Dwarves

Descended from Svartalfheim, but the true spiritual home is of Nidavellir, their celestial city forged in magic that was destroyed in Ragnarök. They are reborn in Inthavol with a ancestral knowledge of there lost home, and seek to emulate its grandeur and steadfast protection in their lives. For any Dwarf, the main goal is to establish a Holt, a home and fortification that they will spend their lives building and improving. Dwarves look to establish Holts on resource rich areas, often deep in mountains near mining veins, however places of beauty, exotic natures or magic can also make for reputable and well sought locations. If it is well build, other dwarfs and races are able to contribute and grow the community, brining further prestige to the founder. This is the main drive for adventure for dwarfs as they leave their home holt to search the world for their own opportunities.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Though they stand under 5 feet tall, dwarves are so broad and compact that they can weigh as mush as a human standing 2 feet taller. Their courage and endurance are also a easy match for larger folk. Dwarven skin and hair colour rages the same as humans, but Dwarves value their beads highly and groom them carefully, even the women.

Genetics and Reproduction

Dwarves can cross breed with other species, but notably their children are always dwarfs with only superficial traits of other races.

Growth Rate & Stages

Dwarves can live to be more than 400 years old, so the oldest living dwarves can remember ages past. Dwarves are solid and enduring like the mountains they love, weathering the passage of centuries with stoic endurance and little change, though their last century will start to see their hair thin and whiten.

Ecology and Habitats

Dwarven kingdoms strech deep beneath the mountains where they mine gems and prcious metals and forge items of wonder. They can be found above ground as well, but either tend to live close to mountains or build their holts out of stone.

Additional Information

Social Structure

Dwarves pride three skills above all else; Smithing, Brewing and Masonry. The mastery of one or more of these skills goes beyond occupation and and is considered a act of artful devotion, to the Gods and community. Even leadership structures are social structures are guided by these principle. In a holt, the Smith is responsible for the protection of the people and creating the tools of advancement, a brewer is responsible for the health and nourishment of a community as well as its moral, and a mason is responsible for growing the holt, expanding its wall and making sure the community art and culture are reflected in settlement.

Origin/Ancestry

Svartalfheim/Nidavellir