Dwarf

Dwarves are a proud people of cave dwellers. They have a longstanding history of skill when working with the materials of the earth, carving beautiful sculptures from rock and smithing hardy armors from metal. Dwarven craftsmen value performance and solidity, and even the daintiest of earrings is designed to be able to survive a fall down a mineshaft. This extends to their cities, a necessity of building them underground. Hundreds of tons of earth and rock that makes up the settlements ceiling must be held up with precisely placed pillars, which must be able to bear the weight. The dwarven craftsmen responsible for maintaining these pillars are highly regarded.
Dwarves tends towards being most active during nighttime, finding the daylight to be annoying for their eyes. This sometimes leads to dwarves sharing homes with races more active during this period, exchanging bedrooms as the world heart's light changes.
As a people, dwarves are a warm lot, with a tradition for hospitality, kindness to strangers and family support. They also have a history of stubborn conviction and once they have set their mind on something, they can be very hard to convince otherwise. Furthermore, they can be as vicious and brutal as they are kind. In battle, dwarves are mercilessly pragmatic, obliterating enemies with whatever tools will do the job the most efficiently.
In war, dwarven fortifications can be very hard to penetrate. Situated underground with solid foundations and walls backed up by generations of good craftsmanship, they can usually stand up to most tactics. Even the invention of gunpowder has barely made the job easier. The tunnels leading to their homes are also used tactically, collapsed and dug open as the need arises.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Dwarfs are short people with a bipedal build. They are coveres is a short layer of fur, its colors varying between white and black. Their hands feature sharp claws and their mussels support a number of powerful teeth, backed up by enough muscle to shatter bone.  The cells in their blood are especially adapted to fight off pollutants and most known poisons and venoms have a notably reduced effectiveness on dwarves.

Genetics and Reproduction

Dwarves reproduce through intercourse. The fetus grows over a period of three to four cycles. Dwarves typically give birth to one or two cubs.

Growth Rate & Stages

Dwarven cubs are born hairless and with poor eyesight. Over their first cycle, they grow their fur, claws and teeth, as their eyesight slowly improves. Dwarves grow for about the first ten years of their life and are considered adults by fifteen.

Ecology and Habitats

Dwarves live underground, digging vast cavernous homes called setts in mountains, hilland and underneath temperatur plains and forests. Major dwarven cities can significantly affected what plans grows on top.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Dwarves are omnivorous. They hunt a variety of game, including many burrowing  or venomous/poisonous species. They also sow a variety of root vegetables, which are usually farmed in caves close to the surface, where they are planted in the ceiling.

Additional Information

Social Structure

Dwarves live in tight-knit communities centrered around the extended family, collectively called their cete. Even in larger dwarven metropolises, the city is divided into small dwarven family-hold governed by a cete.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Dwarves are a common species found on many spheres

Average Intelligence

Dwarves as smart as an average human, with a particular talent for construction

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Dwarven eyes are adapted to their subterranean homes and are capable of perceiving the world with even very low amounts of ambient light. In absolute darkness, they usually rely upon their nose, which is well adapted to sniff out dangers and opportunitets.

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

Dwarven names tends towards being heavy on consonants and has a lot of hard sounds. Family names usually either describe their business or relates to some important family events. It is not unheard of for dwarves to change family names to represent major events happening.

Relationship Ideals

Dwarves trend heavily towards monogamy.

Average Technological Level

Blast Armour: Armour designed to protect against explosives. Gelignite: Alchemical explosive. Pickaxe: Tool and weapon combined. Tunnel Clearer: Firearm for tunnel fighting. Tunnel Plate: Common heavy armour.

Common Etiquette Rules

Hospitality. While each dwarven cete is considered the authority within their sett, there's an expectation of hospitality towards visitors. It is not uncommon for wanderers to be invited in for food and drinks merely for passing close by their front door.

Common Dress Code

Dwarves prefer solid, practical garments that can handle the often rough work they engage with.

Scientific Name

Eruendi Vulgares

Lifespan

90-120 years

Average Height

1.2 - 1,3 meters

Average Weight

90-100 kilo

Average Length

0.4-0.5 meters