Dwarves

*The Dwarves of yore made mighty spells, While hammers fell like ringing bells in places deep where dark things sleep, in hollow halls beneath the fells.*

*On sliver necklaces they strung the flowering stars on crowns they hung the dragon fire, in twisted wire they meshed the light of moon an sun.*

J.R.R. Tolkien, Over the Misty Mountains Cold

Dwarves are known for their skill in warfare, their ability to withstand physical and magical punishment, their knowledge of the earth’s secrets, their hard work, and their capacity for drinking ale. Their mysterious kingdoms, carved out from the insides of mountains are renowned for the marvelous treasures that they produce as gifts or for trade.

Personality: Dwarves are slow to laugh or jest and suspicious of strangers, but theya re generous to those few who earn their trust. Dwarves value gold, gems, jewelry, and art objects made with these precious materials, and they have been known to succumb to greed. They fight neither recklessly nor timidly, but with careful courage and tenacity. Their sense of justice is strong, but at its worst it can turn into a thirst for vengeance. Among gnomes, who get along famously with dwarves, a mild oath is “if I’m lying, may I cross a dwarf.”

**Physical Description**: Dwarves stand only four to four and a half feet tall, but they are so broad and compact that they are on average almost as heavy as humans. Dwarf men are slightly taller and noticeably heavier than dwarf women. Dwarves’ skin is typically deep tan or light brown, and their eyes are dark. Their hair is usually black, gray or brown, and worn long. Dwarf men value their beards highly and groom them very carefully. Dwarves favor simple styles for their hair, beards and clothes. Dwarves are considered adults at about age 40, and they can live to be more than 400 years old.
Relations: Dwarves get along fine with Gnomes, an possibly with halflings. Dwarves say “The difference between an acquaintance and a friend is about a hundred years.” Dwarves often fail to appreciate the Elves; subtlety and art, regarding elves as unpredictable, fickle and flighty. Still, Elves and Dwarves have, through the ages, found common cause in battle against Orcs, Goblins, and Gnolls. Through many such joint campaigns, the elves have earned the Dwarves’ grudging respect. Dwarves mistrust strangers in general, and the feeling is mutual. Luckily Dwarves are fair minded and they grant the individual strangers they meet the opportunity to prove themselves.

**Dwarven Lands**: Dwarven kingdoms usually lie deep beeath the stony faces of mountains, where the dwarves mine gems and precious metals and forge items of wonder. Trustworthy members of other races are welcome in such settlements, though some parts of these lands are off limits even to them. Whatever wealth th dwarve can’t find in their mountains, they gain through trade. Dwarves dislike water travels, so enterprising humans frequently handle trade in Dwarven goods when travel is along a water route.
Dwarves in Elvish lands are typically mercenaries, weaponsmiths, armorsmiths, jewelers, and artisans. Dwarf bodyd guards are renowned for their courage and loyalty, and they are well rewarded for their virtues.

**Religion:** The Dwarvish clans all worship Lanzo, whom they call the Stonefather in honor of his role in bringing about their existence. Temples to him can be found all over Amadonia’s three continents, and especially in the underground Dwarf kingdom. Other temples to the remainder of the pantheon of Amadonia, save perhaps for the fire goddess Shula, are scarce, the exception being largely because it is Shula’s gift of fire that allows the Dwarves to heat their forges.