Hill Dwarves

Although the least populous of the two dwarven subspecies, the hill dwarves are actually what most people think of when they imagine dwarves. This is a direct result of the Mountain Dwarves indifference towards worldly affairs and the fact that hill dwarves are the exact opposite, not only open to outside communication, but actively seeking it out.

Basic Information

Biological Traits

Millennia of life closer to the serface in mines and hill homes and shorter tunnels than their mountain brethren, hill dwarve evolved to be slightly smaller than Mountain Dwarves, but only by a few inches and pounds on average. A difference that dwarves would say is drastic, while non-dwarf people would probably not even notice.

In addition to the height difference, hill dwarves have grown in more gentle and comfortable environs than Mountain Dwarves, and so their physique tends to be more lean than Mountain Dwarves. This is not to say they are any less fit, in fact they may perhaps be more so (see CULTURE AND CULTURAL HERITAGE). Finally, the most noticeable difference between hill and mountain dwarves is that hill dwarves skin colors range on the darker spectrum, from a soft olive coloring to a golden brown.

Civilization and Culture

Major Language Groups and Dialects

Dwarvish and The Common Tongue.

Culture and Cultural Heritage

While they may be similar in appearance, culturally hill dwarves are nothing like their mountain dwelling cousins. After generations of actively seeking out mutually beneficial relationships with other species throughout the world, the hill dwarves are far more social, friendly and influential in societies of Unorrea, and their culture is built around that. Almost directly opposite that of the Mountain Dwarves, hill dwarf society is far more socially focused. While their cultural and worth is still based on achievements, it is the standards of achievements that are different. Hill dwarfs consider great achievements to be socially relevant accomplishments such as the number of friends or business contacts one has. Being the key player in a professional or political engagement is paramount to building a legendary weapon in mountain dwarf culture.

This cultural perspective has also further developed over the generations. If the Mountain Dwarves are creators, then at their core the hill dwarves are businessmen. More than half of the most lucrative businesses and banks in the world have been started by one or more hill dwarves, or at the very least a hill dwarf was involved. Easily the largest corporation in Unorrea, The Red Beryl Holding Company, was started by a singular clan of hill dwarves living in The Shayador Empire.

History

While there are not that many dwarves in the world (in fact, the dwarves are the least populous of all the Children of Solun), there are even fewer mountains, and not all of them proved habitable for the original dwarves who chose to reside in cavernous halls during the Age of Creation as a way to escape Maferath's wrath.

Some time ago, probably thousands of years, although historical records at that time are spotty at best, there was a breaking of dwarves that chose to live closer to the surface world in homes under hills near mines where they prospected precious metals to trade with surface dwellers. Where as the Mountain Dwarves sought to seclude themselves from the outside world, the hill dwarves actively sought out business and personal relationships with the other species of the world. More often than not, if you run into a dwarf its a hill dwarf.

Interspecies Relations and Assumptions

See CULTURE AND CULTURAL HERITAGE.

Genetic Ancestor(s)

• Dwarves

Scientific Name

Homo sapiens pumilionis conlis

Lifespan

350 years

Average Height

4'5''

Average Weight

150lbs