Dwarves

## Characteristics and Culture

Dwarves, being expert miners and craftspeople, have found a place in the Human empire of Istvan, which controls much of the continent of Anaria. Under the Istvani government they provide valuable resources and skilled labor to the empire, being masters of metals, smithing, mining, and navigating the vast subterranean networks that exist under Eastern Anaria. Dwarves have integrated entirely into Istvani society, working in cities and towns as merchants, artisans, and engineers. They have also been recruited as soldiers and guards in the human military, where their strength and combat skills are highly valued. However, despite this integration, many dwarves continue to live in their traditional underground communities, maintaining their unique culture and customs. They have established a few autonomous territories on the edges of Empire control, governed by their own leaders, who have a direct line of communication with the human government. In these territories, they are free to practice their own laws and customs, as long as they do not conflict with the laws and policies of the human empire.

## History

Since the time of the Forgotten War, the Dwarven people have spread far and wide in a kind of diaspora away from lands they felt were their ancestral homes. Many attribute this to the war itself taking place around the Dour Mountains, which would cause the displacement of peoples and a destruction of homelands and records. Others say that the true ancestral land of the Dwarves was not in the Dour Mountains, but under them, far below ground where the Dwarves originally came from. This is referred to as the ancient kingdom of G'thooth, a mythical underground network of Dwarven cities branching under the entire continent of Anaria, and some say beyond.

The Dwarven myth of the lost kingdom of G'thooth tells of a powerful and prosperous kingdom that existed deep under the Dour Mountains. According to legend, the kingdom was founded by the first dwarves and was said to be the birthplace of their civilization. It was said to be a place of great wealth and technology, where the dwarves had mastered the art of stone-working and engineering. The kingdom was said to be ruled by a powerful dynasty of kings and queens, who were said to have had a deep spiritual connection with the Earth and the stone. However, the kingdom was said to have been lost during the Forgotten War, a devastating conflict that occurred long ago and left few records of its causes or outcome. Many dwarves believe that the kingdom was destroyed by the enemies of the dwarves, and its people were enslaved or killed. Some dwarves believe that the kingdom still exists, hidden deep under the mountains, and that one day it will be rediscovered. The kingdom is said to be a place of great power and wealth, and many dwarves believe that the artifacts they sometimes find deep in mines are remnants of that kingdom.

Since this time the Dwarves have spread to anywhere that has access to a mine, caves, mountains, or any other place where there is a direct connection to stone and the underground. This has caused them to congregate mostly around mining towns like Ravinham, and minor mountain ranges or cave networks to settle in. This has resulted in many members of the Dwarven community to be in charge of regional Istvani mining operations and subterranean exploration efforts, and this has been the case for hundreds of years until the modern era.

## Aspects

The Aspect of Stone is a religious and moral belief system followed by many dwarves, which emphasizes stoicism, connection to the earth, and a deep reverence for stone and rock. Followers of the Aspect of Stone believe that the earth and stone are sacred, and that they have a spiritual connection to them. They believe that the earth and stone are alive and that they have their own wisdom and power. They also believe that dwarves have a special connection to the earth and stone, which is why they are able to navigate underground areas and find valuable resources through a "sense" they call Stonespeak. Dwarves who are particularly devout in this belief, and practice honing it through meditation in the underground and dangerous pilgrimages to search for the lost Dwarven kingdom, are called Sonespeakers.

Many dwarves who follow the Aspect of Stone are deeply connected to their underground homes, and they find great comfort and peace in the caves and mines where they live. They believe that the earth and stone are their protectors and that they will always be safe and secure as long as they are close to them. They also believe that the earth and stone will guide them to find the resources they need to survive and thrive.

However, some dwarves take their beliefs in the Aspect of Stone to a fanatical level. Some groups of Stonespeakers can become territorial toward other races, asserting that underground spaces are the domain of the dwarves, and that other races are merely guests in such domains. They may believe that other races have no right to enter or use the earth and stone without their permission. They may also believe that other races are inferior and that they are not truly connected to the earth and stone in the same way that dwarves are. These fanatical followers of the Aspect of Stone can become violent and aggressive, and may even forbid anyone that is not a Dwarf from entering their territory. There has never been any outright conflict between fanatical Stonestpeakers and other groups, and the non-fanatical groups exist in society with no issues, so they are generally tolerated despite the occasional tension they can cause.