Mountain Dwarf
"Stubborn, strong, and wise, the mountain dwarves are what one would often picture when they hear the word. Known for their vast mountain homes, these people's industry and hardy nature supplies most of the world with metal and stone. The mountain dwarves, themselves, are also master crafters in smithy and masonry, even if a majority of them are set in their ways."
Basic Information
Anatomy
Mountain dwarves are stout, stocky humanoids with notable facial hair that grows abnormally fast. They are typically hardier and stronger than their hill-dwelling counterparts, as well as slightly more suited for underground settlements
Biological Traits
It is extremely difficult to tell male and female dwarves apart, and they don't really make an effort to distinguish themselves to other races. Both grow beards, it is simply in the distinctive style of a dwarf's beard that an outsider could maybe tell the difference.
Growth Rate & Stages
Dwarves mature at the same general rate as humans, but are still considered young until the age of 50. Their lifespan is a hefty 350 years.
Ecology and Habitats
Mountain dwarves are built for the rocky mountains. Tough skin and a strong stance that allows them to grapple onto rocks and break them with relative ease.
Additional Information
Social Structure
Dwarves typically live and act under close-knit family units known as clans. Often a dwarf's last name will refer to their clan in some way. A clan leader is typically one that proves themselves to be a strong leader and holds the clan's ideals in their heart. Second-in-command in a clan is often chosen by the clan leader, or borith. The second-in-command is called deshborith, or literally "second leader", and can be anyone from the eldest and wisest member of the clan to the borith's sibling or spouse.
Facial characteristics
The most striking thing about any dwarf is their beard. A mountain dwarf often styles their beard in a series of elaborate braids and beads, each with special meaning. Mountain dwarf beads are typically made from fine metals and gemstones, or just well-polished rock.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Mountain dwarves, predictably, find their homes deep in the mountains of Tu'ril. There is one notable dwarven city that rests just on the foothills, known as Thor's Grounds.
Average Intelligence
Dwarves pride themselves on their recollection of history as well as their ability to study their surroundings. Dwarven scholars are often geologists or something similar, when not pursuing other sorts of study.
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Mountain dwarves are born with sharp eyesight and darkvision, allowing them to live and work in near-darkness.
Civilization and Culture
Naming Traditions
First names do not usually have a distinction between male and female, and dwarves generally don't try to make it easier on other races to distinguish and apply gender roles and expectations onto them.
Dwarven surnames are usually relating to their clan or where their clan resides. For mountain dwarves, this sometimes means their last names match that of a mountain peak's name.
Major Organizations
Each individual clan in the mountains could be classified as its own organization, but as recognized to other races, the only major organization is Thursdeign Mining Guild, which stakes its claim in Thor's Grounds, the only above-ground dwarf settlement in Nobliya.
Beauty Ideals
Mountain dwarves, like their brethren, put high regard in their physical appearance when not working. They take special care of their beards, dressing them in fanciful braids and decorating them with beads made of precious metals or stones. Male and female mountain dwarves have their own styles of beard-care, though to an untrained eye it is difficult to tell.
Gender Ideals
Dwarves as a whole do not really put a lot of emphasis on distinguishing the two genders. The only time they really treat a dwarf differently is when they are currently pregnant, and that is when they give that dwarf the care and safety they need. Otherwise, they don't really care a lot about it? The way some other races put so much effort into such strict gender roles baffles them, mostly.
Courtship Ideals
Mountain dwarves have a wonderful method of courtship, in which their first action is to gift their other a special object, be it a tool, weapon, or piece of jewelry, etched with a portmanteau of the pair's name. If the other accepts, they can continue courting with objects, actions, etc. If the other rejects, the gift is still theirs to keep or destroy as they see fit, and the portmanteau etching is scratched out.
Average Technological Level
Mountain dwarves have taken up the usage of rails and minecarts to get around in their underground citadels. It's a lot of minecarts and pulleys. Thor's Grounds even has a makeshift elevator in the form of a passenger chamber lowered into the tunnel by a crane.
Major Language Groups and Dialects
The only major dialect change between different groups of dwarves is their name for clan. This is because a lot of different clans came up with their own words for their own clan, and then over time some words got more popular than others. Mountain dwarves tend to call their clan by its name or by durmgrist.
Common Etiquette Rules
The biggest rule of etiquette with dwarves when in their own home is that they must treat those who enter it with respect, as their treatment of guests reflects on their clan. The law of hospitality is one that is universal among all dwarven kinds.
The other thing is, don't touch a dwarf's beard unless they give you permission, and don't insult a young dwarf for their lacking of a beard. It's rude, and can earn you a dwarf's grudge from the wronged individual and the rest of their clan.
Common Dress Code
Mountain dwarves tend to dress well when interacting with others for the first time, as to set a good example. Mountain dwarves that still live at home often have two sets of armor - one for work, and one for occasions. Those that no longer live at home often don't have that luxury, and thus take better care of their work armor.
Common Customs, Traditions and Rituals
The most prominent and widespread tradition among mountain dwarves is the First Braiding, which occurs once a young dwarf is old enough to have grown a beard capable of being braided. It's sort of a coming-of-age ceremony, wherein the borith of a clan will braid a young dwarf's beard for the first time, in accordance with that clan's distinct styling. Young dwarves will wear this braid for a month afterward, without ever taking it out. The braid is often fastened by a clan-specific bead, or a large simple bead with the clan's crest.
History
The mountain dwarves first began to evolve after a subset of the protodwarf found its way into deep caves in Nobliya. Over the years, they adapted to their underground home and gained darkvision, as well as their stocky frame and thick skin.
During the reign of Great Bones, the mountain dwarves remained tucked into the earth below its thundering steps. As a result, there is a great deal of mountain dwarf population when compared to hill or Deep dwarves.
After the defeat of the great death beast, mountain dwarves began to emerge from their homes and initiate trade again with the people of the surface. Their initial encounters were... rocky, but overall they cultivated a well-meaning relationship with the people of the surface. They even founded their own above-ground city, Thor's Grounds.
At the time of the Nobliyan Civil War, most mountain dwarves remained neutral, with a few smaller clans as well as Thor's Grounds allying themselves with Westrange.
Genetic Ancestor(s)
Scientific Name
Knurlus Monti
Lifespan
350 years
Average Height
Tall for a dwarf is 5'5". Short for a dwarf is 4'0".
Average Weight
150lbs is the general average among all dwarves, mountain included.
Average Physique
Mountain dwarves as a whole are built very stocky and stout, with strong arms and shorter-than-average legs.
Body Tint, Colouring and Marking
Dwarves can be any skin tone, but some can tend to be a bit more pale from lack of sunlight.
Geographic Distribution
Related Ethnicities
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