Dwarves

Dwarves are the oldest extant race on Aramanth, with the exception perhaps of the gnomes. On the whole, they are focussed people, a trait that can sometimes lead towards obsession. They are a foot shorter than humans, on average, and live roughly 400 years. Then men favor elaborate beards and all genders favor tattoos, especially facial ones.
There are two notable traits that differentiate them from other races. First, dwarves are not naturally born, but instead are produced from ancient facilities that have been operated and maintained by the dwarves (at least in Kduur) throughout the millennia and exist at the center of their societies. The arise from their birthing vats in late adolescence, with one to five contributing "blood-parents" taking in the youth to raise and care for them.
The second trait is that dwarves, unlike any other race on Aramanth, do not remain dead. Five days after expiring, a dwarf corpse raises with some of its memories intact but without the capacity to speak. These "Silent Ones" are driven by an innate drive to return to their homelands and join in the defense and protection of the sites and lands sacred to their people, most often the "Birth-Temples". These Silent Ones can continue to operate for centuries before their bodies deteriorate beyond use, and are given over to their final rest and to the sacred flame (cremation).
This is somewhat different in the case of the dwarves of Thaden, who through centuries of experimentation have altered this trait in themselves, doing so shortly before they arise from the birthing vats. The Dwarves of Thaden fully maintain their minds and capabilities of speech, and in fact are often more powerful than they were in life. A side effect of this alteration is that they suffer an insatiable hunger for flesh, blood, the life force of other sentient beings, or sometimes all three.

Alternate Rules

Armanthian Dwarves first arose from a unique confluence of tek that still orders both their birth and their death. Dwarves had the following traits in addition to what is in the PHB.

• Lasting Watch. After a dwarf has been dead for 5 days and not resurrected or had their body restored, the dwarf will reanimate as a zombie. All of the dwarf's stats save for Strength (which is unchanged) and Constitution (which is set to 0) are reduced by 4 and the dwarf's alignment takes one step towards Neutral and becomes an NPC.
• Mortality Transcended. If the dwarf is Thadian, this effect instead creates a more powerful undead, usually a ghast, wight, or vampire. There is no reduction in mental stats, and Strength and Dexterity increase depending on which undead the become. The dwarf's alignment shifts to Evil with no change with regards to Law. After this transformation, the dwarf becomes an NPC (Barring a special case discussed with GM).

Civilization and Culture

Major Organizations

The two dwarven nations are Kduur and Thad'een. Kduur has is a recently liberated Commonwealth province that has grown into a cosmopolitan nation with a national, religious, and cultural mandate to safeguard the remnants of the ancients (and all other forms of tek) from abuse and misuse at mortal hands. Thad'een is an insular nation spending much of its resources securing Ancient caches and forgotten lore to perfect their abilities to maintain their minds and souls after death.

Beauty Ideals

Dwarves are attracted to stylish dress and grooming, as well as well crafted tattoos. Physical traits come from the Birthing Temples. A fancy beard comes from the skill of one's mind.

Average Technological Level

Dwarves have, as much as can be claimed, to have a decent understanding of tek. Though this can vary with its age and origin, dwarves seek to understand and stabilize tek where they can, and protect against it where they can't.

History

In the Annals of Aramanth, the Dwarves tell of their own creation. In their tales, the stone of the planet itself formed them, shaped them as a defense against the evils corrupting it: the Ancients. For most of their history, the dwarven people were centralized in the nation of Kduur, but many of their people spread out further once they were absorbed by the Eternal Commonwealth in -4233 SE.

Lifespan

350

Average Height

4.5 feet

Average Weight

150 lbs