gloomy) is an insult to the dedication they show.
Verbal Etiquette: Mountain dwarves do not take kindly to insults of any sort, even if they were meant in jests. Especially against their name. Should you insult a mountain dwarf's clan, they would cut you down without hesitation. Any attempt to make a joke is at risk of being judged as well. For dwarven humor is far and few, and hard to understand for most races. They are a serious race, and their humor will never involve insulting anyone nor anything. An insult is an insult. It is made in anger and animosity, not in jest. Jokes made during serious moments (work, perilous situations, etc.) are likewise hated.
Table Etiquette: During meals, feasts and celebrations, mountain dwarves are completely different. Dwarves are incredibly jovial and filled with cheer and laughter, even singing at times. Any seriousness brought to the table is either drowned out by the festivities, or kills all conversations, feasts and music (depending on the severity of the topic). General table etiquette dictates the following rules: Never steal from another's plate. Never have more food on your plate than the nobility and royalty. Never throw food at other people. Never make light of, nor insult the food offered at the table. Never produce, enforce, nor support anti-social behavior. An often custom seen by mountain dwarves is taking two silverware and pounding the bottom against the table three times (or clash the silverware together three times) as a thank you for the meal.
---Fun fact: For this reason, dwarven silverware always have a very thick bottom half like a club.
Respect: Every mountain dwarf expects respect. Whether it's from other dwarves of any species, or the other races. They are a child of the earth, and are incredibly proud and stubborn. The nobility especially expect respect, and any who do not risk being thrown into the dungeon for an unspecified amount of time. Anyone who expects to visit, or be visited by a mountain dwarf noble or king must learn the proper greetings, gestures, postures and otherwise actions and words which they must say, and mustn't say.
On the opposite side of this, disgraced clans (or black clans) are to be shown absolutely no respect. They are treated by the mountain dwarves as the duergar are: as enemies. Within their own kingdom, disgraced clan dwarves are imprisoned and often executed. Outside their kingdom, and their jurisdiction, they will simply ignore them as if they did not exist, and later demand to those in authority that the disgraced dwarf be removed from the city or all interactions will cease immediately.

Common Dress Code

While it can vary between clans, most dress code in mountain dwarven culture is relatively the same overall. The nobility would dress in rich garments to distinguish themselves from those of lower social status. Thus while most mountain dwarves would wear garments of strictly earthen colors, such as black, shades of gray, reddish (granite), browns, and other such colors, the king and his family, and the six chiefs (but not their families) can wear more varied colors that mimic precious metals and precious stones. They will usually wear darker toned colors such as a rich blue, rich purple, rich red, or rich green, but those of more religious standing, or are the king, might wear clothes of woven silver or gold. The clergy would always wear light gray to white garments.
Besides clothing, dwarves can wear jewelry as well. However they will very rarely adorn themselves with an absurd amount (such as five to ten rings on each finger, three necklaces and seven bracelets, etc.), for to them it does not bring out the natural beauty of the garments, and takes on the traditions of other races. They will never be found wearing earrings, preferring rings, cuffs, amulets, braided beads (made of metals, often precious), and crowns as their jewelry. The exception to this will be whenever precious metals such as gold, silver, and even mithril, are woven into the fabric of their garments themselves.
Besides the precious metals and colors they adorn themselves with, all mountain dwarves take great pride in their beards. They will never cut their beards, and prefer them long. However this doesn't mean they don't trim it. While it's a taboo to trim one's beard to prevent it from growing longer, this form of trimming is meant to keep the beard looking nice and neat instead of wild and prickly. Many dwarves will even trim their beard so it grows in a specific shape or style. Some mountain dwarves even go so far as to adorn their beards with golden caps, or cloths and cords to tie their beards in certain styles.

Common Customs, Traditions and Rituals

Jewelry placement is not a simple matter to the dwarves, as everything has meaning. From the position of a ring on the hand, to what type of cuff you wear, to the amulet and crown. When putting a ring on your finger, what it represents depends on which finger you put it on. The pinky ring represents wealth, riches, and pride. The ring finger represents a promise, commitment, or oath (what kind depends on the style, writings and symbolism of the ring). The middle finger represents individualism, uniqueness, and overall change. The index finger represents overall power, control, and authority (thus only royal mountain-dwarves put rings on this finger). Finally the thumb represents fulfillment and retirement.
Cuffs have two meanings. If they are not made of silver, gold, mithril or platinum, then they indicate servitude of some sort. Finely made cuffs in the form of jewelry indicate willing servitude, or family servitude. Undecorated cuffs indicate slavery of some sort. If they are made of some precious metal, it announces the social status of the mountain dwarf: Silver is worn by the non-nobility (though it can be silver wrought with gold). Gold and platinum are worn by nobility. And Mithril are worn by the king. Amulets are strictly religious, and signify which god you follow and worship first and foremost. Crowns can be worn by most nobility, but will often be short and thin compared to the king's crown, and far less adorned.

History

"There is no other race as proud and allegiant as the mountain dwarves. The high elves are haughty and arrogant, and do not feel the genuine pride we do. We are one with the earth and it's many treasures. We adorn are grand halls with precious metals and gemstones. We have mastered the stones of the earth and the metalworking of all of time. We do not care for your petty disputes or your feeble attempts to overshadow. We are the mountain dwarves, and we stand tall."
--Barram Mortharm

Lifespan

Mountaind dwarves live up to five hundred and twenty five years.

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Usually white skin, with tan skin uncommon, & pale skin rare.