Dwarves

Written by Mho-games

Dwarves are short, but stout, hardy people who come from massive caverns or high mountains. They are a proud, warlike race, usually made so by frequent contact with hostile races. It is believed that Dwarves could live upwards 200 years due to their slower metabolism. They have ruddy skin and all human hair colors.

Racial Abilities:

LOW LIGHT VISION: Dwarf eyes are accustomed to the dark of the under earth. They ignore penalties for Dim and Dark Illumination.

REDUCED PACE: Dwarves have short legs compared to most races. Decrease their Pace by 1 and their running die one die type.

Sub-races:

Stone Dwarf

Stone Dwarves are the most common of Dwarfs, at more than 70% of total population. They are skilled miners and stone workers.

TOUGH: Dwarfs are stout and tough. They start with a d6 Vigor instead of a d4.

TAUNT: (Smarts) Taunt attacks a person's pride through ridicule, cruel jests, or oneupmanship. Taunt is an opposed roll resisted by the opponent's Smarts. In combat, this is a Test (see page 108). Out of combat, success means the defender backs down, slinks away, or starts a fight. A raise might leave the victim cowed for the remainder of the scene, or make her storm out of the area fuming or even in tears, or attack her tormentor recklessly (perhaps with a Wild Attack on the first round of combat).

Hill Dwarf

Hill Dwarves have a slighter build than Stone Dwarves. The Hill Dwarves are the tried and true craftsman of the world of Terra.

ADDITIONAL SKILLS : Repair (Smarts) Hill Dwarves get an additional + 2 to all build create or repair rolls involving metalworking and stonework.

EDGE : Jack-Of-All-Trades The character makes a Smarts roll as an action after observing or studying some subject. She gains a d4 in the relevant skill with success, or d6 with a raise.

After reaching Seasoned
EDGE : Magic Metal Crafting: Ability to craft magic metal weapons.

Ice / Arctic Dwarfs

Ice / Arctic Dwarves are very rare, less than 3% of the population. They resemble Stone Dwarves just slightly shorter, with a more powerful build. They have more strength, and more resilient, due to the extreme savage lives they lead.
TOUGH: Arctic Dwarves are stout and tough and always ready to help or fight. They start with a d6 Vigor instead of a d4.

ARCANE RESISTANCE (Mod): Arcane skills targeting the hero suffer a -2 penalty (even if cast by an ally is reduced by 2 as well). They have grown with a resistance to all magic including friendly.

LIMITED ARCANE BACKGROUND: Arctic Dwarves can only be TOUCHED (only exception is for a tribe's clergy to the Builder).

LIMITED COLD RESISTANCE (Mod): Arctic Dwarves thrive in cold. Z' An-Ya blessed these hearty people with a resistance to cold. -2 to all cold damage, plus the ability to automatically UNSHAKE from any attack done by cold.

SPECIAL ABILITY: NOT-Dead till WARM-Dead: Arctic Dwarves can not die from freezing or cold damage alone. If their body suffers 3+ Wounds in subzero temps, the dwarf will go into suspended animation. While remaining in freezing temperatures, the body can stay viable for up to 6 months. Only a tribe's clergy knows the process for revival.

NOTE : The cutting tip of a Fine or better pickax is so dense that it can cut diamonds. Their are rumors that the Rare Legendary Masterwork swords and knives, have an the edge that is so dense that they can bend light.  The light bending blade warps light becoming invisible when in motion.