Valley Dwarves

Valley Dwarves (also known as "Wood Dwarves") are a subgroup of Dwarves commonly found living within the wooded valleys of the Frostridge Mountains. In contrast to most of their fellow Dwarves, particularly the Mountain Dwarves and their focus on mountain cities, stonecutting and mining, the Valley Dwarves are best known for their wooden structures, as well as their skill at woodcutting/carving and hunting. With many rangers and frontiersmen counted among their numbers, the Valley Dwarves are well regarded by their fellow Dwarves for the role they played in charting the borders of Durfaehn during itsinitial founding and expansion, as well as for their continued role in keeping the more remote parts of their homeland safe.

Culture

Culture and cultural heritage

While sharing a number of cultural traits with their cousins living among the stony mountain peaks, such as a reverance for legacy, diligence, and craftsmanship, the Valley Dwarves have adopted a number of unique traits of their own, influenced by the wooded valleys they call home. While most Dwarves focus their art and industry on stone and iron, the Valley Dwarves have built much of their society around wood, often working as woodcarvers and loggers, and with cabins and longhouses forming the majority of their structures. Additionally, the plentiful farmland of their surroundings have allowed the Valley Dwarves to become the most agrarian of their people, with much of their trade consisting of delivering goods that can't be easily acquired among the mountaintops or within the underground to their bretheren.

Most famously, the Valley Dwarves have developed a reputation for being hardy frontiersmen. Due to their towns and cities being so close to the wilderness compared to those of their fellow Dwarves, the Valley Dwarves have produced a number of rangers, hunters, and scouts from among their numbers, all of whom excel at traversing the often rough terrain of the mountains and valleys they call home. This skill played a crucial role in the Valley Dwarves exploration, settlement, and expansion of Durfaehns early borders, and continues to be a central pillar of life among their people.

Average technological level

The Valley Dwarves make limited use of Magitech, but are willing to work with it if neccessary.

Common Etiquette rules

Like with most Dwarves, Valley Dwarves consider it proper etiquette to provide fair, honest feedback onthe work of others. Additionally, due to the often remote nature of their settlements, the Valley Dwarves also value showing proper respect for hospitality.

Common Dress code

Valley Dwarf clothing is simple and utilitarian in design, is often made from furs and hides, and is usually lighter than typical Dwarven clothing while still being insulated against the cold.

Art & Architecture

While sharing many of the simple and blocky design elements of the typical Dwarven style, Valley Dwarf architecture makes heavy useage of wood in its construction, with wooden cabins and longhouses being common structures. This also extends to their art, which encompasses both wooden sculptures and engravings.

Funerary and Memorial customs

Valley Dwarves typically either bury their deaad, or cremate them.

Ideals

Beauty Ideals

Valley Dwarves consider honesty, diligence, and self-reliance to be attractive traits.

Gender Ideals

While there are no strict divisions between genders among the Valley Dwarves, it's still common to see women occupying roles that keep them close to their home communities (such as farming and mending), while men often take up roles that take them further out from them (such as hunting and logging).

Courtship Ideals

Like with most Dwarves, it typically falls on the man to propose, often through the presentation of a hand-made gift (usually carved from wood or bone).

Relationship Ideals

Valley Dwarves are monogamous.

Encompassed species

• Dwarves

Related Items

• Gnome Sculptures

Related Locations

• Frostridge Mountains