Dwarves don't quit. Oh no - even if the planet denies us, we will come back stronger. We will endure.
-Vadmir Brolshorn, The Journey
Strangers in a hostile land, Dwarves did not originate from
Myst. Along with
Humans, they fell from the sky thousands of years ago.
Myst's atmosphere, while survivable, isn't optimal for them, causing them to have to wear envirosuits that filter some of the unwanted gases. Dwarves were also adversely affected by the radiation of the twin suns, causing many of them to flee underground. They would remain there for hundreds of years, and when the Rend eventually did occur, the Dwarves were already set up and accustomed to the underground. They are, in large part, responsible for saving those that survived the Rend as they provided shelter and resources to the refugees.
Origins Elsewhere
Dwarves did not intentional come to Myst. |
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Like Humans, Dwarves are not originally from
Myst. Thousands of years ago, Dwarves and Humans crashed onto the planet. Dwarves at the time already had envirosuits as most environments didn't suit them well. This proved to be true for
MyS̶̢̢̻͕̬̲̩̥̼̝͕͖̞̬̋͜͜st as well as the Dwarves were forced to don their suits due to the radiation of the suns and the makeup of the atmosphere. A lot of Dwarves made their homes underground, affording them reprieve from the twin suns, but their breathing problems would remain. Some Dwarves that remained on the surface worked tirelessly to find a way to quickly adapt to the planet, resulting in a series of experiments to try and change their own physiological properties to be more accepting of their surroundings. Many Dwarves refused to take either path, wishing to aid their Human friends in the upcoming conflict with the Etti'Shi and not participating in the experiments. This caused a three-way split in dwarven culture, resulting in the division of Surface Dwarves, Deepfolk, and Dreivs.
Technical Savants
Throughtout history Dwarves had relied on technology, making them proficient in most technical matters. |
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Dwarves have a dependency on technology considering the majority still require envirosuits or masks. This has led many of them to become quite knowledgeable on technology (both old and new). They are taught from a young age on how to maintain their own equipment, and how to utilize and repair pre existing technologies used by wherever they live. Many Dwarves take this knowledge to create their own inventions, expanding the already tech-focused culture they've grown up around.
Dwarven cities are often much more technologically advanced than other civilizations. Mechs, lasser weaponry, vehicles; Dwarven cities are fantastical to many of the inhabitants of
Myst. Many of their cities incorporate relics of the past, as a large number of Dwarvish researchers have taken it upon themselves to not only discover the lost achievemnts of the past but to refurbish and reutilize them.
Culture of Nonviolence
The past has been bloody enough... |
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Since the devasting effects of the Rend, Dwarven society has disavowed violence in almost all forms. Most Dwarves are pacifists - reflecting in them often taking neutral sides in wars to harbor refugees or provide aid to those in need. There are strict laws against instigating conflict amongst others with punishments being very 'eye for an eye' focused or social. Sometimes this had led to some severe consequences for even small infractions such as being shunned entirely. In the worst cases (such as murder) the responsible person in question will often be buried alive. The philosophy behind this is that violence spirals and must be stopped as it leads to ultimate destruction, the Rend being used as the prime example.
Despite not taking part in conflict, Dwarves will still defend themselves in necessary, solidifying themselves as one of the stronger defenders to go up against as many of their cities are built like fortresses, and Dwarven societies often have more advanced technologies at their disposal.
Traditions of the Past
Rememberance of what has happened is a key to what will happen. |
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Most Dwarven civilizations put great importance on maintaining the traditions of the past. Many dwarves only require their masks, but still wear their envirosuits at specific times as a homage to the struggles of their ancestors.
Dwarves hold a lot of respect to history as many cities, clans, or tribes will often have one or multiple lore keepers - people who keep all the history (current and past) they can. Not only do they keep their own histories, but a lot of research is devoted to making sure that no one species traditions and cultures are forgotten.
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