Dwarves (Dwa-or-vs)
A proud people, more proud of their craft
Dwarves are a hardy and stubborn people that have made their home among the cold mountains of Guilnile and beyond. They are known for their hard work, excellent craftsmanship, mining technqiues, humor, and stubborn attitudes. Many regard Guilnile as being much like the Dwarves, due to its harsh and stubborn nature. The Dwarves have come to love their home region, as they see the harsh environment as making them stronger, and just another test from the gods to see if they are worthy of the Mantle of Responsibility. The ore-rich mountains of Guinlile fuel their clans, and the greatest of all Dwarven cities resides in the Great Peak, one of the Six Peaks of Wold.
Culture
Dwarves have a special hour of the day, that is around 10:00, called the Hour of the Flame, which is when they believe the Flame of the Gods was first lit. No one works during this hour, and the Sacred Flamers sing across the halls of the dwarves, letting their voices echo across the chambers.Religion
The Dwarves are strict followers of their own religion that they have named, Dwarfism. It holds the belief that the Dwarves hold the Mantle of Responsibility over the other races of Archtun. Unlike Humanism, Orkism, and Elvenism, Dwarfism has integrated into everyday lives of the Dwarves, with them first waking up and praying to their gods that their mountain and work be blessed, and that one day the Mantle of Responsibility will be given to them. While they work and mine, they sing hyms of their own good and credible deeds in hopes to convince the gods they are ready for the Mantle. The Tounge Keepers are a militant sect of the religion, and watch for blasphemy across Guilnile to keep the faith intact. Their headquarters is located on a floating cloud that moves throughout Guilnile's skies. This is possible due to the ancient dwarven technique known as Feathercrafting. Because of this, the Keepers wear special boots known as Featherboots, that allow them to walk on the cloud that hosts their headquarters, which is known as All-eye. In Dwarfism, it is believed that one must cleanse themselves of the filth and sin of life, lest they not be worthy when they are ready to inherit the Mantle of Responsibility. Dwarves practice cleansing themselves via a process in which they clothe themselves in mostly fire-resistant armor and then enter a large brazier known as a "Brazier of Purification." The Dwarves then believe their sins and filth are cleansed by the holy flames, which are managed by the Sacred Flamers, who enforce theHistory
The first Dwarves were created by Helifex and Aurorea on an unknown date in the first era, supposedly within the depths of the Great Peak, although some accounts and cults of their kind speak of a lost land the Dwarves originally hail from before they were under the Great Peak. While they were under the Great Peak, they were given nothing but a singular flame that burned upon a brazier, given to them by Helifex so their eyes would not turn white. The Dwarves would then dig themselves out from underneath the mountain until they reached the top of the mountain and to the outside world around the year 1600 1E. This event would take place over the course of a hundred years in what is to be known as the 'Great Ascension". Helifex himself would appear to the dwarves that had successfully came from the darkest depths of the world to the highest point. Helifex told them this was done so that no other species could claim they had anything handed to them, and to build the character of the dwarves as they ascended. The flame that was given to the dwarves was brought to the new castle in the Great Peak and brought to the center of the court before the throne, and named; "The Flame of Gods." The Great Ascension took place somewhere around 1500 1E. It tells of the story of how the Dwarves one day mysteriously awoke underneath the Great Peak and ascended their way to the surface of Guilnile. The Dwarves believe that it was a test placed upon them by Helifex to see if they were worthy of life. It took a hundred years for the Dwarves to breach the surface of Wold, and when they did, they had believed they had passed the first test of many from Helifex in order to claim the Mantle of Responsibility. During the Great Ascension, there were seven "Jarls of Old" that would lead the Dwarves in their ascent. All modern-day Dwarven clans with the exception of Clan Hundjal would have chieftans that come from their lineage. The seven Jarls of Old include; Jarl Olaf Mungfrant, Jarl Holgir Arbud, Jarl Buckstone Mahraodan, Jarl Dougnas Dwemmi, Jarl Jelda Korshrun, Jarl Bunolir Angoruth, and Jarl Groldrut Mirou. During the final days of the Great Ascension, the Dwarves and their constant digging awoken a terrible foe deep beneath the Great Peak. They were able to seal off the Deepest Caverns where they first awoke in, but sometimes the screams and tremors can still be felt throughout the mountain, a constant reminder of the terrible foe they narrowly escaped. When the Dwarves finally breached the surface and stood upon the precipace of the Great Peak, the first Dwarves that were greeted by sunlight became blind. The Dwarves would think this a curse from Helifex and cast them away. These Dwarves would eventually begin the Clans of the Dark, residing too far under ground past what Helifex would wish and some becoming mad. The other Dwarves would remain under ground for another fifty years or so. fearing that they too would be blinded, but when sunlight began to seep through their caverns, they took it as a sign to breach the surface once more. They took the Flame of Gods to the peak of the Great Peak and built their great capital around it. They also built grand statues of the Grand Architect, the Forger, and the Brute. Some Dwarves would see it fit to never abandon the flame unguarded, so they dipped their weapons in the flame and became the Guard of the Eternal Flame. Once a strong foundation had been built for their own capital, it is said that a manifest of Helifex came down to bless the Dwarves for having sucessfully completed Helifex's first challenge on their road to the Mantle of Responsibility. The Dwarves would worship the manifest and name him "If-Glal", which means "like a god". He would then lead those who were willing into the southern Stoneheart Mountains and create the first clan there- Clan Mugfrant. The Dwarves would craft a grand crown for If-Glal, but he would then reportedly put it on the head of Minar-Taka, claiming him to be the first chief of Clan Mungfrant. He would gather some disciples during his time there and instruct them well in the ways Helifex wished them to live. He taught them to light the fires of purification and to cleanse themselves in it, and to always strive for strength and hardiness in order to one day recieve the Mantle of Responsibility. During the last visit to the Great Peak, If-Glal would pose a challenge to the Dwarves to settle the land: 'To the North lies the strong and hardy, blessed by battle and made for war. Their flesh will be tougher than the iron they wield. To the East lies culture and feasts, worthy of a chief's belly. Their appetites and their axes will be satiated. To the West lies great riches and craft, for those that wish to mine their gold and make something of both their lives and their work. To the South lies adventure and talk. For those that would rather travel and blabber than pick up his pick. Go out therefore and make this land yours, for Helifex has given it unto you like a mother giving milk to her sons." -If-Glal If-Glal would then take his disciples to the base of a mountain one day and give them the Great Order to keep Dwarves always clean and be ready to take on any challenge Helifex gives them. He would then ascend the mountain and never return, the top hidden by fog. The disciples would then become The First Knowers and begin the religion of Dwarfism. It was during this time that the burgeoning clans of Guilnile would create their own religions and stray away from Helifex, despite all he had done for them. Because of this, great disasters would affect the clans, such as Enorm-draks attacking them, harsh winters, and flooding. Yet the worst would be Helifex leading the ice demons known as the Ulthrank from the north to come to the Northern Coast of Guilnile and attack the dwarves. The First Knowers would go out across the clans and begin to spread the religion of Dwarfism. The clans that initially recieved it with open arms had their curse taken from them. Upon seeing this, the other clans would follow. The devoted of the Dwarven proto-religions would be kicked out from Dwarven society, and many of them would find refuge in the Valley of Heresy, where their ancient practices are still practiced to this day. Around the time of 2000 1E, the call of Kzrah-Kzak, a prisce of Helifex, went out across the mountains, beckoning the Dwarves to conquer, expand, and be fruitful. The order was also given to take back Northern Guilnile from the Ulthrank that had now been residing and raiding the Dwarves to the south. With the religion of Dwarfism now in the hearts of the vast majority of Dwarves, they would take this as the second large challenge from Helifex to prove themselves worthy of the Mantle of Responsibility. The Dwarves would go to war with the Ulthrank in what was to become the War of Frozen Water, which would last from 2000 2E - 2012 2E, with the Dwarves sucessfully kicking the Ulthrank from Guilnile and into the Gathleen Isles to the north. With the end of the War of Frozen Water, the Dwarves would have control of the Steelgard Mountains and the Withered Peaks. The Steelgard mountains were given to Chief Sucrand Arbud in 2014 2E, for his valiant fighting in the war, and the Withered Peaks were claimed by Chieftan Horand Hundjal, a warrior that had saved the life of the chief of Clan Mungfrant. Many would be opposed to this, especially Clan Arbud, claiming it unright for Chief Hundjal to start a clan, as he was not a descendant from the Old Jarls, but because he had saved his life, the chief of Clan Mungfrant allowed the creation of Clan Hundjal in 2015 2E. Many still believe Clan Hundjal to be illegitimate to present day. With the creation of new clans, and the anger of Clan Arbud for the creation of Clan Hundjal, Chief Sucrand Arbud would call the two chiefs at a roundtable in the Great Peak to form the Book of Records- a book to detail all the right and wrongs that have been done to each clan to know what is owed and what is to be given. Clan Hundjal would be very opposed to the idea, believing that it would be used to enslave other clans in the future, while Clan Arbud thought it to be used to dispatch justice across their kind. The argument across the stonetable would last days, each chief too stuborn to admit defeat, and Chief Mungfrant mediating. This would be known as the Stonetable Grudge of 2040 2E. their shouting would ring out across the Great Peak's vast halls and make those who listened day in and day out go insane, and believe that neither was fit to lead a clan. Hundreds of Dwarves would leave each clan and settle in the west, creating Clan Mahraodan in 2040 2E, after Arkik Mahraodan convinced many that he would lead better than the "babble mouths". Eventually, the argument was mediated to the solution that each clan may have their own Book of Records, but the other clans were in no obligation to uphold their recrods. It was around the time of 2500 2E, that many of the Dwarves would form communities over their favorite ore, such as gold, silver, iron, obisidian, etc. They would come together and unite over their shared interest, smith, dicuss, mine, and more. They would call these groups "Guilds", and be officially recognized by the four clans and allow them to create halls for headquarters in their boarders if they pay them tribute. This would lead to the creation of guilds, which would become a vast idea adapted by many of the other cultures across Wold. By the year 3200 2E, a grou of Dwarves, led by Mira Mirou, a descendant of the Old Jarls, would lead a rebellion againt Clan Hundjal, claiming them to be true inherritors of the land. The rebellion would end with the Similia Agreement, giving Clan Mirou the Edged Cliffs, as each side were kin and wished not to fight one another. During the year of 3200 2E, the dragons would have rule over the Southern-Tongue Mountains. Their cries from the mountain tops would call some of the Dwarves to explore and venture forth to them, only for them to become heretics and view the dragons as gods, worshiping them and creating the Dragonhood. Outraged by this, Tuwar Dwemmi, a descendant of the Old Jarls, would lead the Dwarves of all clans against the dragons and rest control over the Souther Tongue Mountains from them and defeat the Dragonhood. His troops would become experienced dragon hunters and earn their legacy as such. With the Southern Tongue Mountains under his control, Tuwar Dwemmi would create the dragon-slaying clan known as Clan Dwemmi. However, the dragon queen, Hylish-Gun-Kial, would make a last ditch effort to destroy the Dwarves and fly to the Stoneheart Mountains, where she was felled by Tuwar Dwemmi after launching himself from a catapult in his hand and piercing the side of the dragon queen, sending her to the ice below and freezing. Sometime around 3200 1E, at the turn of the First Era to the second, the dragons would attempt to retake Guilnile and rescue their queen Hylish-Gun-Kial, from the frozen ice of the Stoneheart Mountains. The war would be known as the Scaled-Axe War. It would last around ten years, going to 3210 1E, and prove another victory for the Dwarves. They were even able to capture a dragon, and name her "Belly Forge" in their language, a great insult to the Dragons. Belly-Forge was then brought to Clan Dwemmi to help fuel their great forging fires. The year of 3500 1E saw the rise of Clan Angoruth In the year 3700 1E, the Dwarves would officially expand beyond the Hjabardun Mountains and settle in small communities up till the Kenhardt River. In 4120 1E, the first High-Chief of the Daoi line, High-Chief Tourtack would make the bold and controversial decreement to mine deeper into the crust of Wold in order to replenish their diminishing lava reserves, as a great winter had come across Northern Archtun and hidden the lava even beneath ground. He would tell his soldiers and miners to ignore the Clans of the Dark. The Clans of the Deep would retaliate and fight back against the Surface-Dwellers, in what was to become known as the Schism of the Dark, which lasted from 4120 1E- 4123 1E. The Clans of the Dark would be successful and keep the Clans of the Suface out of their home. In 4256 2E, while the Northweil mountains besides the easternmost parts were under the control of the dwarves, the dwarves of Guilnile grew more ambitious with their territory. The Dwarves of Clan Angoruth, under Chief Gonwelq II, sent a letter to the high elves that controlled the peaks, stating that they must give up control of the mountains in the eastern parts of the Northweild Mountain Range. The dwarves waited for over a week before Gonwelq sent Dimerov Worm-Ender, who just six years ago one a grand victory over the worm runners, and his army, the Steelvehim, that encompassed over eight-thousand veteran dwarves, many of who fought against the vile Ulthrank of the north. Dimerov and his army met in a small clearing between the mountains just before they reached the unconquered eastern portions of Northweil, only to encounter twelve female high elves dressed in pure gold blocking their path. Dimerov ordered a volley to be sent out to clear away the elves, but as the arrows approached, they fell one by one around the elves. Dimerov then sent an attachment of dwarves to kill the elves, but the twelve elves slaughtered most of the assault, with only a few escaping. Dimerov sent wave after wave of dwarves to kill the elves, but the resulting defeat was the same each time. The battle only stopped after one of the elves was struck on her back by a lucky shot from the dwarves, causing the other elves to encircle and protect her. Seeing yet another wave defeated and ashamed, Dimerov returned to Guilnile with a humiliating defeat. The battle was called the Battle of the Peaks, and was the first battle between the elves and the dwarves. The Dwarves would officially make contact with Humans in the year 4301 2E, after The Humans accidentally invaded their territory of the Duadelldan Peninsula. The Humans would retreat in hopes to show good faith between the two, but the Dwarves would view them as a potential and weird threat. The Clan Chiefs would come together to discuss what to do with the Humans. They would agree that the heartlands of Guilnile must be protected, and elected to create Clan Korshun during the Council of Southern Threats, a clan that the descendants of the Jarls of Old had not created. Clan Korshun would be created in 4305 2E and settle along the Hjabardun Mountains, creating powerful fortresses and defenses to protect their homeland. As such for protecting them from all southern dangers, Clan Korshun would demand a protection tax from the other clans, as it would be theirs that die first in any invasion. In the year 5200 2E, the Dwarves would eventually sell the Duadelldan Peninusla and the Telgen Peninsula to the Roscrean Empire, as the Dwarves had encountered much disaster due to them being outside of the parameters of the Call of Kzrah-Kzak in what to conquer. Ever hearing the call of Kzrah-Kzak, the Dwarves would see to the north toward the Gathleen Isles in 5300 2E, in hopes to conquer them and create a buffer from northern invaders- particularly the Ulthrank, in order to protect Guilnile. Several expeditions would be sent to colonize the frozen isles, but mutinies would be common, as the sea was cold for even the Dwarves, and the islands were largely barren. They would settle as far north as the island of Ush-Hta, only a few dozen miles away from the mysterious continent of Miz'gan, however, when the Dwarves would reach Ush-Hta, they would be met with the Ulthrank, who had settled them before them. The expeditions would not immedietely attack, instead retreating back to Guilnile in order to recieve reinforcements. Chief Taren III would summon a large force and sail to the Northern Gathleen Isles and surprise the Ulthrank and attack them, sending them retreating north for miles up until they reached Miz'gan, which they dared not step foot on, but are recorded as being one of the few that have seen the sub-continent. Chief Taren III would be named the ruler of the Gathleen Isles and were requested by the Clans to fortify them. In the Year 5509 2E, the Dwarves and Humans would agree to build the twin cities of Garnik and Cikjuel as a show of good faith between their people. In the year 5700 2E, the Ulthrank, wishing to restore their control of the Gathleen Isles, send a large amount of forces to recapture them, in what was to become known as the War of Barreness. The Dwarves would be pushed back, but the forces in Fort Ironstow, on the island of Kar, would hold, and ultimately be surrounded. The Ulthrank would besiege the fort, the defense being led by Hawor Galor. She would hold her foces for over a year and halt the Ulthrank invasion during that time. The Dwarves would offer a huge counter attack. Upon seeing this and wanting the fort to defend against the incoming Dwarves, the Ulthrank would throw everything they had against the fort, but in the end, Fort Ironstow would stand, and become a memorial and symbolisim for Dwarven bravery. It was during this time of the days following the War of Bareness that Guilnile would be at a weakened state due to many Dwarves being used to fight against the Ulthrank. Corsairs from the Southern Corsair Isles would raid along the Western Guilnile Coastline, and the clans would squabble with one another. Clan Arbud, being led by having recieved the worst of the punishment from the war, would go to the Men of the Hill and ask for aid. They would be refused, but one of the Forsaken Gods that the Men of the Hill worshiped, known as Daomo, would take interest in the Dwarves and hide among them as they made their way back to Guilnile. He would corrupt the Chieftess Anyia of Clan Arbud with promises of usupring Clan Mungfrant, as it was Clan Arbud that was always the first defenders of the north, and never received their due thanks. Together, Daomo and Chieftess Anyia would begin to secretely transform Dwarves of Clan Arbud into Blackened Dwarves- Dwarves corrupted by chaos, and plot to take over the weakened Guilnile. During one raid on a costal stronghold known as Tg-Ber on 5750 2E, a lone dwarf came from the far east and overlooked the besieged and flaming stronghold. Coming down from the mountains, and made his way down, cleaving his way past hordes of corsairs, and arrived at the harbor, where he took control of a corsair ship with a few other dwarves and used it to set sail and board the leading flagship of the corsair fleet, which he took control over and killed the captain of the ship. He turned the tide of battle with both the corsair flagship destroyed, and their leader dead. The corsairs then retreated back to the corsair isles, and the day was won. From then, Karkirgan was sent to the leader of the stronghold and made second in command of the stronghold for his acts of bravery. In 5752 2E, Karkirgan would then be assigned to crush an advancing fleet of corsairs while they were still on approach. Karkirgan would take a much smaller force and crush the corsairs, beheading their leader and sending it back on a lone ship back to the Corsair Isles. From that day forward until his death, the Corsairs would not threaten Guilnile any longer. One day, in 5753 2E while the Dwarven Chieftans were feasting over Karkirgan's victory in the Great Peak, Chieftess Anyia poisoned the drink of the Chief of Clan Mungfrant, Chief Copperbeard and the Chief fell ill. Karkirgan took it upon himself to go out and find the remedy for the king's poison. He returned back after a long journey after he received the antidote for the poison from a hag. The Chief was then saved. It was discovered that the person that had tried to poison the chief, was Chieftess Anyia. Chieftess Anyia then escaped the summit and rallied the Blackened Dwarves that she was building with Daomo, yet their strength was not ready. Karkirgan would be sent to deal with this rebellion, chasing Chieftess Anyia all over Guilnile until he cornered her and her army in the Rukton Peninsula and crushing her and her army. The stronghold of Yep-Haggril was built on the peninsula to honor his victory. Daomo would then begin to corrupt her son, the now-Chief Hundaro, and rebuild their army of Blackened Dwarves, but would await the death of Karkirgan to begin their takeover of Guilnile. One day, on 5756 2E, the Ice Demon's raids against northern Guilnile became too barbaric to ignore, so the king sent Karkirgan to build a great fleet of ships, and destroy the Ice Demons at their own home. Karkirgan captained the greatest fleet of dwarves ever built and traveled to the Ice Demon's territory of Miz'gan and defeated them there, being the only Dwarf to lead an army to Miz'gan. Karkirgan came back victorious with minimal casualties to the fleet and was praised as a hero by most people. Species from different lands even came to congratulate Karkirgan and sought better relations with the Dwarves because of him. After some time, in 5773 2E, the great Hylish-Gun-Kial, The Mountain Eating Serpent, arose from her slumber once more to feast on all that lived within Guilnile. The serpent's hunger had grown during his rest, and she himself had grown bold. Hylish attacked the very summit of the dwarves, wrapping her body around the mountain and beginning to swallow it. Karkirgan and his soldiers were able to stave off the serpent after some time, but not before her himself was wounded and the mountain was crushed and a half was eaten. Chieftan Copperbeard of Clan Mungfrant had also sustained mortal wounds while fighting the serpent, and died in Karkirgan's arms, asking him to defeat the serpent for good. Guilnile was thrown into disarray after the death of Chief Copperbeard, but was invigorated by the promise of Karkirgan to kill the serpent. Karkirgan set out, recruiting some of his finest men with him to kill the serpent, while Guilnile broke apart into separate factions and growing tensions began to build amongst the different dwarves. After a grand adventure, Karkirgan was able to slay the serpent with great effort and price but returned to the summit to declare himself High-Chief over all of Guilnile, after defeating the serpent. Most dwarves accepted him as the rightful king of the throne. Karkirgan eventually reunited Guilnile over time. Not all Dwarves were willing to be ruled over one High-Chief, so many thousands left Guilnile to live in other lands and not be under Karkirgan's rule. This would be known as the Snow-Print Exodus, and create a great diaspora of Dwarves across Wold. Guilnile was brought together once more under the rule of Karkirgan, and experienced a great time of wealth and prosperity, as Karkirgan opened relations with other races in Archtun and even across Wold. Guilnile was at its strongest and wealthiest under Karkirgan's rule. Karkirgan eventually met his death, after almost a hundred years of rule. Feeling the weight of his old bones grow heavy, Karkirgan decided to set out one last time, to a raid he would not return from. He gathered all of his old companions that were ready to welcome death, and sailed down to the corsair isles, and raided the city of Cypernum, being the only person to lead a raid of the city of raiders. Karkirgan died at the center of the city, upon a pile of his dead enemies. The corsairs were so afraid of Karkirgan, that they simply set his body on a raft, and sent him down the Great Ocean. As if fate would have it, Karkirgan's corpse would wind up at the shores of Guilnile. Karkirgan's son, Brusdram Karkirgan, who took rule after his father's departure, would build a great grave for his father, known as the Tomb of Kings, and he would later be given the one and only title of God-Chief. Brusdram Karkirgan would rule over Guilnile after the death of his father, but seeing a great threat gone, Daomo and Chief Hundaro would assassinate Brusdram Karkirgan and throw a coup. This would begin the Eight-King's War, as each Clan now sought to gain the High Throne. The Eight King's War would last from 5882 2E- 6008 2E, with Chief Hundaro and Daomo being able to conquer all of Guilnile with the power of their now revealed Blackened Dwarf army. Hundaro would sit upon the Great Peak and hide away the Flame of the Gods, proclaiming himself not just High-Chief, but Emperor, and establish the new Volkan Empire in 6008 2E. The Volkan Empire was founded on that day, and began with the banning of Dwarfism, slaying all those loyal to Helifex, causing them to retreat temporarily into the refuge of the Clans of Dark due to the persecution. The Dwarves' very connection to Helifex was severed during this time. Only Clan Mungfrant not agreeing to join in conquest and resisting the new empire. The Volkan Empire would grow under the care of Daomo to control Northern Airgona, taking the strong and valuable kelgegours from the Weayr Peninsula as war beasts. The Empire would also consist of the Duadelian Peninsula, Meldor's Bane, the Gathleen Isles and Blacksail. The patriots of this empire would begin to change as their loyalty to Daomo grew, and they became known as the Blackened Dwarves, or the Charred Dwarves, and a polarization between them and the rest of the dwarves of the empire became apparent. The Empire would begin to collapse after the humans retook the Duadelian Peninsula, the Ulthrank retook the Gathleen Isles, and Meldor's Bane became too wild to rule over. The blackened dwarves would be thrown out of Guilnile after a successful coup under Clan Mungfrant, who then took the dwarven throne and disbanded the empire. Daomo and the rest of his blackened dwarves would retreat to Black Sail, but the Blackened dwarves would meet their end in combat to the hands of Streldor Goldbreaker and his followers in 6999 2E, and Daomo would have very little influence left on Wold. It was also during this time of the Volkan Empire, in the year 6079 2E, that the Orks formed together an empire of their own, known as the Wurmah Empire. The largest army ever in the history of Archtun would ascend up the Kenari Mountains, until the Dwarves, Humans, and Elves banded together in a rare alliance to defeat the Ork army at Anyhill Plateau. The alliance would barely prove victorious, with the Emperor of Roscrea and the Chief of Clan Mungfrant being killed, and the Ryo-Alluin member that led the Elves being wounded to the face. A memorial would be built for the fallen at Anyhill, and legends would arise that the land was so soaked with blood that the soil would forever be red. The Wurmah Empire would soon crumble after the fall of the great army and their leader, descending back into civil war between clans. Lava-Masters, Daoi, Giantbrands (in that order) After the fall of the Volkan Empire, Guilnile was once against weakened and leaderless. A large amount of reparations needed to be paid to the Roscreans and Airgona. This period would be known as the Looming Guilt Era, which would last from 6124 2E - 6500 2E. During this time, clans and heretics fought against one another, as their connection with Helifex was severed and there was little meaning in their lives. It was only ended when the a family of Dwarves known as the Lava-Masters ascended from the depths and forged great wares and jewelry to pay the reparations of Guilnile off. It was because of this and their rousing charisma that they would become the next family to inherit the High Throne, uniting and strengthening Guilnile once more. The Lava-Masters would reinstate Dwarfism, calling back the faithful that had been staying with the Clans of the Dark all this time. But Eurrurow, one of the Five Fallen, would cause a rift and confusion amongst Dwarfism as it tried to emerge once more, making it a hollow and unrecognizable version of itself that it had been before. Loyalist vs Heretic would fight in a one-sided Schism that would be known as the Schism of the Crest, which would last from 6600 2E - 6650 2E. The loyalists would hold off the heretics under Eurrurow, as some faithful would travel to Hel-Krah and forge a great crest that was capable of opening a small connection to Oligorus and reinstating their connection to Helifex. Once the Crest was brought to Guilnile, Helifex returned and would help defeat the heretics and reinstate Dwarfism, returning meaning back to the lives of the Dwarves and communing with their god. Around the year of 7250 3E, a great troll came from the Shewrose Peaks. He was more dangerous and more intelligent than any of his kin, and challenged the High Chief Tal-ta-kier Lavamaster to a duel for the High Throne. The High Chief, not wanting to look like a coward, he accepted the duel with the troll. The duel would be fierce, and last almost three hours, but the troll would use a powerful gauntlet that would absorb the presence of whoever he was facing to slay the High Chief. He would pick up the bloody crown and show it to all the spectators and proclaim himself the High Chief. In the coming years, the Dwarves would be subject to oppression of the trolls which were welcomed by the new High Chief. The Dwarven clans were forced to pay a heavy tithe, with the hopes from the Troll King to create their own god, Ug, by sacrificing much. The Troll king would face many challengers and assassination attempts, including one from a Crestforge, but survive them all, until he faced the challenger from the line of Daoi, who created a device to capture the Troll's gaunlet and use it against him. The line of Daoi would then rule Guilnile, again under Dwarven control in the year of 7275 3E.) During the year of 7300 3E, the Ulthrank would launch their largest raid against all of Archtun, known as the Frozen Raid. The Dwarves would receive the front of the raid, and be caught off guard, losing control of the Gathleen Isles and be pushed back to the shores of Northern Guilnile. The Ulthrank would push as far as the Rukon Peninsula. The Dwarven clans would come together and forge what would become known as "The Iron Line" across all of the the Northern Shores of Guilnile, which was a huge shield of iron shields and fortifications. The Ulthrank would only see this as a challenge and push forward at the center of the Iron Line, collapsing the center and pushing them into a valley in the Steelgard Mountains. There, the flanks of the Iron Line would turn inward and surround the Ulthranki force and crush them in a stunning victory for the Dwarves. The battle would be known as the Battle of Iron. The Dwarves would use their momentum to reclaim about half of the Gathleen Isles before their advancement was slowed to a stop. This would end the Guilnile front of the Frozen Raid, with each side being locked in a stalemate across the Gathleen Isles. It was during the initial assault of the Ulthrank that the line of Daoi was broken, but the hero known as Milka Giantbrand of the Battle of Iron would become the next High Chief. In the year 7850 3E, the High Chief was approached by the Ryo-Alluin for unknown reasons. They would meet deep in the Great Peak and talk for days before coming out. It was then that the Ryo-Alluin was added to the Book of Records. In the year 8000 4E, at the turn of the Fourth Era, massive quaking would shake Guilnile to its core. Entire mineshafts were buried, killing thousands. This would be known as the Dreaded Quake. This woud be due to cults left behind by the Troll King, which have named themselves the Waking Hour, and finishing the sacrifices the Troll King started, undoing the sacrifices to Ug and bringing them to a great beast underneath the ice that is thought to be an offspring of one of the four Forebears. The Dwarves now battle the Waking Hour all across the hidden corners and caves of Guilnile in order to stop the wakening of Drel-Ca, as the shakes worsen.Dwarf Sub races
Not all Dwarves are the same compared to one another. Many sub races of dwarves exist across the world. These include, the White Beards, the Grey beards, the Firestone, the Earthstone, the Long Beards, the Wartbacks and the Snow Beards. All these different types of dwarves prefer different climates and environments to one another, as well have entire different sub cultures for each sub race. Although a dwarf could do any job, most dwarves stick to what their sub race excels at, and the dwarves prosper in their unity and acceptance of one another. It is believed that each sub-race was created during the Great Ascension, with the Greybeards being the hardest workers of the journey, the Whitebeards being the wisest, the Longbeards being the strongest, The Earthbeards being the best at building as they went along, the Firebeards being the best forgers of weapons and jewelry, the Snowbeards being the best at adapting and spreading across the land afterward, and the Wartbacks being the laziest.The Greybeards
The most common of dwarf to be seen outside of Guilnile, these dwarves have no specific preference as to where to live, -except underground of course-. These dwarves make up the vast majority of miners, and warriors for the dwarven armies. They are the most plentiful in population compared to the rest of the dwarven races. These dwarves, despite their names, do not always have greybeards. In fact, they can have blonde, black, brown, and even very rarely, red beards. These dwarves also love to travel, and experience life outside of Guilnile.The Whitebeards
The wisest of all of the dwarf races, these dwarves are few in number, yet the smartest minds that could rival those of the elves. These dwarves prefer quiet mountain tops, where they can reflect and study alone, only offering their wisdom when the other dwarf races come to them, although some can be found living alone among the dwarven strongholds. These dwarves are known to live alone for the majority of their lives, leaving home when only a teenager, and finding a small mountain to settle, although there are a few communities which hold more than fifty white beards, usually on highly populated mountains. Because of their aversion to socializing, these dwarves are also the fewest in population, with only around a thousand existing at a time. These dwarves can also be seen jewelry making or studying magic in their free time.The Longbeards
The strongest and tallest of all of the dwarven races, these behemoths of dwarves are known to grow to five feet tall! They are best known for their strength, and their beard length, which grows so long that it trails behind them as they walk. A Longbeard will never shave his beard in his entire life. These dwarves are so strong, that they have their own entire unit classification in the dwarven armies, The Titans. Equipped with heavy duty armor and a plethora of weaponry, these dwarves are tanks on the battlefield. They are also excellent leaders, being in many leadership positions, such as commanders, or shift managers.The Earthstone
These dwarves are known for their excellent building, creating entire dwarven communities in just a few weeks, these dwarves are excellent builders. They have a preference to live underground, but can just as easily live above ground, or even in the fiery depths of mountains. They can be identified by their pale complexion, and rather large, hairy hands, which rival that of even the Longbeards hands. They are also good jewelry crafters, and surprisingly, good cooks as well, with many famous dwarven chefs being Earthstones.The Snowbeards
The Snowbeards are the most extraverted of all the dwarven races, with their living preference to actually live on the surface, as opposed to under the ground like their brethren. These dwarves thrive above ground, especially in snowy regions like Guilnile. They are responsible for most of the building and civilization seen above ground in Guilnile. These dwarves can be recognized by their thick skin, and whitish beards, although not completely white until older. They also have impressive bush eyebrows adorning their face.The Firestones
The Firestone dwarves are found at the very lowest of grounds, near lava and fire pits, where the world barely looks recognizable. These dwarves thrive around extreme heat and fire. Many have their communities built by lava lakes. These dwarves rarely see the surface of Wold, spending their entire lives below ground. Because of their distance to fire and lava, they have become expert forgers, forging most of the metal used for armor, weapons, building tools, and building itself. These dwarves can forge almost any metal with their impressive heat. They can be most recognizable by their lava red beards, and armor, which is usually set aflame with purple flame.The Wartbacks
The Wartbacks are the very bottom of dwarven society. Most recognizable by their hunched backs, and warts that cover most of their body, along with their distorted facial structures, these dwarves are not a welcome sight to the eyes. A Wartback spends most of his days providing manual labor for other dwarves, moving stone back and forth, and helping Earthstones with their building. they also carry army supplies for war time, and form production lines when assisting Firestones with their forging.Basic Information
Anatomy
Dwarves are small, slightly magical creatures that have a wide frame. Created under the Adbak family, they share similar genes with Gnomes and fairies, but are quite different in many ways. Over the many years, the dwarves have lost many of their magical abilities, instead preferring brute strength and ingenuity rather than ice or fire. Dwarven skeleton structure is similar to that of a human, albeit much shorter. The average Dwarf height is around 4'5. Beards are a very common sight amongst dwarves, with many of their cultures depending on them. Even the females of their species have such beards, although much less burly and thick.
Genetics and Reproduction
Dwarves repopulate the same as humans, with a male and a female. A female dwarf, however, only has a brief time in her life, around the age of thirty-fourty, where she may become pregnant. A female dwarf also has a rather low fertile rating, only becoming pregnant about 30-50% of the time. It is because of this, the dwarven population takes time to replenish and grow.
Growth Rate & Stages
Dwarves grow rather slowly than other sapient species on Wold. They first hit childhood when they are of ten years of age, and do not stop developing until they are at least sixty years of age. Dwarves also have low birth rates, since the infertility of female dwarves, and the lack there of as well. For this reason, dwarves are slow to expand their territory, as it takes quite a while for their population to expand enough to be able to settle more territory. They are quite happy digging and forging under ground.
Ecology and Habitats
All dwarven sub species prefer different climate to one another, but almost all dwarves prefer the underground. Above ground, they have few settlements, which are usually in the freezing cold of Guilnile. Dwarves, because of their compact bodies, are able to handle cold much better than the average human could ever. But the vast expanse of their civilization lies under the frozen ground, where hundreds of thousands of small dwarves carve out the rock, and make it their home.
Dietary Needs and Habits
Dwarves naturally came from vegetarian species, their neighboring cousins, the fairies and gnomes being both vegetarian. But the dwarves have decided to begin to eat meat. They often heard cattle and other animals and fatten them for their great feasts every night. Although plants have not been entirely removed from their diets, as great farms of fruits and vegetables can be found underneath the ground.
Biological Cycle
When the freezing cold of Guilnile becomes almost unbearable, even to dwarves during the winter, many often retreat underground, to continue to build and perfect their kingdom underneath the earth. Only the bravest and hardiest of dwarves stay in the above ground settlements during the winter, standing ground, guarding, and taking care of the fortifications, awaiting for their brothers to return when spring comes. During the spring when the cold of Guilnile is almost bearable to humans, some dwarves come out from underground, and continue to mine, farm, and build above ground.
Additional Information
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Dwarves have all the basic 5 senses that one would normally have, being sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell. Although dwarves, spending most their lives below ground, have developed exceptional eye sight in the dark, and have even acquired a new ability, to be able to hear though hard rock.
Rivalry with the Ulthrank
When the dwarves had settled into Guilnile, they were made known of a race of beast, that live north of Guilnile on a large island. Every year, these beats, also known as the Ulthrank would come south to raid whoever found themselves unfortunate enough to be in Guilnile during the Ulthrank raid. However, when the Ulthrank would come to do their yearly raid on Guilnile, they found short, stubborn little dwarves there, creating a new home for themselves. The battles raged for an entire month, with heavy losses on both sides. The Ulthrank were eventually beat back, and their raid was largely a failure. The Ulthrank swore to wipe out the race of dwarves, and the dwarves declared the Ice Demons to be their rival. Ever since, the Khan-oku have come to do their yearly raids on the dwarves with ranging success, and the frozen islands and sheets of ice that lie between the Ulthrank and the dwarves have seen many skirmishes between the two races.Relations with the other races
The dwarves prefer to keep to themselves, and to simply mine away at their underground rock and stone, not bothering of what goes on in the rest of the world, but that has not kept them from having relations with the other races of Wold. Their relations with their cousins, the fairies and the gnomes, has been their strongest relation. Since the Elves have closed off M'na, they have had little contact with their fairy cousins, but the dwarves have sent many envoys back and forth towards the gnomes across the sea. They hold cultural festivals with one another, and laugh and enjoy one another. As for the humans, elves, and orcs, contact is minimal, with only small trade agreements between them.
Genetic Descendants
Scientific Name
Adbaks
Origin/Ancestry
Dwarves
Lifespan
150-200 Years
Related Organizations
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