Dwarf
Civilization and Culture
Naming Traditions
Beauty Ideals
All men and most women grow facial hair, though girls start theirs later in puberty than do boys. Theirs tends to be finer and less coarse, though not always. Regardless of gender, clean and well-kept hair is a must.
As soon as a girl's hair is long enough to be gathered, she may do so, though only one "gather" (braid, tail, dread, etc) may be present at a time. She may also decorate her hair with flowers and any number of colorful beads except silver and gold. Additional gathers, and beads made of the precious metals, must be earned with age and accomplishments. A girl may style her non-facial hair in nearly any manner she pleases.
Boys may not gather their facial hair until certain coming-of-age requirements are met, which vary by location. Youth often cut their non-facial hair short or wrap it in a single ponytail, but usually grow it back out once they are able to gather their beards. Male dwarves are more likely to decorate their hair with semiprecious jewels than with clay beads like their female counterparts, but likewise must earn their silver and gold.
At all ages, women tend to oil their facial hair for a soft sheen, while men will either have it neatly brushed or carefully back-combed for a fuller, bushier appearance. In certain parts of Varen, red clay is worked into the hair for protection and ornamentation.
Gender Ideals
Women are meant to be intelligent, calm (compared to dwarven men, at least), and rational. They should excel at math and manage money well. Bankers, business owners, and political leaders are by and large women.
Men are the doers of dwarf society. They are emotional, volatile, and physically fit. They should be skilled with their hands and committed to a trade. Most artisans and laborers are male.
Armies are a 70/30 mix of men to women, yet women - viewed as natural leaders and thinkers - are more likely to be fast-tracked to command positions.
Courtship Ideals
Relationship Ideals
Outsiders may view dwarves as jovial folk, quick to befriend and loathe to ask for help (or accept it, if offered). However, dwarves draw sharp distinctions between "drinking friends" and "family friends." Drinking friends, as you may have guessed, are those kept around for fun: to drink and to dance with, to celebrate and laugh with. Family friends are those bonds built upon for generations, and these are the ones whose help is relied upon. To strain these bonds with distance is a major stress on the whole family. Therefore, a family move requires the input and consent of the entire family, even the littlest tyke.
"Speak of the fall and your friends shall catch you" is a Dwarven saying that captures the roundabout way in which the need for help is expressed. It is often truncated to only the first half - "Speak of the fall" - as a means of prompting one to share bad news. Even among family friends, asking for or offering help is something of a dishonor. All one can do is complain of what ails them and hope a friend silently steps in.
For example, a woman may complain that her husband's injury, and subsequent inability to work, has made it difficult to feed their children. The next day, her friend drops off two dozen eggs, claiming their hens overlaid and the goods will spoil before use. Later that week, they are invited over for dinner under the pretense of a minor celebration, and here and then afterward the friend pops by unannounced, having conveniently packed several lunches to eat while they chat.
Dwarves do not have a way to say "thank you." In the case of serious matters, giving thanks counts as acknowledgement that help was given, and returning the favor implies a favor was done. Therefore, nothing is said, but the bond has been strengthened.
For more casual instances, dwarves prefer to compliment rather than thank. Buying a stranger a drink will earn you a loud, "Now there's a man with deep pockets!"
Dwarf males average 4'4" - 4'8".
Dwarf females average 4'2" - 4'6".
Dwarf males average 175 - 220 lbs.
Dwarf females average 150 - 200 lbs.
