Dwarf
Dwarves, sometimes called the Stout Folk, were a natural humanoid race common throughout parts of Faerun. Dwarves were a tough, tradition-abiding folk known for their strong martial traditions and beautiful craftsmanship.
The spacefaring dwarves that traverse the Astral Sea generally resemble planet-born dwarves, forming clans and strongholds out of large floating asteroids and meteors that are propelled through space by the energy generated from their forges. These strongholds and ships, called citadels, were functionally flying fortresses.
Basic Information
Biological Traits
Dwarves were a short race, as their name implied, standing from 4'3"–4'9" (1.3–1.45 meters) on average, with hill dwarves a bit shorter. What dwarves lacked in height they made up for in bulk; they were, on average, about as heavy as humans. A dwarf could weigh anywhere from about 160–220 lbs (73–100 kg). Dwarven males were a bit taller and heavier than their female counterparts. Like humans, dwarves had a wide variety of skin, eye, and hair colors, typically pale among mountain dwarves and deeply tanned or brown amongst hill dwarves. Hazel eyes were common throughout the race, with blue eyes more common amongst mountain dwarves and brown or green eyes found amongst the hill dwarves.
Growth Rate & Stages
Dwarves were a long-lived race, though not so much as elves, and reached physical maturity somewhat later than humans. A dwarf was traditionally considered an adult once he or she reached age fifty. Dwarves aged much like humans but over a longer period of time, remaining vigorous well past 150 years. Most dwarves lived to see their bicentennial and a few lived to be over 400. A dwarf was considered to be young until they reached the age of 50.
Ecology and Habitats
Dwarves tend to congregate in underground settlements, carved from the very stone itself. Though individuals and families could be spotted on the surface, clans rarely settled above ground.
Additional Information
Social Structure
Most dwarven societies were divided into clans built along family ties and political allegiances. These clans were usually led by hereditary rulers, often monarchs of a sort and descended from the founder of the clan. Dwarves strongly valued loyalty to these rulers and to the clan as a whole and even objective dwarves tended to side primarily with their kin over other races or communities.
These clan structures promoted a tradition of inbreeding. This was so excessive that it was considered one of the reasons for the dwarves' low birth rate.
Most dwarven clans focused on one or two kinds of crafting, such as blacksmithing, jewelry, engineering, or masonry. Dwarves strove to avoid overspecialization by sending some of their youths to other clans to serve as apprentices, which also helped to foster racial unity. Because of their longevity, these apprenticeships might last decades.
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Dwarves could see in the dark, out to about 60 feet (18 meters). Many dwarves had an affinity for the caverns in which they lived, possessing a knack for recognizing unusual patterns in stonework that could seem almost supernatural at times.
Civilization and Culture
Major Organizations
Culture and Cultural Heritage
Dwarves highly valued the ties between family members and friends, weaving tightly knit clans. Dwarves particularly respected elders, from whom they expected sound leadership and the wisdom of experience, as well as ancestral heroes or clan founders. This idea carried on to relations with other races and dwarves were deferential even to the elders of another, non-dwarven race.
Scientific Name
Homo nanus sapiens
Origin/Ancestry
Mountain, Hill, Duergar, Albino
Lifespan
350 years
Average Height
4 – 5 ft (1.2 – 1.5 m)
Average Weight
150 lb (68 kg)
Geographic Distribution
Related Organizations
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