Dwarves

Basic Information

Anatomy

Humanoid

Additional Information

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Hill Dwarves are found in civilized places. In other words, where you find a group of humans, you're likely to find a Hill Dwarf or two trying to sell them something.

Mountain Dwarves live primarily in their underground strongholds and mines.

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

Dwarves are practical when it comes to first names. Males are named after tools, weapons, or locations (either in dwarfish or common). Females are named after jewels, crystals, or even food (mostly in dwarfish). This is done by mashing two words together to come up with a pleasing sound.

Family names are a source of pride for a dwarf. Mountain Dwarves in particular put great stock into their last names as it proclaims their allegiance to a particular royal house. In fact, changing your last name has been used as a political statement or an act of insurrection.

Major Organizations

Hill Dwarves have fully integrated with the societies of other races and have no real groups or organisations of their own.
Little is known about the organisations of the Grey Dwarves.

Royal Houses of the Mountain Dwarves

• House Frostiron - Oxtooth Mountains - Currently at war with the Oxtooth Giants

• House Kalenheim - Dragon Spine Mountains

• House Gildenhammer - Griffon Range Mountains

• House Brandforge - Phoenix Mountains

Average Technological Level

The Mountain Dwarves are credited with great advancements in everything from advanced stone cutting, magic item creation, and star metal.

History

Dwarves are an ancient and proud race. Some say that they are the oldest of the humanoid races - older than even the great elves.
In Chardovia, the dwarfish sub-races have specific histories:

Hill Dwarves

Common in cities and towns, hill dwarves are at home at the forge, in the trading wagon, or even occupying important seats in government of councils. They have used the wisdom gained from their long and mysterious heritage to integrate into the civilizations of other races and carve out lucrative niches. While they have cast off most of their traditions, hill dwarves are loyal to their family clans above all.

Mountain Dwarves

The Royal Houses of the Mountain Dwarves rule the mines and underkingdoms of the Mountains of Chardovia. These dwarves are fiercely traditional, zealous, and distrusting of all non-dwarves (particularly elves and orcs). A mountain dwarf is fatally loyal their particular king or queen, often swearing fealty to a particular Royal House or related Principality. Mountain Dwarves are highly secretive of their technological advancement (see below) and fear that other races - especially the tinkering Gnomes - are out to steal them.

The exact locations of each of the vast cities of the Mountain Dwarves are a mystery to outsiders - and they like it that way. Few Mountain Dwarves venture to the surface, opting for the comfort of a cavern or a well carved mead hall in the Underdark. Those that do, suffer from a strange phobia where they fear "falling into the sky".

Grey Dwarves (Duergar)

These mysterious sub-race of dwarves are never seen above-ground. Some say that the Duergar's otherworldly origin makes them vulnerable to the -sun's rays.

Dwarven Champion by Ben Wootten

Lifespan

350 years

Average Height

4 - 5 ft.

Average Weight

150

Dungeons and Dragons

Go to dndBeyond for the official Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition Dwarf stats.