Dwarves
The third of the First Peoples, the dwarves moved south from the holy mountain into the Southern Chain where they found rich mineral wealth and much good stone to quarry. Four hundred and ninety leagues from Mt. Sera, they founded their own capital, Hornduril, situated inside a canyon. Dwarven masonry expanded and stabilized the canyon walls for houses and tall buildings. Skilled craftsmen built huge stone bridges that spanned the canyon, and soon the city became known as "The City of a Thousand Bridges."
From there, the dwarves spread out across the Southern Chain and the hill country to the East. Physical differences began to emerge among the dwarves, causing a distinct split between so-called "mountain dwarves" and "hill dwarves." But all dwarves remain united in their common cause for the search for hidden things, be it gold, jewels, or knowledge. All dwarves share a love for learning new things and studying the previously unknown.
Beneath Hornduril, there is supposedly a source of hidden knowledge that dwarves scholars have long sought after. What this knowledge is, no one can say. Many thousands of dwarves have tried to reach it, but all have failed. Long ago, the mythical "war forged" people, a race of artificial beings, were crafted to tunnel deep underground and retrieve this knowledge, but they did not return as they should have and fled far away. Since then, the dwarves have contented themselves as best as possible to the pursuit of knowledge, creating new inventions that benefit the world, and sharing that knowledge with the world. To this day, dwarves are considered the wisest of all the races, and their advice is always welcome in the courts of even great kings.
Naming Traditions
Feminine names
Female Names: Amber, Artin, Audhild, Bardryn,
Oagnal, Oiesa, Eldeth, Falkrunn, Finellen, Gunnloda,
Gurdis, Helja, Hlin, Kathra, Kristryd, lide, Liftrasa,
Mardred, Riswynn, Sannl, Torbera, Torgga, Vistra
Masculine names
Male Names: Adrik, Alberich, Baern, Barendd, Brottor,
Bruenor, Oain, Oarrak, Oelg, Eberk, Einkil, Fargrim,
Flint, Gardain, Harbek, Kildrak, Morgran, Orsik,
Oskar, Rangrim, Rurik, Taklinn, Thoradin, Thorin,
Tordek, Traubon, Travok, Ulfgar, Veit, Vondal
Family names
A dwarf's name is granted by a clan elder, in accordance with tradition, Every proper dwarven name has been used and reused down through the generations. A dwarf's name belongs to the c1an, not to the individual. A dwarf who misuses or brings shame to a clan name is stripped of the name and forbidden by law to use any dwarven name in its place.
Clan Names: Balderk, Battlehammer, Brawnanvil,
Oankil, Fireforge, Frostbeard, Gorunn, Holderhek,
Ironfist, Loderr, Lutgehr, Rumnaheim, Strakeln,
Torunn, Ungart
Culture
Major language groups and dialects
Dwarvish: Dwarvish is full of hard consonants and
guttural sounds, and those characteristics spill over into
whatever other language a dwarf might speak.
Culture and cultural heritage
Schools of Magic
Dwarves founded the school of Divination, which is used primarily in the pursuit of knowledge or seeing that which is unseen. This school is valued by all who seek a clearer understanding of the past, present, and future. As the name implies, there are divine aspects to this school, and the dwarves have a long history of asking their deities for help in discovering new knowledge.Common Myths and Legends
Beneath Hornduril, there is believed by many scholars to be a source or wellspring of knowledge, but no living dwarf has ever found it. Long ago, the war forged race was created to find this knowledge, but it is believed that they attained sentience as a result of the wellspring and then ran away with whatever knowledge they uncovered.
Major organizations
Dhardaral
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