Dwarf

Dwarves are a species of kith notable for their stout build and their stubborn and proud nature. They have a natural affinity for the mountains and stone, and are said to be able to find the treasures within by touch and sound alone.
Dwarves can be found in most parts of Mundus, but over the centuries dwarvenkind have most deeply rooted themselves around the two great mountain ranges of the world: The Shrouded Peaks and the Worldscar Mountains.

Description

Dwarves appear much like humans, but generally stand at a height of between 3 feet 6 inches to 4 feet 6 inches. Both male and female dwarves tend to have very stocky bodies, weighing as much as an adult human despite their short stature. Dwarven bones are thicker and denser than most other kith, and their limbs likewise tend to be strong and muscular.
The beard is the prominent feature of a dwarf, and much can be gauged of their person by the size and condition of their beard. Both sexes are capable of growing robust facial hair, but female dwarves rarely grow out their beards outside of purely dwarven communities.
Dwarves are considered mature around the age of 40, at which point they are expected to have fully learned the craft which they have been apprenticed for. Their natural lifespan is typically between 140 and 180 years.

Appearance

Features: Broad, bulbous noses with wide nostrils. Prominent brow ridges and sunken eyes. Large, round ears. Thick, strong necks.
Skin: Fair to dark brown. Pale pink in case of purely subterranean dwarves. Often pitted or leathery.
Hair: Blond, red, brown and black. Straight, wavy or curly texture.
Eyes: Green, hazel, brown, black.

Personality

Dwarves are notoriously stubborn and proud. Once they have made their mind up about something, they approach their goal with resolve and rarely back down from a challenge which they have accepted. If a dwarf feels slighted or tricked, they will go to extreme lengths to vindicate their wounded ego.

Culture

The dwarven species comprises of two distinct ethnic groups:

The shukmaltarâg, commonly called forest dwarves are the oldest continuous dwarven culture. They reside in and around the Shrouded Peaks on Mundus Minor. Their mist-covered homeland has kept them protected in the face of encroachment from larger human and gruakhai populations, and they know how to use its misty hills and forests to their advantage. The shukmaltarâg build trade-towns on the fringes of their territory, where dwarves and other kith freely comingle. They are more protective of their heartlands, where they prepare many traps and ambushes for any would-be invaders.

The ashurtarâg, commonly called ashen dwarves are the dominant dwarven culture in the Worldscar mountains. They split from their western cousins some centuries ago, lured by rumors of great treasures buried underneath the mountains of Mundus Major. The hot and arid climate, combined with the everpresent threat from raiding setzá had cultivated a culture hostile to outsiders. These dwarves are fiercely isolationist, and rarely allow outsiders into their great mountain holds, but they do still engage in trade with their neighbours.

Dwarven society

Dwarven communities largely form around mines and quarries, and their lives revolve around extracting the riches of the earth. A particularly prospective settlement may eventually migrate into these mined-out tunnels within the earth, and become a permanent fortress-town known as a dwarven hold.
Some dwarves are blessed with the power of stonesinging, a special skill which allows them to locate deposits of precious metals and gems simply by tapping or singing to the stone, and listening to its vibrations. These dwarves are highly valued members of their society, and are given special privileges akin to lower nobility.
Dwarves engage in limited agriculture, but they prefer to trade out their metalwork and other crafts for food instead. Salt fish, fruits and vegetables are common trade items, as they are hard to come by in dwarven lands. Dwarves tend to subsist on meat, mushrooms and subterranean vegetation when faced with a drought of trade.
Treasures such as gold, platinum and gems are not traded out by dwarves. Wrested from the earth and refined into beautiful crafts, they are considered items of symbolic power, of dominion over the mountains themselves. They are hoarded by the dwarven rulers, and are a measure of their power and influence within dwarven society. They generally do not raid others for their treasures, as such items hold no symbolic value for them.

Dwarves among other kith

Dwarves can be found in most kith communities, and are particularly common among the humans. They are often found in the positions of craftsmen, blacksmiths, masons and architects, skills which are held in high regard among dwarvenkind. It is a common practice for dwarven rulers to lease out such skilled craftsmen to surrounding kith settlements, after which they are allowed to settle there if they wish. This helps dwarves establish amiable relations with their neighbours.
Dwarven mentality often causes clashes with other kith. They don't take banter from anyone other than their closest friends, and detest being the victim of practical jokes. Because of this, other kith might think of them as overly proud and quarrelsome.
Dwarves assimilate to their parent culture in a limited fashion. They like to keep to their old ways, but a notable exception is the female beard. Female dwarves in the mountainhomes commonly sport impressive and well-groomed beards, but among other kith, they tend to keep their faces shaven clean. The ridicule faced from other kith, and the subsequent reaction was once a common cause of public disorder, which lead to a widespread adoption of the new practice of shaving. These days, many dwarven women do this out of their own preference, as they have found themselves to be more alluring to other kith.

[WIP] Views on other kith

Elves. ""

Firkin. ""

Godmarked. ""

Gruakhai. ""

Humans. ""

Setzá. ""

Religion

Dwarven cultue greatly values ambition and passion. Combined with their love for mining and metalwork, their way of life coincides greatly with the tenets of Gowyr. Worship of Thurial is common among the dwarves as well, especially those who venture into the cavernous depths of the world. The one god that is rarely praised in their mountain halls is Argadain, whose humble tenets clash with the ways of the dwarves.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Typical height
3'6" to 4'6"
Typical weight
150 to 200 lbs
Typical lifespan
140 to 180 years (mature at 40)