When Fiore was being created,
Maruzhad was responsible for the crafting of stone. A great craftsman, you can see his contributions in the beauty of mountains, ravines, caves, and other natural wonders. Not wanting to be outdone by
Anchéadann, Maruzhad also decided to create sentient life, and set about the making of the dwarves. Finding flaws in the uncertain and fluid nature of elves, Maruzhad wanted his creation to be as steadfast and sturdy as the stone and earth. He went to the top of the greatest volcano in Fiore, its original name lost to history but believed to be what is now Mount Dawnbreak, and grabbed a single stone that had been created by the magma within. From this stone he created the first mountain dwarf, a hardy dwarf with skin and hair as black as the stone he was chiseled from. Then he descended the mountain and found a stone created over time from the sediment that gathered near the mountain's base. This was the first hill dwarf, strong and determined with a far lighter complexion. Then he descended into the caves below the mountain and found another stone, one that had been altered by the weight of the volcano above. From this stone Maruzhad began to create his final dwarf but stopped in time to realize his mistake. Changing his design slightly Maruzhad created the third dwarf, a mantle dwarf, and the first female dwarf. Acknowledging his near error, he blessed the mantle dwarf with strength of mind. Because of this, all female dwarves are valued in dwarven society for their wisdom, and looked to for approval by male dwarves who like Maruzhad himself, have been known to act without thinking.
A fourth dwarf came into being when the illithids made their way to Fiore from the Far Plane. Creatures corrupted by the evil of that realm and the Forsworn, the illithids were drawn to the latent psionic abilities of the mantle dwarves. A large percentage of the mantle dwarves were enslaved, tortured, and experimented on in hopes of developing their psionic abilities to create soldiers for the illithid's armies. Eventually the enslaved dwarves won freedom through revolt but were mantle dwarves no more. Corrupted and twisted the duergar had been born. Mountain and hill dwarves have a deep hatred for duergar, viewing them as perversions of Maruzhad's creation. Mantle dwarves still view the duergar with compassion despite the frequent warring their proximity with the duergar create.
Dwarf Traits
Your dwarf character has an assortment of inborn abilities, part and parcel of dwarven nature.
Age
Dwarves mature at the same rate as humans, but they’re considered young until they reach the age of 50. On average, they live about 350 years.
Size
Dwarves stand between 4 and 5 feet tall and average about 150 pounds. Your size is Medium.
Speed
Your base walking speed is 25 feet. Your speed is not reduced by wearing heavy armor.
Darkvision
Accustomed to life underground, you have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can’t discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.
Dwarven Resilience
You have advantage on saving throws against poison, and you have resistance against poison damage (explained in the “Combat” section).
Dwarven Combat Training
You have proficiency with the battleaxe, handaxe, light hammer, and warhammer.
Tool Proficiency
You gain proficiency with the artisan’s tools of your choice: smith’s tools, brewer’s supplies, or mason’s tools.
Stonecunning
Whenever you make an Intelligence (History) check related to the origin of stonework, you are considered proficient in the History skill and add double your proficiency bonus to the check, instead of your normal proficiency bonus.
Languages
You can speak, read, and write Common and Dwarvish. Dwarvish is full of hard consonants and guttural sounds, and those characteristics spill over into whatever other language a dwarf might speak.
Hill Dwarf
As a hill dwarf, you have keen senses, deep intuition, and remarkable resilience. Like the elves, the hill dwarves lost their great empires and kingdoms, many having fallen long ago. Now they live in the remnants of those grand empires or seek to discover and rebuild old glories. A hill dwarf is a common sight in a mixed band of adventurers. They tend to be irascible and boisterous when happy, and dour when not. Hill dwarves are the lightest in skin tone of the dwarves, ranging from pale to a medium tan.
Ability Score Increase
You can choose to increase either your Constitution or your Wisdom score by 1.
Dwarven Toughness
Your hit point maximum increases by 1, and it increases by 1 every time you gain a level.
Mountain Dwarf
As a mountain dwarf, you’re strong and hardy, accustomed to a difficult life in rugged terrain. You’re probably on the tall side (for a dwarf) and tend toward darker coloration, ranging from earthy brown to obsidian black. Mountain dwarves never lost their greatness. Their mighty empire in the mountainous land of Ungarri has weathered many dangers and endured. They are spread far across Fiore, drawn by the opportunity to claim great wealth. Mountain dwarves are typically flush with cash, privilege, and pride.
Ability Score Increase
Your Strength score increases by 1. You can also choose to increase either your Constitution or your Strength score by 1.
Dwarven Armor Training
You have proficiency with light and medium armor.
Mantle Dwarf
As a mantle dwarf, you're wise and cautious, aware of and watchful of the dangers in the underdark. Mantle dwarves are the smallest in population of all dwarves, having lost great numbers to illithids and the eventual creation of the duergar. Because of the infrequency of which they are seen on the surface, most non-dwarves would not be able to differentiate a mantle dwarf from a mountain dwarf. A mistake that continues to baffle any dwarf, as the subtle differnces are quite clear. Your skin is probably an earthy brown tone, though as with all dwarves mixing of the three races has resulted in skin tones of all dwarves being possible. You also have the psionic fortitude gifted by Maruzhad.
Ability Score Increase
You can choose to increase either your Constitution or your Intelligence score by 1.
Psionic Fortitude
You have advantage on saving throws you make to avoid or end the charmed or stunned condition on yourself.
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