Dwarf
As steady as a mountain and as stubborn as rock, dwarves are a hardy people. None are certain of their origin. Some say a Prime God carved them from the stone of a mountain and implored Vydra to breathe life into them. Some say they are descended from the earth and stone elementals, twisted and changed by the Balethöne. And still more say that they are creatures from the Vydrithöne itself, crossed over so long ago that they have forgotten their true home. Regardless of their origins, the dwarves are a strong, proud race, independent of others. They have carved deep into the mountains and their cities fill great caverns. Their stone work knows no rival, and their forges produce tools that will last a life time.
Basic Information
Anatomy
Dwarves are built stocky and strong. Humanoids with two arms and two legs, they mimic the earth they love so much in their durability. Their bones are thick and rigid, able to withstand great amounts of force and weight upon them. Muscles are built for strength and endurance, allowing dwarves to lift large amounts of weight or wield a tool for far longer than would be expected. A dwarf's skin is thick and leathery, callousing easily.
Biological Traits
Those dwarves who do not live within the mountains form a subrace of dwarves known as hill dwarves. They have tanner skin than their forbears, but otherwise are quite similar in traits.
One of the only visible differences between male and female dwarves is the length of their beards. Females do grow facial hair, but it tends to stay fairly short, while males can grow very long beards. Those who work in forges or around fire tend to either cut these short or completely shave off their beards, for safety reasons.
Genetics and Reproduction
Dwarves have a gestation period of 15 months. The female carries a single child to term, and then gives birth to it. The child is born still as stone, with no breathe within their lungs. They are then wrapped and placed upon heated stones, the warmth of which causes the babe to suck in its first breathe. A newborn can go for many days, some up to two weeks, without this ritual before passing away.
Growth Rate & Stages
A dwarf may live to be about 50 cycles old. Young dwarves go through a maturing process that lasts about 4 cycles, reaching adulthood in their 5th cycle.
Ecology and Habitats
Most dwarves will reside in the mountain ranges that dot the Balethöne. There, they carve out great winding cities within the earth. Depending on the size of the mountain, some of these cities are miles high, with buildings carved from the walls themselves. Dwarves use the rich soil they dig up to grow a large multitude of crops, and they are skilled in creating reflective shafts to the surface that let in abundant light.
Additional Information
Average Intelligence
Many would not view dwarves as a highly intelligent race, due to their lack of interest in higher academics or book knowledge. However, they have very keen minds when it comes to their crafts, such as weapons or tools forging, architecture, and sculpted art. Their cities are a testament to their skill, many describing them as breathtaking works of craftmanship.
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Dwarves are at home within the deep crevices of the earth, and they have eyesight to match. A dwarf can catch the sparkle and glimmer of precious gems and metal within the walls of a mine far before many surface dwellers, and their hearing is suited to the disorientating echoes of large caverns.
Scientific Name
Lapis Natus
Lifespan
50 cycles
Average Height
4' - 5'
Average Weight
200 - 300 lbs
Average Physique
Dwarves are a hardy people, with bodies to match. While a dwarf will naturally have a solid foundation of muscle, they also carry excess weight, which helps absorb the impact of a hammer fall or in carrying large loads. Additionally, dwarves are able to go longer without food than most, having slow metabolisms, making this system ideal for famines or food shortages.
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