| Races - Dwarves |
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Dwarves are known for their skill in warfare, their ability to withstand physical and magical punishment, their knowledge of the earth’s secrets, their hard work, and their capacity for drinking ale. Their mysterious kingdoms carved out from drinking ale. Their mysterious kingdoms, carved out from the insides of mountains are renowned for the marvelous treasures that they produce as gifts or for trade.
Personality: Dwarves are slow to laugh or jest and suspicious of strangers, but they are generous to those few who earn their trust. Dwarves value gold, gems, jewelry, and art objects made with these precious material, and they have been known to succumb to greed. They fight neither recklessly nor timidly, but with a careful courage and tenacity. Their sense of justice is strong, but at its worst it can turn into a thirst for vengeance. Among gnomes, who get along famously with dwarves, a mild oath is "If I’m lying, may I cross a dwarf."
Physical Description: Dwarves stand only 4 to 41/2 feet tall, but they are so broad and compact that they are, on average, almost as heavy as humans. Dwarven men are slightly taller and noticeably heavier than dwarven women. Dwarve’s skin is typically deep tan or light brown, and their eyes are dark. Their hair is usually black. Gray, or brown, and worn long. Dwarven men value their beards highly and groom them bery carefully. Dwarves favor simple styles for their hair, beards, and clothes. Dwarves are considered adults at about age 50, and they can live be over 400 years old.
Relations: Dwarves get along find with gnomes, and passable with humans, half-elvs, and halflings. Dwarves say, "The difference between an acquaintance and friend is about a hundred years." Humans, with their short life spans, have a hard time forging truly strong bonds with dwarves. The best dwarf-human friendship are between a human and a dwarf who liked human’s parents and grandparents. Dwarves fail to appreciate elves’ subtlety and art, regarding elves as unpredictable, fickle, and flighty. Still, elves and dwarves have, through ages, found common cause in battles against orcs, goblins, and gnolls; and elves have earned the dwarves’ grudging respect. Dwarves mistrust half-orcs in general, and the feeling is mutual. Luckily, dwarves are fair-minded, and they grant individuals half-orcs the opportunity to prove themselves.
Dwarven Lands: Dwarven kingdoms are usually deep beneath the stony faces of mountains, where the dwarves mine gems and precious metals and forge items of wonder. Trustworthy members of other races are welcome here, though some parts of these lands are off limits to even to them. Whatever wealth the dwarves can’t find in their mountains they gain through trade. Dwarves dislike water travel, so enterprising humans frequently handle trade in dwarves goods when travel is along a water route.
Dwarves in human lands are typically mercenaries, weapon smiths, armor smiths, jewelers, and artisans. Dwarf bodyguards are renowned for their courage and loyalty, and they are well rewarded for their virtues.
Adventures: A dwarves adventure may be motivated by crusading zeal, a love of excitement, or simple greed. As long as his accomplishments bring honor to his clan, his deeds earn him respect and status. Defeating giants and claiming powerful magic weapons are sure ways for a dwarf to earn the respect of other dwarves.
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