Dwarf

Dwarves have a well-earned reputation as a stoic and stern people, ensconced within citadels and cities carved from solid rock. While some see them as dour and humorless crafters of stone and metal, dwarves and those who have spent time among them understand their unbridled zeal for their work, caring far more about quality than quantity. To a stranger, they can seem untrusting and clannish, but to their friends and family, they are warm and caring, their halls filled with the sounds of laughter and hammers hitting anvils.
The dwarves of Golarion are a humanoid race of dour warriors and craftspeople. They excel at jobs other races find tedious, but also have a great love of exploration and discovery.
Dwarves are slow to trust those outside their kin, but this wariness is not without reason. Dwarves have a long history of forced exile from ancestral holds and struggles against the depredations of savage foes, especially giants, goblinoids, orcs, and the horrors that dwell deep below the surface. While trust from a dwarf is hard-won, once gained it is as strong as iron.
If you want to play a character who is as hard as nails, a stubborn and unrelenting adventurer, with a mix of rugged toughness and deep wisdom — or at least dogged conviction — you should play a dwarf.

You Might...

• Strive to uphold your personal honor, no matter the situation.
• Appreciate quality craftsmanship in all forms and insist upon it for all your gear.
• Don’t waver or back down once you’ve set your mind to something.

Others Probably...

• See you as stubborn, though whether they see this as an asset or a detriment changes from one person to the next.
• Assume you are an expert in matters related to stonework, mining, precious metals, and gems.
• Recognize the deep connection you have with your family, heritage, and friends.

Basic Information

Anatomy

A dwarf is a stout humanoid, usually a head shorter than their human counterparts, but much broader. They have thick, heavy bones, tightly packed muscular sinew, and stability unmatched by other races. This bulk also causes dwarves to weigh as much, if not more than human men. Their coloration varies, with the dwarves of Garund being deeply tanned and weather beaten, while the dwarves of Avistan tend to be paler, especially those who dwell in the far north of the Lands of the Linnorm Kings. Dwarves have wide range of eye color, with brown and grey being the most common, though some possess shocking blue irises. Their hair usually ranges from dark, near-black brown, to a light ash brown; some are born with a shock of red hair, which is considered beautiful in dwarven circles.
There is dramatic sexual dimorphism in dwarven physiology. Males tend to be quite noticeably broader, though not as much taller comparatively, they have slab-like torsos and heavy eyebrows. Most males grow facial hair at an alarming rate, and as such almost all dwarves keep a beard, with the exception of the Ouat caste of Osirion.

Additional Information

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Dwarves can be found throughout Avistan and Garund, although the vast majority inhabit the Five Kings Mountains on the borders of Druma. Of particular note are the city of Highhelm, whose inhabitants consider themselves the heart of dwarven culture and life, the Sky Citadel of Janderhoff in Varisia, the Ouat monks of Osirion and the wild warriors of Kalsgard in the Lands of the Linnorm Kings.
There exist even lesser known clans of dwarves in Garund, among the southern peaks of the Shattered Range, are the desert dwarves. Hardy nomadic warriors who dwell in rough caverns by day and travel above ground by night. And in south-west Osirion are the Pahmat or sand dwarves, proud xenophobic warriors who beleive that they once held safe the greatest secrets of the ancient pharoahs.

Civilization and Culture

Common Customs, Traditions and Rituals

Gladdringgar

Gladdringgar is the dwarven tradition of carving one's personal rune in stone on the deepest cave or tunnel one has explored. It literally translates as the "ritual of toil", although younger dwarves have begun to refer to it as kangreddin, or "wall-making". Dwarves are obsessed with leaving a mark and being remembered, and great respect is given to the dwarves who risk their lives to delve in their race's ancestral home in the Darklands.

History

According to their own myths, the dwarves were forged by Torag in ancient times. They lived and worked in their forges and cities in Nar-Voth, fighting against the orcs and goblinoid races and among themselves for eons. Late in the Age of Darkness (ca. -5133 AR) they united under King Taargick and began to push towards the surface, in what would later come to be known as the Quest for Sky. They inadvertently herded their ancient enemies, the orcs, ahead of them, and finally emerged onto the surface around -4987 AR. Once they established themselves, they built the vast and magnificent Sky Citadels. Though they have waned since, due to wars with orcs and terrors from the Darklands, most of the citadels still stand.

Common Myths and Legends

Most dwarves venerate Torag, the God of the Forge, above all others, although both Irori, the Master of Masters, and Abadar, the god of wealth, are given great respect. In addition, there is a small collection of gods worshiped almost exclusively by dwarves. These are mostly related to Torag and are generally not worshiped individually. Torag's relations include Angradd, his younger brother; Folgrit, his wife; Bolka, their daughter; Grundinnar, their eldest son; Kols, the middle son; Trudd, Grundinnar's youngest brother; Dranngvit, Torag's half-sister; and Magrim, his older brother. The only god in the dwarven pantheon not related to Torag is the Dark Smith, Droskar, the chief deity of the duergar.

Lifespan

Dwarves typically reach physical adulthood around the age of 25, though their traditionalist culture places more value on completing coming of age ceremonies unique to each clan than reaching a certain age. A typical dwarf can live to around 350 years old

Hit Points 10

Size Medium

Speed 20 feet

Ability Boosts Constitution, Wisdom, Free

Ability Flaw Charisma

Languages Common, Dwarven. Additional languages equal to your Intelligence modifier (if it’s positive). Choose from Gnomish, Goblin, Jotun, Orcish, Terran, Undercommon, and any other languages to which you have access (such as the languages prevalent in your region).

Traits Dwarf, Humanoid

Darkvision You can see in darkness and dim light just as well as you can see in bright light, though your vision in darkness is in black and white. Clan Dagger You get one clan dagger of your clan for free, as it was given to you at birth. Selling this dagger is a terrible taboo and earns you the disdain of other dwarves.