Dwarf

Modern Dwarf-majority territories.

Mul (extinct)

The **Dwarves** are a race of the Ea species native to the Onor Peninsula on Ditarre and the Ilem Desert in Däegarden. The two dwarf ethnic groups are the Onor and the Nodal.

## History

The Dwarves originated on one of the Four Islands and were descendants of survivors of the fall of the E'Ash civilization.. After the Infinite War, they moved to the Onor Peninsula. A group that settled in the east became the Onor dwarves, and a group that settled in the west became the Mul. The two groups got along for the most part. A conflict in their early history was ended by Tulkon Kytoya, and the two groups later united under the flag of Norte-Mul.

The first Dwarf Tulkon was Tulkon Kedur, an Onor dwarf. Kedur was killed in battle on Däe when the Demons first returned, and they were defeated by his human successor, Tulkon Ageus. In 448 AT, Iloisa Emperor Grytu began a campaign of genocide against the Dwarves, the goal of which was killing Tulkon Rum so that he would reincarnate as a human. The genocide wiped out the Mul dwarves and greatly reduced the Onor population, the survivors of which were moved onto a reservation. Rum's successor, Ytinise, eventually ended Grytu's reign and helped restore the dwarf population, which consisted solely of Onor who founded the nation of Norte-Muldox (meaning "Great Kingdom of the North"). Prior to the Genocide, Dwarf technological advancement was significantly beyond that of the other Races, but the event set them back to about the same level.

Following the 40-Year War in around 1200, many dwarves converted to the religion of Prophetism. Norte-Muldox, at the time, had a policy of state atheism, so the new converts were allowed to migrate to the newly formed Ilem Desert in central Däegarden. These Dwarves eventually earned their independence and founded the nation of Nodal, which became quite distinct from Onor culture. Nodal became a territory of the Empire of Orcanth, and later the Immortal Empire before its disbandment thanks to the efforts of Tulkon Vonha.

As of 3000 AT, the curent Dwarf-majority nations are Norte-Muldox and Nodal.

### Contemporary Issues

Norte-Muldox has been mostly unaffected by world affairs in the past two centuries. The nation was affected somewhat by Colitzl, especially in the southwest, but not to the same extent as any Human countries. Nodal, an absolute elective monarchy since the end of the Immortal War, has been struggling to introduce democracy; this faction believes that the institution of a monarchy is holding the country back, and can only progress once it has been abolished.

## Culture and Ethnicities

A notable aspect of Dwarven culture is the addition of prefixes to some female given names. Prefixes often signify heraldry or location, but are sometimes included just because they sound cool. Dwarf culture is mostly matrilineal. Notable prefixes include Gal, Val, and Von.

The two original Dwarf ethnicities, the Onor and the Mul, migrated to separate ends of the Onor Peninsula after the Infinite War and developed in relative isolation from each other. They eventually reestablished close contact, and their cultures highly influenced each other. The Mul became extinct

### Mul

The Mul, whose name roughly means "people of the kingdom," formed at the same time as the Onor. Each was descended from one of two groups of Dwarves that settled the Onor peninsula following the Infinite War. The Mul worshipped the deity Noral, but most later subscribed to the atheist philosophy of Ratialis. They mainly lived in the country of Norte-Mul. The Mul became virtually extinct during the Dwarven Genocide, but their culture continues to influence the world: their language is often used in the fields of science and medicine, and many modern Dwarves are descended from the few Mul survivors of the Genocide. Their alphabet is also used to write the Onor and Däegic languages.

### Onor

The Onor, whose name means "coastal people," developed at the same time as the Mul on opposite sides of the peninsula. After the Iloisa Conquest and the Mul's extinction, the Onor spread across the whole peninsula and founded the nation of Norte-Muldox. Early Onor developed the philosophy of Ratialis, although in the modern age many have embraced religions such as Tulkonism and Savatism. They mainly reside in Norte-Muldox, and speak Onor. A notable community of Onor descended from survivors of the Dwarven Genocide exists in Northern Keghotogh; these people, sometimes known as *Kekhotuhr Onhor*, still maintain the most important aspects of their culture; despite this, many have lost a concrete connection to the peninsula, and often identify primarily with their home country.

### Nodal

The Nodal (meaning "desert folk") came to be when Prophetist groups of Onor Dwarves were allowed to migrate to the newly formed Ilem Desert on the continent of Daëgarden. Over time, they became a culturally distinct group, thanks to influences from indigenous Elven populations as well as neighboring countries. Many Nodal have a high degree of Elven ancestry. The majority of Nodal are Prophetists and reside in the nation of Nodal and speak Nodalonor as well as Däegic. The Nodal are the world's youngest ethnic group.

#### Mixed Nodal groups

The **Nolino** people are triracial group of mixed Ydelhiad, Gogeg, and Nodal ancestry located in southwestern Nodal. They formed when Orc immigrants mixed with the native Ydelhiad and Nodal populations around 2000 AT. Legally, they are not distinguished from the Nodal, but they have a unique culture of their own, and are fighting for recognition.

## Culture

### Real-world influences

The Pre-Genocide Dwarves are heavily inspired by the pre-Roman people of Southern Europe. Post-Genocide Dwarf culture is primarily inspired by Latin America and modern-day southern Spain. The Nodal are heavily inspired by both Latin America and North and East Africa.