Dwarf

You might..

• Assume other races all know each other.
• Engage in obsessive fascination with mundane topics like stonework.
• Regularly send letters back to your clan detailing your endeavors.

Others probably..

• Assume you are obsessed with dirt, even if the dirt isn't interesting.
• Expect you to drink in large amounts and challenge you to drinking contests.
• Ask you to inspect various materials like metals under the assumption you're an expert.

Physical descriptor

Dwarves are short and very stout individuals. The tallest of which barely stand five feet high. They are nearly as wide as they are tall, with arms longer than their legs. They have deceptively long reaches regardless of their short height, and find that narrow passages and tight spaces are easy to maneuver in.

Most dwarves grow elaborate facial hair that they maintain fervently. Braiding and often decorating the facial hair with ancestral tokens and clasps.

Society

Every dwarf is born into a clan, and their efforts and mistakes are shared by the clan. This is both a great honor for dwarves, and a source of stress. Many dwarves spend their efforts trying to bring pride and good fortune to their families and clan halls as they age, however younger dwarves often rebel against their clan ties and engage in pilgrimages to distant cultures and workplaces to make their own way in the world. These young dwarves still find a need to send letters back to their clans, and are far more family oriented than other races.

Beliefs

Dwarves believe they are one with the elements of the world, and they foster strong relationships with all of them equally. Most people associate dwarves with metals and earth, and while the dwarves love the earth around them they also have sects who are tied to wind, water, and fire in equal measure. They believe the balance of the elements is the key to life and that balancing the concepts of the four leads to a great life.

Name Examples

Dwarves always have names given to them by their mothers, with orphaned dwarves receiving their name from the local women of their clan. Their last names are that of the clan, and great pride is put into their clan names. Most dwarves introduce themselves with their clan name first, and first name only to those they are familiar with.

• Orn Stormwright
• Barnus Greatforge
• Estero Deepdelver