Dwarves

Basic Information

Anatomy

Sharing common ancestry with all humanoids of Farus, dwarves share many characteristics with halflings, humans, orcs, goblins, and the now extinct species of elves that once lived throughout the Sea of Muses. Dwarves are in the middle of the size range of these humanoids - halflings and goblins are smaller of stature, while orcs and humans are taller.
Proportionally, dwarves are most similar to goblins, with slightly larger hands and feet, and longer arms than legs. Their bodies are typically covered in soft, fine hairs which grow darker and thicker on the forearms and back, though not as pronouncedly as halflings. Dwarves also grow thick facial hair regardless of sex.
Dwarfish skeletons are incredibly dense and heal from stress and fractures quickly, a trait shared by orcs. Due to the dangerous environments they dwell in, the repeated fracture-healing cycle dwarves undergo give them a broad, strong frame and the most durability overall of all humanoids. Furthermore, their muscles are banded around their skeletons in a such a way that their upper body strength cannot be rivalled, even by those humanoid who are larger overall, like orcs and some humans.

Genetics and Reproduction

Dwarves reproduce in exactly the same manner as humans, but have slightly shorter gestation periods and significantly longer natural lifespans, second only to the ancient elves. Their genetics are also compatible enough to produce viable offspring with other distinct humanoid species.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Like most humanoids, dwarves are omnivorous and have been observed to require roughly the amount of food that a human does. Dwarves share the goblin anatomy's double digestive tract, branching at the bottom of the esophagus. Only carrion and other spoiled food items may pass into one stomach - which has stronger acid - and cooked food passes into the other.
Unlike goblins, the junk stomach of a dwarf is much smaller. So rather than always being hungry, dwarves are simply able to survive on poor quality food, however digestion in the junk stomach causes heartburn and is not as comfortable for them as for goblins. Typically, a dwarf will eat a cooked meal rather than digest junk, but can do so in dire circumstances without fear of illness.
Dwarves do not possess the gas bladder that goblins do, but have a secondary liquid "poison" bladder. Through processes unknown, a dwarf's kidneys will differentiate common wastes from toxins in the blood. These toxic wastes are siphoned into a powerful acid solution in the poison bladder to later be urinated from the body. For this reason dwarf urine is highly sought as an acid component by alchemists, artificers, and other urine enthusiasts.

Additional Information

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Historically, dwarves exclusively lived in the highland region of Mordania, central to the "Old World." They established numerous settlements throughout these  mountain ranges, hills, and valleys predominantly underground. The subterranean cities of the Talkan era extended dwarfish occupation beyond the borders of Mordania, but brought the Commonwealth into conflict with other powers, especially dragons, prompting them to abandon outposts and consolidate their extant cities. 
During the Calamity, a chain eruption of every mountain in Mordania transformed the region into a sea of ash and magma which still rages today. Most of the dwarfish clans in the Commonwealth fled as refugees into other empires. The Urunad has welcomed the most of these refugees, with the rest scattered between the Zarion Empire, Guildlands, and Sea of Muses.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Some dwarfish populations develop keen tactile senses which allow them to interpret vibrations in their environment into meaningful information. This "tremorsense" is typically employed to avoid danger, sense underground water, and track movement in their vicinity. Some dwarves also exhibit a hypersensitivity to light, especially sunlight. Both tremorsense and sunlight sensitivity have been driving forces of dwarfish architecture since ancient times.

Civilization and Culture

Beauty Ideals

All dwarves, regardless of sex, grow thick facial hair. In the post-Commonwealth era, male dwarves would typically style their mustaches and beards by braiding them or adorning them with jewelry. Female dwarves would typically shave the area around their mouths and grow their sideburns long. In addition to braiding these "side-beards", females would also commonly bead them or dye them in patterns of bright colors. These trends never fell into complete disuse, but dwarves outside Mordania, where the traditions originated, sometimes prefer to shave or groom back their beards in order to fit into their roles in their host societies.

Lifespan

300 - 800 years

Average Height

1.3 - 1.45 meters

Average Weight

73 - 115 kg

Geographic Distribution

• Mordania