Mountain Dwarf

Demeanour:

Lovers of precious stones, metals and gems, Dwarves make excellent crafters whose works are of exquisite beauty. They generally prefer to live in or near areas where precious stones abound, dwelling in deep caverns chiselled out of the very same materials they adore. 

Given their love of wresting hidden treasures from the earth, Dwarves have also come to treasure secrets of any sort. Due to this preference for secrecy, they almost never teach their language to outsiders. While slow to make friends, they remain steadfast to any who have earned their trust. To all others they often appear taciturn and grumpy.

Many Dwarves decorate their beards and hair (see below).  These decorations, while placed seemingly at random, often relate personal information about the Dwarf’s place in society and/or their warrior status. Two Dwarves meeting for the first time will instantly be able to tell a lot about the other, including such details as their clan/family, wealth, social status, and perhaps even their chosen vocation. Those of the warrior class also weave battle trophies into their beards, displaying their prowess in combat.

Appearance:

Dwarven males stand around 4’ 5” tall, with females ranging slightly less (4’ 3”). A very stocky race, Dwarves look as though they have been compressed, their bodies expanding in width. Often weighing twice what would be expected for someone their size, Dwarves generally average 200 pounds. Male Dwarves are also very fond of their beards, which may grow to lengths that hang past their waists! For many Dwarves, both male and female, hair and beards are almost always woven into braids, weaving in coloured stones and beads as decorations. Only male Dwarves have beards, and while their hair generally reaches shoulder length, it is not unusual for the hair of female Dwarves to reach past their waists.

Lifespan:

Dwarves are a long-lived race, with the average being from 300 to 400 years of age.

Culture:

Dwarves normally create their own societies mirroring the Deep Warren culture, but may be found among any culture.

Religion:

The dwarven religion is commanded by two gods Orhan, god of earth and his wife Larna, god of nurture.

Orhan is revered as the deity of earth and minerals, and is associated with strength, craftsmanship, and prosperity. He is believed to have created the dwarves and gifted them with their natural affinity for working with metal and stone. Orhan is often depicted as a muscular, bearded figure with a hammer in hand, symbolizing his connection to the earth and his role as the patron of dwarven artisans.  Mountain dwarves tend to favour Orhan over Larna.

Larna, on the other hand, is revered as the goddess of nurture, nature, and the environment. She is associated with fertility, growth, and healing, and is believed to be responsible for the abundance and prosperity of the natural world. Larna is often depicted as a gentle, nurturing figure with a green thumb, and is revered by those who work the land or are involved in agriculture.  Those dwarves who live above the earth favour Larna