Dwarf

Kingdoms rich in ancient grandeur, halls carved into the roots of mountains, the echoing of picks and hammers in deep mines and blazing forges, a commitment to clan and tradition, and a burning hatred of goblins and orcs – these common threads unite all dwarves.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Dwarves are a short race, as their name implies, standing from 4'3"–4'9" (1.3–1.45 meters) on average. What dwarves lack in height they make up for in bulk; they are, on average, about as heavy as humans. A dwarf could weigh anywhere from about 160–220 lbs (73–100 kg). Dwarves are a bit taller and heavier than their female counterparts. Like humans, dwarves had a wide variety of skin, eye, and hair colors. Male dwarves are often bald and grew thick facial hair, which was sometimes used to display social status. Unusually for humanoids, both sexes naturally grew ample facial hair, though the majority of higher-class females shave their beards off. Dwarves are a long-lived race, though not so much as elves, and reached physical maturity somewhat later than humans. A dwarf was traditionally considered an adult once he or she reached age fifty. Dwarves aged much like humans but over a longer period of time, remaining vigorous well past 150 years. Most dwarves lived to see their bicentennial and a few lived to be over 400. A dwarf was considered to be young until they reached the age of 50.

Genetics and Reproduction

Dwarves reproduce sexually and give live birth. Almost all dwarves are born infertile, and when they do manage to create offspring, there is a 70% chance of that offspring being male. This puts the dwarven race in an awkward situation, where their population is almost in a perpetual state of decline. The only way they can counteract this is by crossbreeding with other races like humans, who have a much higher fertility rate. The child born of a dwarf and another humanoid is always a dwarf because dwarves' genes naturally overpower that of the other races (though the child might be a bit taller than the average dwarf). Their gestation period is normally 48 months (or 4 years) since the female had her last menstrual period.

Growth Rate & Stages

Dwarves normally live around 350 years and are considered mature at age 50. They normally become elderly and begin to weaken at around age 250-300.

Ecology and Habitats

Dwarves live almost entirely underground. To them, it's the only place they could truly ever call home.

Behaviour

Dwarves can live to be more than 400 years old, so the oldest living dwarves often remember a very different world. This longevity grants them a perspective on the world that shorter-lived races such as humans and halflings lack. Dwarves are solid and enduring like the mountains they love, weathering the passage of centuries with stoic endurance and little change. They respect the traditions of their clans, tracing their ancestry back to the founding of their most ancient strongholds in the youth of the world, and don’t abandon those traditions lightly. Part of those traditions is devotion to the gods of the dwarves, who uphold the dwarven ideals of industrious labor, skill in battle, and devotion to the forge. Individual dwarves are determined and loyal, true to their word, and decisive in action, sometimes to the point of stubbornness. Many dwarves have a strong sense of justice, and they are slow to forget the wrongs they have suffered. A wrong done to one dwarf is a wrong done to the dwarf’s entire clan, so what begins as one dwarf’s hunt for vengeance can become a full-blown clan feud.

Additional Information

Social Structure

Dwarven kingdoms stretch deep beneath the mountains where the dwarves mine gems and precious metals and forge items of wonder. They love the beauty and artistry of precious metals and fine jewelry, and in some dwarves, this love festers into avarice. Whatever wealth they can’t find in their mountains, they gain through trade. They dislike boats, so enterprising humans and halflings frequently handle trade in dwarven goods along water routes. Trustworthy members of other races are welcome in dwarf settlements, though some areas are off limits even to them. The chief unit of dwarven society is the clan, and dwarves highly value social standing. Even dwarves who live far from their own kingdoms cherish their clan identities and affiliations, recognize related dwarves, and invoke their ancestors’ names in oaths and curses. To be clanless is the worst fate that can befall a dwarf. Dwarves in other lands are typically artisans, especially weaponsmiths, armorers, and jewelers. Some become mercenaries or bodyguards, highly sought after for their courage and loyalty.

Average Intelligence

The average dwarf has an intelligence score of 10-11, which is slightly smarter then the average human. Almost all of them can read and write in common and dwarvish. Despite their higher-than-average intellect, dwarves tend to be very close-minded and stubborn in their beliefs.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Dwarves have the five usual primary senses (hearing, sight, taste, smell, and touch) but their eyes are capable of seeing in the dark to adapt to their normally subterranean homes.

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

Click here for a dwarven name generator:https://www.fantasynamegenerators.com/dwarf-names.php

Beauty Ideals

Dwarves consider a big beard to be incredibly attractive, no matter the gender.

Major Language Groups and Dialects

Dwarves predominantly speak Dwarvish, but have integrated Common into their daily vocabulary to better trade with Humans.

Lifespan

350 years

Average Height

4-5 feet tall

Average Weight

150 pounds

Related Organizations

• The Silver Hammer