Dwarves

A Dwarven chieftain signals a charge.

“
*Beer and blood are the two most important liquids in Dwarven society. Water is a close third.*
”
— The Aagta on Dwarven society.
**Dwarves**, known to themselves as the **Dvaerkar**, are a humanoid race native to Vosel. A short, stout, and hardy race, Dwarves are known to be strong warriors, miners, and craftsmen.

## Biology

### Appearance

Bold and hardy, dwarves are known as skilled warriors, miners, and workers of stone and metal. Though they stand well under 5 feet tall, dwarves are so broad and compact that they can weigh as much as a human standing nearly two feet taller.

Dwarven skin ranges from deep brown to snow-white. Their hair, worn long but in simple styles, is usually black, gray, or brown, though paler dwarves often have golden or red hair. Male dwarves value their beards highly and groom them carefully. Some female Dwarves also exhibit beards. This is very rare for Hill Dwarves, and only somewhat more common in Mountain Dwarves.

### Stages of life

Dwarves typically live anywhere from 300 to 500 years. Dwarves who heavily indulge in vices, such as drinking and smoking, in other words the majority of all dwarves, tend to live shorter lives.

During the first 50 years of life, a male Dwarf is known as a Beardling. These young Dwarves will do anything to prove themselves to their Elders. Clan Elders will do their best to aid them, but other longbeards will show open disdain and contempt for Beardlings. In battle, Beardlings serve the purpose of cannon fodder, ensuring that only the strongest and bravest can become Longbeards.

## Culture

### Beards

The Beard is the primary, and possibly only, element of a Dwarf's appearance to bear mention in Dwarven aesthetics. Among Dwarves, a beard signifies both martial prowess and wisdom. Conversely, the absence of a beard signifies weakness, foolishness, and shame. Dwarves highly value their beards and often braid them into intricate patterns, inlaying precious metals and jewels into them. Particularly cautious Dwarves refuse to enter battle without beard armor, though grumblers and longbeards consider such practices to be cowardly and indicative of a weaker modern generation.

Once a Dwarf's beard reaches the ground, that Dwarf is christened as a Longbeard. Longbeards typically form council to determine the actions and activities of their respective Clan. In some Dwarf societies, only Longbeards can serve in public office, acting as administrators, judges, guildmasters, and generals.

Some female Dwarves are able to grow Beards as well. Such women, occasionally known as Beardmaidens, are hailed as incarnations of Ztunde, the bearded dwarven goddess of war. These Dwarves exhibit incredible martial talent and prowess, and form elite regiments known as the *Daughters of Ztunde*. Five or six beardmaidens can easily defeat six hundred Goblins.

Some Dwarves reject what they spitefully call the hollow objectification of the "cult of the beard," but the vast majority of Dwarven society rejects these fools, most of whom are shortbeards.

### Clans

A Dwarven Clan is, in essence, a Dwarven family. Clans are as tightly-knit as a Grumbler's braided beard, and each one of their members is an extension of the Clan itself. Giving a gift to one Dwarf of the Silveraxe Clan may gain the friendship of the entire family; a petty insult to one of their Beardlings could result in the entire Clan turning hostile to the mocker.

### Gender roles

“
*Two elves in conversation:*
"What's the difference between male and female dwarves?"
"I don't know!"
”
— A joke in the Aagta.

Gender norms in Dwarven society are small compared to human society. Scholars believe this to be a result of the Dwarven Pantheon, which prominently features a number of female deities, most notably Ztunde, the goddess of war. On average, female dwarves are only slightly smaller than male Dwarves; Dwarven regiments frequently contain many female Dwarves, especially Shortgunners and Bombarders.

Whereas male Dwarves must have a beard that reaches the ground in order to become a longbeard, a feat achieved after 150 years, female Dwarves must grow hair that reaches an equal length, and display shoulder-length sideburns or whiskers at a minimum, a feat that requires a similar timespan. Male Dwarves have their beards shorn when publicly shamed; female Dwarves have any whiskers shorn as well, but their hair is shorn as well.

### Guilds

All Dwarves are taught a trade by their respective Clan and its Longbeards. Dwarves who serve in similar trades within a geographic area frequently associate into Guilds to standarize prices, regulate and assure product quality, and represent the interests of the trade. Dwarves will be loyal to their guilds, but not at the expense of being loyal to their Gods or their Clan. The following are some of the most notable and influential guilds:

* **Brewing Guild:** Only the finest ales and meads will do for the Dvaerkar. Selling Dwarven Ale to the shortbearded peoples is also highly profitable, as many of them will naturally prefer fine Dwarven Ale over the watered-down swill produced by their countrymen.

* **Mining Guild:** Mining Guilds are most prevalent in Dwarven holds. Where they exist, they are usually the wealthiest and most powerful of the Guilds. Most mining guilds even maintain a small private army to clear out pointy-eared Elf and Goblin intruders from Dwarven mines.
* **Smithing Guild:** There is no metal like Dwarven metal, despite what the tree-hugging elves might say. Smithing Guilds are very prevalent, and can be found nearly everywhere.

### Grudges

Dwarves can live to be more than 400 years old, 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. This results in one of the key elements of Dwarven Society: Grudges.

## Religion

Dwarves almost universally revere the Dwarven Pantheon of Gods. Tzulft is the All-Father, and Mzund is the Dwarf-Father.

## States

### Mzundelft

*Main article: Mzundelft*
Mzundelft is the Elder Hold of Dwarvenkind. Established by Mzund himself, the Elder Hold is as timeless and eternal as the mountains under which it lies.

### Stavendelft

*Main article: Stavendelft*
Stavendelft is a Great Hold in northeastern Erideon.

### City-states

Brund (Vantion)
Istendelft (Erideon)
Kragstand (Erideon)
Khund (Nivelor)
Tzhund (Vantion)
Ulstand (Erideon)
Zhtund (Vantion)

## Subraces

### Deep Dwarves

Deep Dwarves are the dwellers of the Deepfell. They resemble Mountain Dwarves, though their skin often has a purplish or pallid complexion. Zealous, shrewd, and cunning, these Dwarves carve out a living from one of the most dangerous subplanes within the Material Plane.

### Hill Dwarves

Hill Dwarves are primarily surface-dwellers, and are the Dwarves that can most easily integrate with other states and cultures. Although weaker than Mountain Dwarves, Hill Dwarves are incredibly tough and resilient as a product of having to survive in both the Deepfell and the Surface. This has also given them the keenest senses among Dwarves.

### Mountain Dwarves

Mountain Dwarves are the strongest of all the Dvaer. When people think of Dwarves, the image of a Mountain Dwarf is most likely what comes to mind: these are the Dwarves who defied the rule of Dragons, carved Mzundelft from the living rock, and safeguard the surface from the evils of the Deepfell.

## Appendix

The Common Peoples
****Dwarves**** (Deep, Hill, Mountain) • **Elves** (Deep, High, ShadowHB, Sylvan, Wild) • **Gnomes** (Deep, Forest, Rock) • **Halflings** (Lightfoot, Stout) • **Half-Elves** (Half-Elf, Quarter-Elf) • **Half-Orcs** • **Humans**

### References

1. ↑ Player's Handbook.
2. ↑ Player's Handbook.