Earthborn (Dwarves)
Earthborn (see DnDBeyond for base statblock and racial features)
The Earthborn share an origin tale similar to the Oracles, discovered as another but separate creation by the Titan Prometheus. Zeus found Earthborn to be foul, stubborn, greedy creatures and left them under the mountains where they were found, believing their society would crumble within a century. Olympus had left the earthborn to fend for themselves in the strange earth between the massive, dagger-like mountains above and rumors their underground cities were above the Underworld itself.
Unlike the Oracles, no Gods came to gift a glorious city for them, but eventually at the turn of the 5th century, the earthborn had created something spectacular. Using materials unique to the mountains and caves they lived, they created a new material for smithing and tinkering. Their successful of combining, bronze and iron, along with their own process - created steel, which was enough to gain the attention of the God of the Forge Hephaestus, God of the Forge. Hephaestus saw the industrious earthborn and appreciated their craftsmanship, and in turn offered the Earthborn his blessings if they began to worship him, making offerings and sacrifices in his name - Hephaestus would bring the Earthborn out of the dark and raise their people to a rightful, proper standing.
The earthborn were stubborn however, and a great number still remembered Zeus (and Olympus) discarding them without a second thought. How the earthborn had created their society themselves, through sweat, blood, and tears. They did not accept the Forge Lord's offer, not knowing the absolute power the Gods' held, Hephaestus punished the earthborn, choosing to continue to worship their creator, Prometheus. Hephaestus collapsed the mountains upon the magnificient earthborn underground cities, causing nearly a mass extinction of their people. While a great number of their most skilled craftsman were captured by the Forge Lord, and never saw their home or people again.
In the years that passed, eventually a number of survivors were located upon the surface. Small settlements and villages began to pop-up around the hills and mountains south of Troy, eventually a small underground city being founded - Fort Grunnar. Named after the Earthborn King who defied Hephaestus, many earthborn who reside in or around Ft. Grunnar have recorded a different history in order for their continued survival. Some earthborn took up worship of the Forge Lord as a means of penance (or perhaps fear) but to spite him, many choose to worship his cousin Athena, Goddess of Wisdom instead, choosing craftsmanship over all things.
Over the past few hundred years, the Earthborn have clawed their way into mortal society and found success in trading with their human, gnome, and drake neighbors. Although Hephaestus begrudgingly accepts their worship, the Earthborn and Olympus are always very wary of one another.
Gameplay Changes
All earthborn also learn the Giant language.
Each subrace also has the following changes:
Hill | +5 to Move Speed; At Level 3- cast Jump / Feather Fall (self-only) once per long rest. |
Gray | Learn Primordial language |
Mountain | At Level 3- cast Enhance Ability (self-only) once per day. |
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