Dwarves

Dwarves are a formidable people, fierce in war.  They are a serious people by nature.  The Dwarves of Nireta have been recently joined by the Arashnataran Dwarves, much to the relief of the locals.  For years, the Dwarves have been fighting Nireta.  Any Dwarf captured is enslaved for life, with little hope of release.  The Dwarves were not organized under a central government, being organized into clans based upon extended families.  However, that recently changed when Flind Goruk, King of the Arashnataran Dwarves, also declared himself King of the Nireta Dwarves.  Following the thread of hope that King Goruk brings, the Dwarves are uniting under one King.

Despite being from two different lands, the Dwarves are similar in appearance.  They are a stocky people, being 4 to 4 1/2 feet tall and weighing at least 200 pounds.  Their complexion is dark, from tan to light brown or ruddy.  Very few have light hair; it usually ranges from red to brown to black and their eyes are dark also.  Male Dwarves wear beards, usually elaborately braided and adorned with small gems and jewelry.  Women tend to braid their hair in a similar manner.

Dwarves are craftsmen by trade.  They tend to create items of stone or metal.  Many Dwarves are miners are are quite knowledgeable about stones and gems.  As Dwarves tend to live in mountains or at the least on the side of or near mountains, they are quite comfortable in navigating underground or even in stone constructs.  Dwarves make excellent architects when constructing in stone and are often hired for the design and construction of fortresses and castles.  They are also excellent with metals.  Dwarven-made weapons and armor are of superior quality.

Dwarves are very stoic in nature.  Few can be labeled as humorous.  They are a long-lived and patient people, as a general rule.  This patience sometimes appears to be stubbornness to other races.  Additionally, they are intensely loyal.  It is difficult to gain such loyalty, but once it is given, a Dwarf will be loyal to their chosen allies.  This usually extends to the individual's family also.  The courage of a Dwarf is rarely questioned.  They are fierce in battle and often hired as mercenaries or bodyguards.

The main god of the Dwarves is Moradin, the Soul Forger.  Very few worship other gods; a small minority follow Klin, the Aurochan god.  Clerics are expected to be self- sacrificing to the point of improving the lives of the Dwarves as a whole.  This idea of the whole being more important than the individual echoes throughout their society.  Family is more important than the one; the clan is more important than the family; the Dwarves are more important than the clan.  This is a rough translation of a lullaby sung to babies and small children.

Dwarven Blessing:

May your blade be true.