The Peoples Of Edessa
Dwarves
After humans, dwarves are the second-most populous race in Edessa; however, this does not mean that dwarves are common, since they still comprise only two percent of Edessa's overall population. Still, they constitute an overwhelming majority in the southern city of Greywall, one of only two non-human majority settlements in all of Edessa.
Cisgender dwarf men average four and a half feet in height; however, the average dwarf of any gender is significantly broader and bulkier than human counterparts of comparable height. As such, cis dwarf men average almost two hundred pounds in weight, in spite of standing only as tall as a pre-adolescent human would. Cisgender dwarf women are only slightly shorter and leaner, having more pronounced musculature than cis women of other races. Dwarf skin and hair tones are most often shades of red, from pale pink to deep crimson to dark copper; additionally, dwarf men are known for growing long, ornate beards.
For most of Nobis' history, dwarf societies have been more likely to war amongst each other than with other peoples. Dwarves are extremely populous on Nobis' southwestern continent, and it is there that they compete over vast stretches of ancestral lands, instead of pushing into Edessa. Because of this, dwarvish warfare often still has a singular focus on fighting against fellow dwarves, and they are not always best-suited for fighting against the more nimble armies of humans, halflings, and elves.
Dwarves are renowned for being the most technologically advanced of Edessa's five peoples; over the course of the previous ten millennia or so, dwarves have been responsible for the creation, development, and proliferation of such cornerstones as the aqueduct, manned flight (via air balloons/blimps), and the crossbow. In addition, dwarves were the first to work with bronze, then iron, and now steel; dwarvish metalwork is known across Nobis as being of the highest quality, and dwarvish blades, in particular, are known for their exceptional cleaving ability.
In combat, dwarves tend to prefer taking advantage of their natural stature, favoring heavy armor (since they're already slow they may as well be able to absorb some damage) and massive crushing/cleaving weapons, especially hammers and axes. Additionally, dwarves are known for putting their advanced technology to use in warfare; dwarves have the most plentiful, and most advanced, siege weapons in all of Edessa. Mounted combat is a very rare skill for dwarves to study, let alone master.
Of the five peoples of Edessa, dwarves are the least accomplished and least active in the realms of magical research and practice. Enchanting weapons, crafting magical items, and carving runes are magical skills in which dwarves tend to excel. Dwarvish alchemists are just as competent as any others, especially when it comes to inorganic alchemy.
Dwarf culture is often considered a bit quiet and reserved when compared to that of other peoples (except, perhaps, for elves); it's customary for dwarves to be very polite and proper when in public or when dealing with strangers, but it's completely acceptable for dwarves to engage in loud gossip, off-color humor, and other such boorishness when in the company of close friends and relatives.
Dwarves prefer to live among mountains, especially those rich in mineral deposits, be they tropical, tundra, or any climate in between. Dwarves usually raise goats for meat, dairy, and leather; hunting massive wild pigs is also very common in dwarf lands. Mushrooms, barley, and root vegetables round out the typical dwarf diet. Although dwarves prefer rocky terrain and make skilled miners, most dwarves do not actually live underground.
In a traditional nine-point alignment system, good and neutral dwarves skew heavily toward being lawful, while evil dwarves are almost always neutral or chaotic evil. Dwarf religions tend to be monotheistic; dwarf societies tend to have rigid hierarchies; dwarf governments tend to favor elitism over populism.
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:13, Mon 16 July 2018.
