Dwarves
Amongst the oldest of our world’s races, these noble beings have left an indelible mark on history. The Dwarven love of craftsmanship, quality, and ideals certainly belies their fierceness in the arts of war. Both males and females are a stout, bearded folk and are reputedly the finest stone and metal craftsmen on Amroth, with their wares often fetching a much higher price than that of others. Though they are only around four to five feet tall, their stubborn nature make up for any advantage height might award their opponent. Perhaps their legendary stubbornness is also a contributing factor in their noted ability to outdrink most other races.
A newly founded relationship between Tyrran Mountain Dwarves and the Dwarves of Amroth over the past several years is bearing fruit as the craftsmen from both cultures continue to trade and share their cultures with each other. The Dwarves of Amorth in their numerous city-states and holds are certainly vastly more numerous than the Mountain Dwarves of the Oasis, but they are nonetheless welcoming and in awe of their newly acquired cousins.
Races
Amrothi Dwarf
Amrothi Dwarves take pride in their civic duty; the duty to their freehold. These Dwarves hold craftsmanship, quality, and ideals high, but their mountain holds harbor the foundations of philosophy, freedom, and ideals that every Dwarf lives to uphold. Dwarves typically live within the confines of their holds and city-states, but can be found all across Amroth
Costuming & Makeup
Dwarves typically wear linen togas and tunics of various colors. They wear a wide variety of armor, but are famous for their use of bronze and volcanic bronze when crafting weapons and armor.
Requirements:
Dwarven character of any gender must wear a full beard of at least six inches.*
*If you already have a beard, you must still wear a costume beard of at least six inches over the top of it.
Advantages
Natural Toughness:
+2 Starting Body Points and
+5 to Maximum Body Points
Dwarven metalworking tradition:
May purchase Armorsmith and One-Handed Blunt and half build cost, rounded up.
Natural Resilience:
May purchases the Resist Disease skill
Crossbow Aptitude:
+2 damage with crossbow (increasing base damage to “8 Normal”).
Disadvantages
Small stature:
Unable to purchase the Two-Handed Blunt or Two-Handed Sword skills.*
Stubborn:
Read Magic skill costs double build cost.
* May purchase the Two-Handed Mastery skill, however, it only permits Mastery of Staff and Polearm).
Mountain Dwarf
Amongst the oldest of our Tyrra's races, these noble beings have left an indelible mark on history. The Dwarven love of song, history, and drink certainly belies their fierceness in the arts of war. Both males and females are a stout, bearded folk and are reputedly the finest stone and metal craftsmen on Tyrra, with their wares often fetching a much higher price than that of others. Though they are only around four to five feet tall, their stubborn nature make up for any advantage height might award their opponent. Perhaps their legendary stubbornness is also a contributing factor in their noted ability to outdrink most other races. Establishing their Oasis home in the abandoned town of Aragon, the Tyrran Dwarves now live in an uneasy truce with the orcish tribes remaining after the Frah invasion.
Costuming & Makeup
Requirements:
Dwarven character of any gender must wear a full beard of at least six inches.*
*If you already have a beard, you must still wear a costume beard of at least six inches over the top of it.
Advantages
Natural Toughness:
+2 Starting Body Points and
+5 to Maximum Body Points
Dwarven metalworking tradition:
May purchase Armorsmith and One-Handed Blunt and half build cost, rounded up.
Natural Resilience:
May purchases the Resist Disease skill
Crossbow Aptitude:
+2 damage with crossbow (increasing base damage to “8 Normal”).
Disadvantages
Small stature:
Unable to purchase the Two-Handed Blunt or Two-Handed Sword skills.*
Stubborn:
Read Magic skill costs double build cost.
* May purchase the Two-Handed Mastery skill, however, it only permits Mastery of Staff and Polearm).
Location
Aragon:
Aragon is one of the larger towns in the Oasis and contains a rare material the Dwarves prize; mithril. After the arrival of the Oasis in Amroth it was soon discovered that Mithril was not a naturally occurring ore. Aragon and the surrounding area is the only known location in the entire world of Amroth where mithril can be mined. As such, the Mountain Dwarf settlers of the Oasis have continued to maintain control of the mithril mines and Aragon as a whole.
Seahold:
Seahold is a colonial hold on the shore of the Amrothi continent. Most of its trade goods are sent back to the Dwarven homeland. The leadership of Seahold maintains friendly relations with nearly all civilized groups on continental Amroth. Deep fissures within Seahold allow for the smelting of volcanic bronze, a highly valued resource for Dwarven craftsmen. Trading of volcanic bronze to non-Dwarven societies is rare, but not forbidden.
Legends & Folklore
The Motherlode:
The Motherlode, which is a principal or primary vein of ore in a mine, is not just a physical thing; it is a philosophy for Mountain Dwarves. It could be considered a symbol of perfection for Dwarven craftsmen. Trying over and over again to discover the most wealth and create the best sword or suit of armor is a goal for Dwarves that may never actually occur in their lifetimes. Nevertheless, the endless search for the motherlode is a flame in the hearts of Dwarven culture. Whether that flame takes the form of ore, armor, love, song, or swing of an axe is up to each Dwarf to decide.
Order of the Elder Hammer:
This Knightly order upholds the ideals of Dwarven civilization. Dwarven Knights of this order can be found in nearly every city-state and hold. Currently, the headquarters of the Elder Hammer is located in Seahold. Legend has it that the Elder Hammer was founded after the first battle was fought against the Ogre Empire centuries ago. Sir August Stormforge was believed to be the founder of the order after defending the front gates of an ancient hold called Thorurion
Culture
Amrothi Dwarves:
Dwarves tend to live in freeholds, city-states ruled by elected kings. Each freehold is independent of each other, although in times of war, all city-states will have joint military maneuvers, and certain places such as the Academy, are held in common trust between all city-states. There is no distinction between men and women in Dwarven society. Extended family (referred to as Clans) have a strong ties and generally live as a common unit. Children are generally raised in common by the entire Clan, with each adult taking turns at supervising and teaching the children. Property is held by the Clan. While older members of each Clan tend to lead, it is believed that every Dwarven voice should count. In any family decision, all adults are encouraged to speak up and decisions are usually a majority rule vote. Older children are always present at Clan meetings and are allowed to ask questions and make input prior to a vote. This is viewed as training for when they must help make decisions in society. Most city-states have a democratic government with either an elected king or ruling triad and an elected assembly of peers to help guide the rulers, sit in jury on trials, oversee public works, and explain to the citizens they represent any major law or other decision that must be voted on.
Mountain Dwarves:
Mountain Dwarves are innately gifted with a stout resilience that allows them to withstand injuries and resist diseases. Though their short stature prevents them from wielding the larger two handed weapons they have a unique affinity for crossbows and single-handed blunt weapons such as the hammers they put to work in their forges. Generally distrustful of the Arcane arts, you will find few who persevere against their nature to wield Celestial magics but many who master the craft of Armorsmithing the race is so acclaimed for. The stubbornness of a Mountain Dwarf is well known to all in the Oasis and and beyond. Their love of drink can sometimes turn their stubborn nature into an unstoppable force all would do well to avoid. More than anything, the ability of Mountain Dwarves to craft marvelous creations from the natural resources of the world is truly astounding. While they certainly do trade their fine quality wares to many, the simple act of crafting is itself something that makes many Mountain Dwarves truly happy.
Daily Life
Dwarves are known as famous craftsman throughout Amroth. Craftsman of many varieties can be seen populating markets in various holds and city-states alike. Amrothi dwarven citizens have the right to send their children to the Academy, a state-run education center jointly funded and run by all city-states. Students are taught basic skills, reading, writing, limited history, armorsmithing, military skills, public speaking, and social graces (etiquette and diplomacy enough to get along in Dwarven society). Citizens have a right to take advanced study at the Academy. All city-states have a branch of the Academy for young students to learn basic skills. The constant threat of the Ogre Empire intrusion affects the daily lives of nearly all Armothi Dwarves. The looming threat seems to have no end in sight. As such, military service is highly encouraged, if not compulsory in certain holds, in Amrothi Dwarf culture. Military veterans are held in high regard and almost always guaranteed a pathway to leadership roles within freehold politics. The miners of Aragon and the craftsmen of Docksides and Solace are often Dwarves who find trade to be lucrative across the Oasis. It is also not uncommon for a Dwarf to take up arms as a soldier or mercenary when required. In the evenings it is common to find Mountains Dwarves drinking their fill in taverns and communal meeting places while telling stories and getting into friendly arguments with one another.