Dwarf

In Germanic folklore, including Germanic mythology, a **Dwarf** is an entity that dwells in the mountains and in the earth. The entity is associated with wisdom, smithing, mining, and crafting. Dwarfs are sometimes described as short and ugly. However, some scholars have questioned whether this is a later development stemming from comical portrayals of the beings. Dwarfs continue to be depicted in modern popular culture in various media.

## Etymology

The modern English noun dwarf descends from the Old English dweorg. It has a variety of cognates in other Germanic languages, including Old Norse dvergr, Old Dutch and Old Frisian dwerch, and Old High German twerg. According to Vladimir Orel, the English noun and its cognates ultimately descend from Proto-Germanic \*dwergaz. A different etymology of dwarf traces it to Proto-Germanic \*dwezgaz, with the r sound being the product of Verner's Law. Anatoly Liberman connects the Germanic word with Modern English dizzy: allegedly, dwarfs inflicted mental diseases on humans, and in this respect did not differ from elves and several other supernatural beings.

## Norse Mythology

Norse mythology provides different origins for the beings, as recorded in the Poetic Edda and the Prose Edda. The Poetic Edda poem Völuspá details that the dwarfs were the product of the primordial blood of the being Brimir and the bones of Bláinn. The Prose Edda, however, describes dwarfs as beings similar to maggots that festered in the flesh of Ymir before being gifted with reason by the gods. The Poetic Edda and Prose Edda contain over 100 dwarf names, while the Prose Edda gives the four dwarfs Norðri, Suðri, Austri and Vestri a cosmological role: they hold up the sky. In addition, scholars have noted that the Svartálfar appear to be the same beings as dwarfs, given that both are described in the Prose Edda as the residents of Svartálfaheimr.

## Anglo-Saxon Medicine

The Anglo-Saxon charm Wið Dweorh appears to relate to sleep disturbances. This may indicate that the dwarf antagonist is similar to the oppressive supernatural figure the mare which is the etymological source of the word "nightmare" or possibly that the word had come to be used to mean "fever". In the Old English Herbal, it translates Latin verrucas, warts.

## Poetry

In Middle High German heroic poetry, most dwarfs have long beards, but some may have a childish appearance. In some stories, the dwarf takes on the attributes of a knight. He is most clearly separated from normal humans by his small size, in some cases only reaching up to the knees. Despite their small size, dwarfs typically have superhuman strength, either by nature or through magical means. Many dwarfs can make themselves invisible, typically via a "Tarnkappe", which seems to be an ancient attribute of the dwarfs. They also possess other magical objects and often appear as master smiths. Typically, they live inside of hollow mountains, though in some cases, they may live above the ground. Depending on the story, they may be hostile or friendly to humans. Male dwarfs are often portrayed as lusting after human women. In contrast, female dwarfs seek to possess the male hero in the legends.

## Capabilities

Dwarves are humanoid beings from Norse and Germanic Mythology that dwell in mountains and in the earth, and is associated with rocks, the earth, technology, craft, metal work, wisdom, and greed. They are generally described as shorter than humans, bearded, hardworking, often hard partying, pragmatic and stubborn to fault. From the earliest myths, they are considered craftsmen that very few can equal, able to create magical objects that were fit for the gods.

## Common powers

**Alcohol Empowerment:** Dwarves become stronger, faster, more durable, etc. when they come in contact with alcohol, whether by drinking or simply being around it, possibly unlocking abilities related to the affinity and enhancing the existing powers.

**Alcohol Immunity:** Dwarves are either immune to the effects of alcohol or can tolerate extreme amounts of it without notable effects.

**Decelerated Aging:** Dwarves age slower than normal for their species and potentially has a long lifespan.

**Contaminant Immunity:** Dwarves are immune to poisons, toxins, venoms, viruses, bacteria, parasites, pathogens, allergen, etc.

**Enhanced Combat:** Dwarves possess proficiency, capabilities and knowledge regarding general combat.

**Enhanced Crafting:** Dwarves can flawlessly craft any item, such as forging the most potent weapons, the toughest armors, the most impressive structures, and the most powerful artifacts to sheer perfection.

**Enhanced Endurance:** Dwarves can endure physical stresses beyond the capabilities of the greatest humans, enabling them to do things such as: tolerate extreme amounts of physical pain, having your limbs ripped off or having your bones completely crushed, being corroded by acid, and even resisting extremely painful headaches for prolonged periods of time.

**Enhanced Strength:** Dwarves can raise thousands of pounds to tens of thousands of pounds.

**Small Size:** Dwarves either possesses a level of physical size smaller than that of a normal member of their species or is simply a member of a species that is naturally smaller than humans.

**Subterranean Adaptation:** Dwarves are able to survive and adapt to underground, stuffy, low-light terrene conditions like caves with senses, endurance and breathing adapted for such.

**Thermal Resistance:** Dwarves are able to survive a great range of hot and cold temperatures without discomfort.