feaŝa (a.k.a Dwarves)

The feaŝa (/feːaˈʃa/ ) (Called by the derogative term dwarves by most of the people on the surface) of Alteria are a resilient people. Mostly living underground in vast city-states. The dwarves mine the precious metals of the planet, and make glorious things from them. Their resilience means they are almost the only people to mine raw Phasarium. They later treat it to make it usable by others, or alternatively the dwarven smiths use it in their wares, some weaving them into runes to create various effects, while others make it so that magi can do the permanent enchanting themselves later on. While dwarves are more resistant to the negative effects of Phasarium, they are not completely immune. The dwarves are not alone down there, having to defend against Co'ara hives and other monstrosities. The feeling of isolation and being surrounded by enemies made it generally harder for them to trust outsiders.
While Dwarves are ok with small journeys to the surface, they tend to make such journeys short, afraid to lose their connection to the rock. Any Dwarf that spends too much time on the surface will be seen as an outsider, and will not be allowed to come back to live in their home.

Magic

Magic users are rarer amongst the Dwarves, since only a small part of dwarves have an affinity for magic. The negative effects that Phasarium can have on people with a higher affinity to magic, is suspected to be connected to this phenomenon. The Dwarves who do use magic tend to go mad as they get older. They look at it as a higher sensitivity to hearing the "songs of the ancestors". According to that belief, hearing those songs for so many years is what drives them mad. This led to them being somewhat separated into their own neighborhood. They are also the only ones besides nobility that consistently receive an education. The reasoning behind it is that they stay in control of their magic.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Stout people, tend to be a bit shorter than humans and more powerfully built.

Civilization and Culture

Average Technological Level

The dwarves have developed the craft of Infusion , where they use Phasarium in advanced way to infuse items with magic. One example of that is the Guardian Constructs .

Culture and Cultural Heritage

Dwarves are very conservative, and can be superstitious. They believe in honoring the family and the ancestors, are extremely homophobic (as a society), and can be slightly racist as well.
By when befriended, they are often loyal friends.

Common Customs, Traditions and Rituals

When a dwarf dies, they are usually put in an open stone casket, and lowered into a pool of magma. The dwarves believe that that way their dead rejoin the rock, and all their ancestors who died before. That way, they can help protect and guide the next generations.

Common Taboos

Homosexuality is illegal in all dwarven city states, and the punishment for it is banishment to the surface.

Common Myths and Legends

The dwarves' creator, sometimes referred to by them as The Deep Voice, is considered by them as a patron and guardian, and the spirit of Alteria itself. There are numerous shrines to honor him and the Dwarven ancestors underground.

Genetic Ancestor(s)

• Cave gorrila

Lifespan

65 - 80 years

Average Height

1.37 - 1.55 m

Related Myths

• Emergence from the Stone

Related Materials

• Phasarium

Notes

• feaŝa actually translates to "person" in old Njake̊l̃ie̊ (/ɲaːˈkəʎiˌə/). 
• The official term by which the dwarves call their people, i.e. their official term for "The dwarven people" is fo̊feaŝafoχ̄alo̊χ̄el̃u (/fɔfeːˈaʃaːˌfɤxaːˌlɔxeˌʎu/).
  • This word also comes from old Njake̊l̃ie̊.
  • Literally meaning "People from stone". A better translation would be "The people who come from the stone".
  • The term for "Dwarf" in old Njake̊l̃ie̊ would be feaŝaoχ̄alo̊χ̄el̃u (/feːˈaʃaːˌɤxaːˌlɔxeˌʎu/).
  • However, in day to day language, people would just use feaŝa to talk about another dwarf, which is why it became the second term used by the people of the surface as a name for the dwarves.