Dwarf

Born of earth and stone, dwarves are a race of lawful creatures who have dwelled beneath the mountains of Ceren for over 2000 years. In that time, they have maintained seven great city-states, though many have left in favor of exploring the lands beyond their mountain home.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Dwarves take on the standard humanoid shape. However, it is known that dwarves have much denser bones than those of humans, making them relatively hardier and heavier.

Genetics and Reproduction

Standard humanoid copulation, though they have a longer gestation period of ten months.

Growth Rate & Stages

Most dwarves are small at birth, and are considered fully grown by the age of 40. A dwarf who lives to 300 is considered old, but some of the oldest have clocked in at over 450 years old.

Ecology and Habitats

Almost all dwarves live around or under mountains, as their cities are carved into the hearts of mighty peaks within both the Dragonbacks and the Grothberg Range. They can wander, but most never feel truly at home when they're away from a rough, hilly terrain.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Omnivorous, though they have developed to consume more meat than plants. They also have a well-known disdain for leafy vegetables.

Additional Information

Social Structure

Each city acts independently, for reasons of personal interest and vast distances between each. Within each city, three social classes exist in a clan-based system of living.
At the top are the Clanmoth, the upper-class who are the oldest, wealthiest, and most respected clans in the city. The greatest of these clans, called the Crunadh, rule over the city like a dynasty. Each city's Ard-Righ (High King) comes from the Crunadh.
Below the Clanmoth are the Clanlugh, the lesser clans who make up the "merchant" class of dwarf society. These clans still own businesses and make a decent amount of money, but are nowhere near the level of prestige as the Clanmoth. They also make up the bulk of dwarven society.
The lowest class in dwarven society are the Clandheth, the clan-less dwarves. These are those who were cast from their clans, born without them, or had their clans come into disgrace to the point of becoming paupers. They are often neglected from learning proper trades or skills, making most little more than simple laborers or beggars. Rather than clan names, the Clandheth are given surnames based off of the city in which they reside.

Uses, Products & Exploitation

While not a potent source of magic, natural oils extracted from dwarven hairs are known to make an excellent base for balms.

Facial characteristics

Dwarves tend to have harsh features, with large noses and furrowed brows being common. In addition, dwarves are renowned for large amounts of body hair, with males and females alike being able to grow facial hair. In dwarven culture, individuals of higher class and wealth tend to have more ornate and stylized beards.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Dwarves are almost solely found on Ceren, with Estlund having 6 of the 7 great dwarven cities.

Average Intelligence

Most dwarves are within the average range. While they are known for having long memories, many dwarves are not the sharpest creatures, and rarely have great intelligences.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Standard senses, though they are also known for having superior vision in the dark. Their culture tends to prefer divine magic over arcane.

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

All dwarves tend to have rough, almost melodic names that are often akin to Scottish names. For surnames, dwarves use the name of their clan, though this has two forms. In dwarvish, clan names are long and descriptive of the clans history, but are often shortened when used in Common. For example, a clan could be named "Those whose Brows were Carved of the Oldest Stone under the Mountain," but are referred to as Clan Stonebrow in Common.

Gender Ideals

Dwarven society tends toward honor and work above all else. Women are expected to care for the children, but they are not incredibly common. Therefore, men and women essentially occupy the same role, with all levels of society having a similar amount of each.

Relationship Ideals

Dwarves prefer male and female relationships, as most couples are expected to rear a child by the time they've wed for fifty years. This is because continuing the clan comes foremost in their culture, so creating progeny is kind of a big deal. That being said, elders will often allow the younger to maintain a romantic relationship of any kind on the side, as long as they provide a child when the time is right.

Average Technological Level

Dwarves are relatively advanced, with several cities boasting impressive non-magical constructs akin to early scientific revolution builds. That being said, this tech is not incredible, and less than half of the cities are considered that advanced.

Major Language Groups and Dialects

All dwarven cities use Dwarven as a base language, though common is often used in the foreigner and trade districts. Estlundic languages are common in most cities, though one city speaks Curasian languages frequently.
Dwarven is fairly rough, but can be melodic when spoken by a skill speaker. It is functionally unique from most other languages, and even has it's own written lexicon.

Common Taboos

Dwarves, being lawful by nature, disdain most forms of chaotic people and those who break laws or tradition.

Interspecies Relations and Assumptions

Dwarves keep to themselves, and do not hold any major alliances with one race as a whole.

Scientific Name

Humo Barba

Lifespan

300 - 350 years

Average Height

Male: 4'6 - 4'10 Female: 4'6 - 4'9

Average Weight

100 - 130 pounds

Average Physique

All dwarves are stout, with heavy builds and large appendages for their size. It is rare for a dwarf to be skinny, and rotund bellies are a common sight among dwarf-kind. In general, the word "stout" would describe most dwarves very well.

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Dwarves are naturally pale, though prolonged exposure to the sun can change their skin tone to a ruddy tan.