Dwarves
From stone was the shape made, through metal was the form cast, and through fire were we born to this world. Never forget where you are from, and never yield even under the most impossible task. We are children of the earth annealed through the God's forge.
Overview
Dwarves are short, stocky, and physically powerful humanoids living in Erisdaire. The stereotype of a dwarf as a miner or metalsmith working in an underground city creating sturdy objects no human could hope to replicate has spread far and wide. Likewise, there are numerous references to them as gruff (but not rude) and honorable to a point where friends might matter as much as family. The truth is, rightly, very more nuanced and full of conditional and situational exclusions. The dwarves who live in Erisdaire are descended from an kingdom which existed largely underground in great clan-halls, many of which remain intact today. The laws and traditions of the lost kingdom shape many aspects of dwarven life in the present, thoroughly ingrained in the culture to various degrees. The importance of honor, family, and skill are passed down through the worship of the dwarven gods.The Clans
Before, during, and after the dwarven kingdom's existence there were many clans of dwarves which held most of the power over other dwarves. Family and honor are of such importance to dwarvenkind, the two have entwined into the concept of "the Clan", which is not necessarily a set of direct relatives so much as a family which has drawn many others into their presence. While they all share the same clan name, and treat each other as family, they are often not blood relatives. This has led to a great many rumors and implications run amok in the human lands, and the dwarves cheerfully pretend it doesn't matter - so long as nobody brings it up in their presence.Homeland
Most of the dwarven clan halls reside within the borders of Gilvonnaie, though there are a considerable number of dwarves living outside the clan halls. The clans view them as outcasts, exiles who by choice or deed have decided to serve others than their kind. Despite this, dwarves tend to follow the same cultural pressure to band together with others of similar temperament and personality. For this reason, many major cities with a notable dwarf presence in the population have an "unofficial" clan of sorts.Favored Deities
Between the Father of Mountains and the Mother of Forges, the world was made; this is what is passed down through dwarven tradition, and as such it is rare to find a dwarf who does not claim these two deities as the object of their worship. It is unheard of to find a dwarf serving another deity willingly, though most dwarves grudgingly admit to the existence and power of other deities in the world. ("After all, only a fool denies what is plain to see.")
Lifespan
90 years
Comments