A long time ago, the dwarves lived in small clans in the forests and mountains. Since then, most hill dwarves have banded together and live with humans and halflings in the towns and cities. A few mountain clans still exist, on the frontiers of civilization. Dwarves almost exclusively worship the Aesir gods, with some even denying the divinity of the Vanir. The only exception is Heimdall, who has his fair share of dwarven devotees, especially among artisans.
Dwarven societies are matrilineal, with titles and property being inherited by the eldest daughter. Dwarves only rarely have more than two or three children, so male heirs are far from unheard of.
All dwarves enjoy feasting, and the most important room of any dwarven home is where meals are taken, usually meats cooked over an open fire in large hearths. At a dwarven feast, it is tradition for the pitmaster to be honored with a horn of the finest mead the household can muster.
Dwarves are known to be slow to trust, but equally faithful once their favor has been earned - a dwarf will probably not invite a stranger for dinner, but those who do get an invite will be treated very well.
Before the Empire ruled the islands, Estia was a dwarven kingdom, centered on the city of Kundamar. A small but vocal minority of dwarves want to return to this state of affairs and overthrow what they believe is an unjust occupation of their ancestral lands.
Dwarves usually stand between four and five feet tall, with males a few inches taller than females. Many dwarves take great pride in their appearance and braid their hair and beards in intricate patterns. They have stocky builds, and are very strong for their height. They only rarely go into combat without armor, and prefer large weapons with a big impact. Blunt weapons are more common than bladed ones, atleast in traditional dwarf societies.
Dwarves live about years. Dwarven names can be boasts of martial prowess, or include the name of a deity. It is not uncommon for a dwarf to change their last name to something that fits them more closely once they are grown up.
Dwarven Ideals
- Ambition: The world will know my name. (Any)
- Strength: Only the mighty are righteous rulers. (Lawful)
- Loyalty: Those who have earned my trust can count on my support. (Good)
- Resourcefulness: I will use any tools that will get the job done. (Chaotic)
- Ancestry: I want to live up to the deeds of the heroes of old. (Neutral)
- Treasure: I'll do anything for the right reward. (Evil)