Dwarves
The Dwarves of Lanereth are an isolationist race. Most are content to stay in their mountain halls, or secreted villages. Masters of crafts, dwarves tend to dominate most crafting guilds in prominent cities. Fearsome martial warriors, dwarven prowess in hand-to-hand combat is the stuff of legends.
However, that is not to discredit their magical talents. Although more latent than the other races, the dwarves isolationist nature means they master their craft in the safety of their stone walls. Their long lifespan and hearty nature gives the dwarves an advantage over the other races, with the exception of elves of course.
Something not too well known to most, is that dwarves do indeed farm. While in no ways masters of agriculture, dwarven farmers are renowned for their ability to breed hearty animal and crops. As well as growing some of the best brewing grains in the known world. What the dwarves cannot grow or harvest, they trade for. Hard-nosed and stubborn to a tee, you will never find a dwarven trader making a bad deal unless there is an ulterior motive
Basic Information
Anatomy
Dwarves are a short race, as their name implied, standing from 4'3"–4'9" (1.3–1.45 meters) on average. What dwarves lacked in height they made up for in bulk; they are, on average, about as heavy as humans. A dwarf could weigh anywhere from about 160–220 lbs (73–100 kg).
Dwarven males were a bit taller and heavier than their female counterparts. Like humans, dwarves had a wide variety of skin, eye, and hair colors. Hazel eyes were common throughout the race, with gold and blue also being prominent.
Biological Traits
Dwarves are unusually tough for humanoids, in more ways than one. Dwarven stomachs, for instance, are resistant to virtually all poisons and it takes less effort for a dwarf to get back on their feet than other races. Dwarves also have dense bodies and are difficult to push around as a result, as well as having the capacity to bear loads that other races might find hindering with little ill effect. Dwarves also have a sense about them that few races did, with a preternatural awareness of their surroundings useful for a subterranean race as well as good judgment all-around in general
Ecology and Habitats
The most common place to find a dwarf is in their mountain keeps. However, it is not too uncommon to see them while traveling along the hills, or even underground. Most prominent cities are home to a clan of dwarves, or at least a sub-clan, which provide craft goods for the city in exchange for goods and income.
Additional Information
Social Structure
Dwarves are a clan-based race. In years gone by, during times of need or great prosperity, great dwarves have risen to unite the clans as a singular race, with the great serving as 'King'. However, after the passing of a great King, clans usually break off from the unified race, and over time, the race is once again a collective of clans.
Facial characteristics
All dwarven males, and some dwarven females, are capable of growing facial hair. The growth starts at a young age, coming in around the same time as humans (13 years of age on average), and by the age of 20, is fully formed. Ungroomed, a dwarven male would be able to grow out a beard in as little as two weeks.
Fortunately, the hair on their heads do not follow the same pattern. In that regard they are very much like humans, with hair coming in all sort of sizes, shapes, forms, and colours.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
75 percent of dwarves live in mountain keeps, content with being underground, and protected from the elements.
10 percent choose to live outdoors, usually staying in homes built into hills.
10 percent live deep underground, rarely, if at all, coming to the surface in their life.
5 percent live in densely populated cities and villages. Those who do often rotate out with the younger of their clan, opting to return home when they feel the time is right.
Average Intelligence
Most dwarves, even farmers, due to their long lifespans, are educated, at least in a basic fashion. With a majority of their population able to read and write Common, and Dwarvish, the dwarves have the second lowest illiteracy rating of all the known races.
Now, that does not mean that all dwarves are highly intelligent, per say. For many of the warriors, and farmers, the basic level of education is all they receive, and all they could really want. The highly educated, and seekers of knowledge, are more rare within dwarven society. It is usually limited to nobility, learned magic users, and guild/trade masters, which means only the top 10 percent of dwarves pursue a high level of education.
What they lack in academic prowess, they more than make up for in creativeness and ingenuity. Capable of great feats of improvisation, some of the greatest dwarven artifacts and arts started as a whim at the bottom of a mug of ale. Although not likely to best you in an academic debate, they'll bury you in anything else.
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Dwarves can see in the dark, out to about 60 feet (18 meters). Many dwarves have an affinity for the caverns in which they live, possessing a knack for recognizing unusual patterns in stonework that could seem almost supernatural at times
Civilization and Culture
Naming Traditions
Last name is always the name of the clan. If they have no last name, they have no clan.
Major Organizations
The Eathernborne Clan;
Major Language Groups and Dialects
Major language is Dwarvish. Dialects vary from clan to clan, but only words involving courtship and traditions are different. The bulk of the language remains central
Common Etiquette Rules
The standard greeting between Dwaves is a forearm handshake, demonstrating strength through grip
History
Created by Lanara the Earth Mother, and Kreil the Life Bringer, the first dwarves were literally created from the earth. It is why they feel such a profound sense of habitability when surrounded by it.
The first dwarves were built to be warriors, created to battle the onslaught of creatures from the Elemental plane of Fire during the First Primordial War. Of the first-borne, only a handful of bloodlines survived: The line of Moradin (Founded by Moradin who ascended to Godhood (Intermediate Deity), the line of ... (To be fleshed out).
Those who survived carried their resent of the other races of man (other than man). To this day, dwarves are known to hate Orcs, and Giants (except for Fire Giants, who've they've resolved their issues with due to their place deep beneath the earth), and goblins. They dislike men, and half-orcs, and goliaths (who they respect due to their strength).
After the First Primordial War, the dwarves retreated into the earth, finding residence in mountains and caves. They became well known for their prowess as dragon slayers and monster hunters, as most of the caves and mountains were inhabited by the survivors.
As time went on, the dwarves of the mountains drew more insular. The society fractured into a clan/tribal governments. Over time, great King have risen up to unite the dwarves against threats. However, when they've passed, societies dissolve back into bickering clans.
Now for the first in long time, the Dwarves have united under the banner of the son a great Lord. However, no one knows how long that will last. King Bruno of the Earthernborne has much to prove before he earns the respect of the clans.
Historical Figures
Moradin
Scientific Name
Mammal; Humanoid
Lifespan
350
Average Height
4-5 ft (1.2m-1.5m)
Average Weight
150lb
Average Physique
Short and bulky
Body Tint, Colouring and Marking
Tattoos amongst dwarves are a common theme. Most will wear the brand of their clan tattooed somewhere on their body. Guilds add another one, and societies another. Dwarven warriors will often tattoo depictions of their great battles or accomplishments on their body, and use them as talking points at social events.
Remove these ads. Join the Worldbuilders Guild
Comments