Basic History
"For millennia, the Dwarves were the silent heartbeat of Nor'Ova, content to let the surface races bicker while they carved empires into the roots of the mountains. They were a singular people, bound by the Dwarven Heritage of stone and steel.
However, when the Great Magic War began to tear the very world apart, the deep-dwellers could no longer ignore the world above. The resulting schism divided them based on how they chose to react to the surface's cry for help.
The first to surface were the Mountain Dwarves. Being experienced in the arts of metallurgy and crafting, they saw the war as a demand for superior masonry and tools to rebuild what magic destroyed.
Hardened by subterranean battles against nameless horror, the Iron Dwarves surfaced to offer their axes to whichever side promised the most glory and gold.
The Shield Dwarves believed that the surface races were being far too reckless and surfaced to protect the ancient mountain gates and provide safety to any refugees.
The Rune Dwarves, steeped in runic knowledge and arcane arts long before the runic souls of other races awoken, believed that they could tame and even master the arcane forces driven chaotic in the Magic War's aftermath. They thought to bind magic to stone and metal to strength their homes and safeguard their futures.
Though it has been many centuries since the final stroke fell ending the Great Magic War, these great dwarven races still stand upon the surface. There they mine deep into the mountains, sell their sword to those in need, defend the weak, and continually study and master the arcane after effects of a war that forever changed the world they once knew.
Positives & Negatives
Dwarfs are kind and honorable. These short people have a lot of strength built up inside of them. And being so short, they can fit into places that other races cannot. But being short does have it’s disadvantages. A dwarf is slow and clumsy. They tend to be the last one to move in battle, unless accompanied by an orc, and have a hard time doing normal tasks such as carrying multiple things in their arms and climbing.
Dwarves are immune to being knocked back or knocked down. Dwarfs make great traders, merchants, and warriors.
Racial Skills & Talents
All Dwarves start with the following racial skills:
| Skill | Stat Cost | Range & Area | Duration | Check Roll | Effects | Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carry | 1 Power | self | 1 hour | Normal Athletics |
Increase weight limit by 50% for 1 hour. |
N/A |
All Dwarves also start with the following racial talents:
| Talent | Effects | Requirements | Handicap Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dwarven Endurance |
Occasionally the Dwarf will need a boost of extra Power. The Dwarf can exchange Soul for Power at a cost of 2 Soul per 1 Power. |
be a dwarf |
N/A |
| Low Light Vision |
You are used to working and living in areas of limited light, so while they can't fully see in the dark, they can see better than most. Your eyes quickly pick up the slightest light sources allowing them to make out basic details in shades of gray. |
be of a cave dwelling race (dwarf, cave ravager yeti, goblin) |
N/A |
Dwarves can also have different bonuses, skills, and talents depending upon their sub-race.
Lifespan
Dwarfs have two stages of life, childhood and adulthood. Childhood is a time of growth starts out at the same rate as human children but slows down by the age of 5 so that a dwarf stays considered a child until they are 20. The child is completely dependent of his/her parents for every need. This is the stage the dwarf learns to take care of himself.
During adulthood, which last from 20 until death, the dwarf leaves his parents and tries to make his own way in the world. Dwarfs can still depend on their parents, in fact dwarfs usually live very close to their parents. A dwarf usually doesn’t search for a wife until he is 128. Dwarfs reach their middle age when they are 200 years old, but don't become an elder until they are 400 years old.
Female dwarfs die 100 years before male dwarfs, basically because of the childbirth process that takes so much energy from them. If a female does not ever conceive a child, the female will live to be the same age as the male dwarf. When a dwarf reaches their max age, they die of a severe stroke.
Appearance
Dwarfs are short and chubby and have tanned, coarse skin. When a dwarf grows a beard, they never cut it off or shave it, whether they are male or female. A beard is a dwarf’s symbol of strength. They have either black, gray, or green eyes that are basically an oval shape. Their hair is usually gray, black, or red, and is long and matted. Dwarfs value bodily hair growth, so most have hair on their back, in their arm pits, on their legs and arms, and on their chest, whether they are male or female.
Living Habitat
They live in hilly or mountain regions, and rarely travel.
Food & Sleeping Requirements
Dwarfs must have 4 meals each day consisting of meat and fungus, and drink rum with each meal. They must sleep at least 1/2 a cycle or they will suffer from fatigue.
Culture
Dwarfs all appreciate the values and virtues of hard work. They cherish their crafts and handiwork, and the metals they work with. They tend to be a bit stingy though if they give you a gift, no matter how small or how grand, and you don’t accept it, they take that as a serious offense. They celebrate family and honor and trust above all others and are typically of a monotheistic belief.
Dwarfs make use of the family name as their surname now days, but this is a recent custom that only started during the Second Era. Their family names originally came from what craft they were a part of or something they were famously known for. First names are chosen much like with any other race, they pick a name they like and give it to their offspring. Typically it is the father that names the children, and this is done only when the child turns one. Before that time the child is simply known as “Baby Dwarf”.
Racial Relations
Dwarfs tend to relate well only to like-minded races. They have good relations with the Humans. Dwarfs are very distrustful of all elves, and have a very deep hatred for the Dark Elf. They will work with to some extent with anthropoids, but are distrustful of the beast men. They are also distrustful of all other races.