Dwarves
Free treasure from the walls, when thy hammer falls
Basic Information
Anatomy
Dwarves possess a humanoid form, but are shorter then the average human, standing at about 4 foot or chest level height. They also have a lot more muscle then humans, making them a very stocky people. Due to their habit of chugging alcohol like its water, their livers are very strong. A curious note is dwarves are capable of growing impressive beards, which has led to the men being obsessed with their facial hair
Biological Traits
While Dwarven anatomy is remarkably similar to human anatomy, there are some diffrences. For one, Dwarves possess the ability to consume liquor alot easier, and this they use to drink amounts that could potentially kill other races. Their skin is slightly tougher, and their bones are harder to break then a humans.
One last bizarre quirk of their race is for when they naturally die of old age. When a Dwarf dies of old age, instead of just simply dying, they turn into a stone statue. This frankly bizzare mutation has stumped scholars, but the Dwarves simply say that it shows their deep connection to the world, and to their Ancestor Spirits Origins. Coupled with the fact that unfortunately there aren't as many stone statues of Dwarves around since far too many die from violent deaths, this leads those few statues Dwarf Clans have to be literally priceless in their value, and so they are guarded with extreme ferocity.
Genetics and Reproduction
Dwarves reproduce sexually the same way humans do. The gestation period is tenish months, and physical signs of pregnancy don't show until late in the pregnancy.
Growth Rate & Stages
Dwarves mature around the same age as humans, but aren't considered an adult until 50 years of age
Additional Information
Facial characteristics
Great beards and sharp features
Civilization and Culture
Major Organizations
Dwarven Sky Kingdoms. The Sons of Thordrindal, The Heggrin Merchant Guild.
Beauty Ideals
One cornerstone of dwarven society is their beard. The longer and more ornate the beard, the higher their social class and wealth. Mead and drink is almost as important as Beards to dwarves. Due to this importance, the dwarven men take great pride in their beards, so much so that the barber of the ship or keep is seen as a highly respected position, almost on par with the Lord of the Fleet/King. Even the Lord of the Fleet/King depends on his barber to keep his beard the most prestigious and ornate of all the beards in the lands he rules.
Gender Ideals
Dwarves are an egalitarian people, and men and women share the same rights.
Average Technological Level
Dwarven technology is some of the greatest in the realms, even still managing to outshine the Iadith Empire in terms of technological power rather than magical might. Even though many Dwarves prefer magic runes to full on magic, their few spellcasters are still powerful indeed. It is due to this technological excellence that is a mark of pride for the Dwarves, as it shows just how ancient and proud their people truly are.
Major Language Groups and Dialects
The Dwarves primarily speak Dwarven
Culture and Cultural Heritage
While the culture of Dwarves has been changed throughout the different Dwarven Nations, one thing is for certain. They are stubbornness made manifest. It is very rare for a Dwarf to back down from anything unless they have incredibly good cause to, and so due to this they can be seen as rash and bullheaded by the other races. However this is simply just how the Dwarves are, and none can truly change it.
Common Customs, Traditions and Rituals
A dwarf that is younger then age 50 is called a "Young Beard". When a dwarf goes through the rites of adulthood, they are called a "Full Beard". If a dwarf reaches 300 years of age, they are called an "Old Beard" and are a very well respected class amongst dwarves all over the world. If a dwarf reaches around 500 years of age, they are known as an Ancients, for only Master Runesmiths or other very powerful dwarves have been able to live this long, some of the Lords of the Fleet/Kings are Ancients
Common Taboos
Cutting off ones beard is seen as one of the most insulting things one can do to a dwarf. While insulting ones beard will certainly rile them up, shaving ones beard can rapidly turn a situation bloody. Wars have been started for far less among the dwarves.
History
The history of the dwarves is the oldest known tale in the dwarves history, and considering that this is the dwarfs, that is a testament to how ancient their race truly is. They regularly argue with the elves that they are the true first race, but regardless, the tale goes as such.
In the beginning, lay the empty world of Tertara, known in the dwarven tongue as Drulden. In those ancient days, stood the nameless mountains and untasted wells, and hills knew not the foot of life. In those nameless mountains, the wind would carve out the shape of a figure, and eventually that figure would be granted life. He was the first Ancestor Spirit, Thordrindal, and he wandered the land alone. He would wander for many moons until one night, he would return back to the mountain that birthed him and gazed upon a sight. This sight was so beautiful it is said that not a single word exists that can truly translate its beauty. He saw in the night sky, a crown of glowing gems hanging above the great mountain. So it was that he sat there for many moons, simply entranced by the incredible sight of the stars, until he eventually got an idea. He would take this crown as a sign, and would forge the first pickaxe to ever be made. He would wind up his arm and unleash a cataclysmic swing, striking the first axe into stone with such force that it caused many earthquakes that shaped the world to what it is now. This strike was also so great that it would birth the remaining ancestor gods.Thordrindal became the Ancestor Spirit of Mining, Stonework, Artisans, and Smithing. Sudgi became the Ancestor Spirit of Gold, Home, Healing, and Drink. Ikogem became the Ancestor Spirit of War, Warriors, Honor, and Grudges. Zelvi became the Ancestor Spirit of the Underground, Oreshaping, and and of the many Crystals and Ores in the world. Mukem became the Ancestor Spirit of Runesmithing and Magik. Finally, Roluc became the Ancestor Spirit of Engineering and Technology. So it was that these Ancestor Spirits would form the beginning of the Dwarven Empire, Gol Taruhm.
From there, stone was moved and ore was mined, and children were born as the race to become known as the Dwarves, began to take shape, It was not long before the other races encountered them, but by then the Dwarves had already formed a mighty kingdom not spread out upon the treacherous plains, but amongst the mountains of the Empty Range. Great fortress cities known as the Karak’s would form, with the first one being Karak Khalgalir, the hold where the Ancestor Spirits were born. From here, their technology and mastery of smithing was second to none, even though the Elves claim to have the more sophisticated technology, the Dwarves know better. In fact, this directly led into their rivalry that was only strengthened in wars of ages past. Those are stories for other nights however, but it is true that the Dwarves did not live peacefully. Their holds were within close proximity with hordes upon hordes of orcs, Goblins, giants, ogres, dragons, and even demons from hell itself. All life had heard of the great wealth and drinks that the Dwarves hoarded for themselves, and so many would come to try and take from them their hordes. However, the Dwarves are a stubborn race, and rarely back down from anything without great cause too. They would stand against all their enemies and weather every storm of death and destruction thrown their way. So it had been for thousands, upon thousands of years that the Dwarves would stand strong against any enemy of there's, however that would all come tumbling down on one dreadful night in the year 3900EC, now known to the Dwarves as the Night of Woes.
A Goblin King named Belkz da Doom Weaver, was a Goblin of over a hundred years old, and in that time spent every waking moment hatching the plan of plans. In one night, he had a massive grouping of spellcasters start placing a spell, that cost many of their lives as the magical energies consumed them, but it worked in the end. Great Earthquakes shook the dwarven holds, and in that briefest of windows, the Goblins poured in like a tidal wave of death, killing and slaughtering every man, woman, and child that was not a Goblin. However in that moment, as each hold was battling room for room, slowly losing ground as the Goblins came, one Dwarf had found the answer.Trelgrun Skylover, was a master engineer who had earned his title for his ambition to conquer a land untamed of: the skies themselves. Inspired by the many wyverns and dragons of the sky, he had already been making a massive airship the size of a small fortress, and he would rush to complete it as the Goblins came closer and closer. Finally convincing his kin and comrades to come with him, they would fly into the sky, but not before the tomb of the Ancestor Spirits was caved in to prevent the Goblins from defiling them, for it was so deep that even the Underdark wasn’t as deep as the tomb.
Trelgrun was able to create other ships that he used to help rescue other holds, but for many they were simply too late. While flying high above the clouds, a great argument started between the many kings of the strongholds and Trelgrun and the High King Gilmaeth Thunderthane. Many argued what to do next, with some arguing to regroup in new mountain holds and take the fight to the Goblins, while others argued to take a newfound technology, that of safe planar travel, and scatter in floating citadels across the elemental planes. Sadly, even in the face of the great enemy, the traditions and stubbornness of the Dwarves resulted in a schism. So it was that one group would be dropped back off a new location in the mountains to make new Dwarven Holds with the High King, while Trelgrun took the less traditional dwarves and scattered across the elemental planes. Since then, the Dwarven people have remained divided,though they still keep in regular contact with one another. However, all have a shared, burning hatred for Goblins, and all share a desire to see them out of their ancestral land, even if the “Sky Dwarves” have gotten comfortable in their floating fortresses.
Interspecies Relations and Assumptions
Dwarves are generally regarded with respect amongst other races, save the Goblins. Dwarves despise Goblins thanks to the thousadns of years of war between them. Dwarves also hate Ogres and Demons. While they don't hate Elves as much as some might expect, make no mistake that they are not friends with them, as there has been bad blood in the past between the many Elven peoples and Dwarven kind.
Genetic Descendants
Lifespan
300-400 years old (can be longer in special cases)
Average Height
4-5 feet tall
Average Weight
about 150 lb
Average Physique
Stocky, strong
Body Tint, Colouring and Marking
Varying body tints and usually black, white, red, or blonde hair. Some dwarf warriors and others take to painting war paint.
Related Organizations
Related Materials
