Dwarves

**Dwarves** (***Homo pumilio***) are a catch-all term for several subspecies of short humanoids with a traditionally bold and hardy disposition.

Genes and the environment influence biological variation in visible characteristics, physiology, disease susceptibility, mental abilities, and environmental affinity.

Dwarves are omnivorous, capable of consuming a wide variety of plant and animal material, although most live on a diet of fungus, root vegetables and cave-dwelling animals. They tend to sleep in 30 hour cycles, 20 hours awake to 10 hours asleep, due to not having a day/night cycle underground. Childbirth is rare, but safe. Often the mother, father, uncles and aunts provide care for their children, who are helpless at birth.

Dwarves can live to be more than 400 years old and have excellent memories, so the oldest living dwarves often remember a very different world. This longevity grants them a perspective on the world that shorter-lived races such as humans and halflings lack.

Culturally dwarves are solid and enduring, like the mountains they love, weathering the passage of centuries with stoic endurance and little change. They respect the traditions of their clans, tracing their ancestry back to the founding of their most ancient strongholds in the youth of the world, and don’t abandon those traditions lightly.

#### City Dwarves

City Dwarves are the most common dwarf, and are descended from those who have left a life underground or high on the mountains to merge with broader intelligent society, though they retain an affinity for them. They known as skilled warriors, miners, and workers of stone and metal, their courage and endurance are also easily a match for any of the larger folk. They typically uphold the ideals of industrious labour, skill in battle, and devotion to the forge.

#### Duergar

The dwarves who never left the deep mines, caverns and caves carved long ago into mountainsides, the average duergar will live, breathe and die underground, excavating ore, gemstones and mushrooms to the surface to trade and sell. It is not uncommon for particularly anti-social duegar to abandon these efforts in favour of making easier coin however. These vicious, stealthy slave traders raid the surface world for captives, then sell their prey to others underground, or to select overworld fences. This is made easier by their innate magical ability to become invisible.

#### Incoyadvergr

A departure from the earth dwelling dwarves, Incoyadvergr instead carve their homes into the moutaintops with unparallaled skill, although find one of their fortress or cities is an exercise in patience and perseverance. Architecture is the most important of the Incoyadvergr arts, which is treated as both an engineering discipline and an art. The pinnacle of achievement in these structures are made of stone blocks that fit together so well that a knife could not be fitted through the stonework, with no use of mortar to sustain them.

As a byproduct of living high above sea level, the Incoyadvergr have increased oxygen level in their haemoglobin, that is, more oxygen per blood volume than other dwarves, and most intelligent folk. This confers an ability to carry more oxygen, while their breathing is essentially the same rate. This enables them to overcome hypoxia and normally reproduce without risk of death for the mother or baby. They have enlarged residual lung volume and its associated increase in alveolar area, which are supplemented with increased tissue thickness and moderate increase in red blood cells, giving a higher capacity for exercise.

#### Mul

Mul, or half-dwarves, often showcase the best of both of their parents' heritage. Like dwarves, they will usually place high value on honourable conduct and reputation. And, although they are not considered full members of their respective clans, most half-dwarves will go to great lengths to win acceptance, or prevent bringing shame upon the clan of their dwarven parent. From their human heritage, half-dwarves bring the spark of innovation and desire to create a personal legacy.

*Far more individualistic then other dwarves, their innate desire to push boundaries drives them to innovate on the craftsmanship of both dwarves and humans, often ignoring the traditions of master artisans. Due to their dedication and ingenuity, half-dwarven products are sought after by those with an eye for quality. Unfortunately, mul are rarely accepted into dwarven guilds due to dwarven tradition and customs and due to their natural fortitude and stamina they are prized as gladiators and labourers.*

1. ↑ Master Nefyros, Scholar