Ice Dwarves

Written by bwallace

Ice Dwarves are an offshoot of mountain dwarves that have chosen to live in the icy wastelands of Coldwind Isle and its neighbor island, Sybarite.

The original clan of Ice Dwarves were exiled from their mountain homes centuries ago, and given the choice to go south or north. Their persecution and exile stemmed from the practice of an ancient, pagan ritual known as Dodsdyr, or the Worshippers of Death. Choosing to prove their power and divine right, they chose to brave the icy wastes of the far southern regions.

Over time, the dark rituals faded as younger dwarves began taking charge of their clan and survival became the most important ritual. Great reverence is given to their home, and they consider living there, even in the face of food scarcity, hostile climate and ever-present dangers from the outside world, a divine privilege.

Naming Traditions

Family names

Because all Ice Dwarves are descended from a common Mountain ancestry, there are no surnames or family names. Individuals go by one single name only.

Culture

Major language groups and dialects

The Ice Dwarfs have developed their own particular dialect based on the standard dwarf language. The consonants are quite harsh and vowels practically nonexistent.

Shared customary codes and values

Regular dwarves' love for gold, jewels and other finery from under the mountains no longer has meaning for the Isdwarf. They value the carvings they make for themselves out of ivory, wood and other materials as well as elaborate ice sculptures they can create. An Ice Dwarf cave is not complete without several examples of elaborate ice statuary of various creatures, wooden totems and icons, and even standard sculpture hewn from the rock of the island itself.

The Ice Dwarves value hard work and duties that pertain to survival. Most daily tasks are heavily ritualized, and each family member has a part to fill in their everyday routines.

They also highly value creativity and art. Because ice sculptures do not survive above-freezing temperatures, none have been taken from the island but on rare occasion a trinket of wood or stone makes its way into the hands of a collector. Ice Dwarf work is precise, painstaking, and built on the notion that while a dwarf's life is fleeing, ice does not stay and beauty passes.

Common Dress code

As fur-bearing animals are quite rare in this part of the world, fur cloaks are highly prized and passed down from parent to child over the years. Ice Dwarf bodies have adapted to living in the frigid climate and no longer need to wrap themselves from head to toe in protective layers. Indeed, their hair and beards are formidable and at times are used as protective wrapping.

It is rare to find a color other than brown, tan, grey or white in Ice Dwarf clothing.

Art & Architecture

Ice Dwarves do not live in free-standing structures, preferring almost exclusively to dwell in the large series of interconnecting caves that lace the landscape.

Funerary and Memorial customs

When an Ice Dwarf dies, their body is preserved in the ice and stored in the Hall of Ancestors. Great stacks of frozen dwarf corpses line the walls of the immense cavern in neat, precise rows and columns.

Common Taboos

• An Ice Dwarf never, ever speaks of their home nor expresses any desire to return. No longer is true ill will carried toward their former kinsmen, but to them their pasts before arriving on Coldwind Isle and Sybarite simply do not exist.
• Dabbling in or showing interest in their former dark Dodsdyr rituals is frowned upon, and such offenders are usually shunned for a time. This is not to say the practice does not still exist in some form, it is simply not spoken of.

Alternate name: Isdwarf