Dwarf
The Dwarves of Trorune stand as a resilient and stalwart race, each subrace, of which there are three recognized, have their own blending of unique characteristics and distinctive paths. The Hill Dwarves, hardy and enduring, thrive within the embrace of rolling hills and verdant valleys, making their homes in burrows and shallower subterranean dwellings. Renowned for their keen senses and craftsmanship, Hill Dwarves possess a profound affinity for the earth, crafting exquisite stonework and tending to the riches of the soil. They are the most outgoing of the Dwarves and tend to have the most contact with the other races of Kalbela.
Mountain Dwarves, rugged and tenacious, forge their existence in the heart of mighty peaks and towering mountain ranges, carving out grand halls and citadels from the very stone they hold dear. As masters of mining and metallurgy, Mountain Dwarves are revered for their unmatched ability to create armor and weapons of unparalleled quality, instilling their craftsmanship with both artistry and strength. Their arms and armors are prized amongst their owners across the Empire, the Giamela Kingdom, and the Raja'ri Territories, the bulk of Mountain Dwarf Strongholds in Kalbela reside in the Broken Spine of Salazar and the Twin-tail Peaks.
Duergar, also known as Dark or Grey Dwarves, occupy a different realm altogether, dwelling beneath the earth in vast, shadowed cities of the Underdark far deeper than either their Mountain or Hill Dwarf brethren even. Hardened by the dark and oppressive depths, Duergar are rarely ever seen on the surface and are often viewed as mysterious and stoic, wielding psionics and dark magic, making them formidable adversaries and allies alike. Their mastery of subterfuge and stealth has granted them an air of enigma, and their propensity for cunning and secrecy is only surpassed by their resilience.
Though they vary in appearance and demeanor, Dwarves share common traits: compact and sturdy frames, long beards that evoke the wisdom of ages, and a bond with the earth that is ever unyielding. Their keen eyes and keen senses are honed for exploration and craftsmanship, and their cultural customs and traditions are steeped in a love for the forge and the deep places of the world.
Basic Information
Biological Traits
Dwarves show slight sexual dimorphism, males will typically be a bit taller, heavier, and wider than their female counterparts. Both the sexes grow facial hair, though a male's beard will usually be much thicker.
A Dwarf's internal organs, namely the stomach and intestines, are extremely tough and aid in the race's natural resistances to even the most deadly poisons.
Genetics and Reproduction
Dwarves, be they Mountain, Hill, or Duergar, have absymal fertility rates within their own race averaging around one in five for both males and females. It has led to many dwarves to look outside of their kind to successfully reproduce, namely in humans due to their vitality.
Dwarven-blood however is so potent, that it is genetically dominant and will almost completely surpress other species genetics, even that of Tieflings and their demonic influences.
The gestation period for female dwarves is one year.
Growth Rate & Stages
Dwarves age at the same rates as humans, however, traditionally, dwarves are considered young until they cross fifty years at which a clan or family will view them as an adult. Dwarves will maintain their vigor well past their second century of life, not truly dislaying a slowdown in their energy until their third century of life, to which compared to most other races is minimal at best, but while many can still spin a sword with deadly effciency and swing a hammer that can cave a troll's skull with deft strike at these advance ages, unwillingly these dwarves will grumble to themselves that they're not as fluid as they once were but a few decades prior.
Behaviour
Whether or not the dwarven claim that they were carved from the world's stone is true, the race shares many qualities considered similar to the stone they lived with. Strong, hardy, and dependable, dwarves are polite, particularly to elders, and possess a wisdom beyond that of many other shorter-lived races. Dwarves value their traditions, regardless of the subrace they come from, and look for inspirational living from ancestral heroes.
Dwarves are most known for their stubborn nature and cynicism, traits widespread amongst the dwarves but which contribute to but are commonly offset by their bravery and tenacity. They however, are still naturally dour and suspicious people and slow to trust others, specifically those outside their family, often suspecting the worst of an individual until the outsider has proven their good and metel many times over. Dwarves often view betrayals, even minor ones, with a vicious propensity for vengeance, some could even span generations after the death of the afronted and still harbor the same level of vitriol; there is a common Gnomish saying, in regards to a dwarf's sense of justice, "if I'm lying, may I cross a dwarf."
Civilization and Culture
Gender Ideals
While both male and female dwarves grow beards and facial hair, however most female dwarves have adopted human woman beauty standards since humans took over the realms After the Sundering and now shave their facial hair to better assimilate themselves ito their settlements; though there are some clans that do not adhere to this outside cultural influence.
Relationship Ideals
Dwarves commonly believe that true, meaningful friendships can only be forged over long periods of time and a common Dwarven saying is that "the difference between an acquaintance and a friend is about a hundred years", meaning that few members of the shorter-lived races are able to forge strong bonds with a dwarf. There are notable exceptions to this however as some of the strongest friendships are those between a dwarf and a human whose forebears were on good terms with the dwarf during their lives. The dwarf often can regale tales to the youngster to rekindle these unique multi-generational familial friendships.
Culture and Cultural Heritage
Dwarves highly value the ties between family members and friends, resulting in the creation of tightly knit clans of different families. Dwarves particularly respect elders, from whom they expect sound leadership and the wisdom of experience, this same reverence is also reserved for ancestral heroes or clan founders. This idea carried on to relations with other races and dwarves even show a level of deferential even to the elders of another, non-dwarven race as well.
Likewise, dwarves, perhaps more so than most other races are highly pious and often turn to their gods for guidance and protection, looking to the divine for comfort and inspiration. And while individual dwarves might be faithless, the race as a whole, regardless of subrace, has a strong inclination for religion and almost every community maintains at least one temple or ancestral shrine.
Common Taboos
A dwarf's beard is often a thing of pride and sometimes even a display of social status, with only standard grooming, styling, ornamentation, and trimming being done to keep the beard presentable.
Common Myths and Legends
Old dwarven folklore say that the dwarves were not a 'birthed' race of people but instead they were carved from the world's stone by their creator god, Moradin and shaped by the other members of the Dwarven Pantheon.
Scientific Name
Homo pumilionis
Lifespan
350-400 years
Average Height
4-5 ft.
Average Weight
150-215 lbs.
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