Dwarves

Basic Information

Biological Traits

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.

Additional Information

Social Structure

The dwarves govern themselves as thanedoms with the biggest one being led by Arch Duke Ulrich Eisenherz which is also the officially declared ruler of the city of Stehlenwald and the province of Rauland.

Facial characteristics

Male dwarves were often bald and grew thick facial hair, which was sometimes used to display social status. Unusually for humanoids, both sexes naturally grew ample facial hair.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Dwarves are mostly found in the Bürach Empire as the biggest surviving clan, the Eisenherz-Clan, emerged from the Rock-Teeth-Mountains. Still smaller clans can be found all over Etharis mainly on the east-side of the Grey Spine, the Shattered Peaks and the mountains of Valika. Darun still exists as a largely Dwarf-populated city, but it is currently under Robethan control

Civilization and Culture

History

Ancient and dauntless as the mountains they call home, the dwarven race stepped onto the land of Etharis alongside the elves. Unlike the elves, however, the dwarves built their kingdoms deep within the mountains of what is now the Bürach Empire.
Adept with metalworking and jewel crafting, the dwarves created countless cities in the hills and two impressive, impenetrable capitals in the oldest mountains of the continent, the Rock Teeth and the Grey Spine. The veins of mithril and gold were rich beneath these mountains and dwarven crafters quickly became famous across Etharis.
During the wars of the Era of Expansion, the dwarves barricaded themselves within the fortresses of their two greatest cities: the tiered city of Stehlenwald and the now ruined city of Grabenstein. The dwarves of Grabenstein were besieged by the human warlords who would later lay the groundwork of the Bürach Empire. Though the dwarves fought valiantly for their homelands, the Bürach warlords uprooted their thanedom and claimed their vein rich mines.
The second dwarven kingdom of Stehlenwald, however, endured the siege. Rather than share the fate of their cousins to the north, the Stehlenwald Dwarves dug deeper into the heart of the mountain. There, their miners laid eyes upon a new metal which was impenetrable to the arrows of their enemies; adamantine. With armour and weapons of impeccable craftsmanship, the dwarven battalions managed to push the invaders back to their homelands, but at a great cost: half of their population was exterminated, either by the war or by famine. Isolation within the mountains was their only option for survival.
By the birth of the various human kingdoms, the proud dwarves of Stehlenwald had begun to recover their numbers. When they emerged, they realized that the political landscape had dramatically changed. They were surrounded and vastly outnumbered by the armies of the Bürach Empire. The dwarven emperor realized there was only one way for his race to survive and prosper, and struck a deal with the Bürach Empire. They would surrender their lands and become members of the Bürach, as long as they could govern themselves independently.
Some older dwarves still cannot forget that the human race once tried to eradicate them. As they say, it is easier to move a mountain than a dwarf. But though there is still a deep rivalry between humans and dwarves, the Stehlenwald province of Rauland will be there for the Bürach Empire in times of need—an oath none expect to be broken.

Genetic Descendants

Gnomes

Scientific Name

elder race

Lifespan

350 years

Average Height

4'3"–4'9" / 1.3–1.45 meters

Average Weight

160–220 lbs / 73–100 kg

Average Physique

What dwarves lacked in height they made up for in bulk; they were, on average, about as heavy as humans. 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.

Related Ethnicities

Bürachi Robethan