Dvergar (DVER-gahr)
Dwarf
Dvergar are the sound of hammer to anvil echoing through stone. They are the clink of chain drawn from a forge, the flicker of flame that never flickers out. Not born of fire, but born beside it, these beings shape the Realm in ways both subtle and enduring. Short in stature but titanic in influence, their presence is felt in every rivet, every carved lintel, every blade passed from one generation to the next.
To meet a Dvergar is to feel the weight of time made tangible. Their skin holds the hue of deep earth and old ore, their eyes lit from within by a slow-burning clarity. They move with a certainty that does not seek permission. They do not boast. They do not bluff. What they create speaks louder than they ever will.
Most dwell below—their homes hewn into mountain bellies and rich with geometry and glowing hearths. But some walk among surface kin, representing their clans in trade, treaty, or silent witness. In all places, they build: not just things, but trust, legacy, and stories laid like bricks into the walls of memory.
Though they prize precision and tradition, Dvergar are not stagnant. They innovate in quiet, often alone, forging marvels from mind and metal. Their values are not spoken often, but they run deep: honor in craft, loyalty to blood and bond, and a fierce refusal to abandon what they have begun. To gain a Dvergar’s respect is to hold a rare gem. To lose it is to be forgotten like slag.
Despite their silence, they sing—songs that resound only in certain caverns, in certain moods. They speak of molten rivers, of ancestors carved from stone, of days when gods bargained and lost to mortal artisans. Their music is not beautiful in the way of birds. It is beautiful in the way of architecture: complex, lasting, and full of weight.
They do not chase the limelight. They illuminate from within. A glowing forge is never loud, but it changes everything it touches.
Aetherkin
Basic Information
Anatomy
Dvergar possess a unique skeletal density that anchors their strength and resistance to environmental strain. Their lungs are adapted to handle thin air and dust-heavy environments, while their eyesight excels in low light. Their joints, while sturdy, allow surprising dexterity—necessary for their intricate crafts. Though humanoid in structure, their internal durability borders on the legendary, and even their teeth are shaped to shear stone-pigmented roots or hardened grains.
Biological Traits
Dvergar age slowly, their vitality persisting for centuries. Illness touches them rarely, and fatigue is something they outwork rather than avoid. Their skin resists cuts, heat, and weathering; their bones are famously difficult to break. Most notable is their affinity for metal and stone—not magical, but intrinsic. They read fissures in walls like others read maps, feel stress in a blade’s edge before it fails. Their resilience is matched only by their stubbornness, both honed over lifetimes of refinement.
Behaviour
Deliberate, observant, and deeply rooted in principle, Dvergar do not waste words or effort. They are private by nature and slow to trust, but once given, that trust is unshakeable. Their sense of duty is not performative; they do what must be done because it must be done. Pride runs deep, though rarely spoken aloud. They enjoy solitude, rhythm, and silence—but in times of celebration or story, they become vibrant with song, drink, and fiercely competitive games of skill.
Additional Information
Facial characteristics
Square-jawed and stern by default, Dvergar faces are built like their masonry: enduring and deeply expressive once understood. Thick brows and intense eyes dominate their countenance, the latter often colored like metal under fire—molten golds, iron gray, or ember red. Facial hair is revered: beards and brows alike are groomed with as much care as any artifact, often braided, ringed, or clasped with filigree. Age adds dignity, not frailty, and lines on a Dvergar’s face are read like lines in a ledger.
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
While not mystical, their sensory array is finely tuned to the physical world. Dvergar can hear faults deep in stone, feel heat shifts in metal by proximity, and detect balance changes in weight with uncanny accuracy. Their night vision rivals that of nocturnal creatures, and their sense of smell is acute enough to catch changes in mineral composition, toxins, or the presence of unfamiliar forges. These traits make them not just excellent craftsmen—but impossible to deceive within their domain.
Civilization and Culture
Common Myths and Legends
Across the Mortal Realm, dwarves appear in myth as divine smiths, secretive miners, and clever architects of fate. Norse tradition speaks of their forging of Mjölnir, Gleipnir, and Draupnir—each wrought with such skill it defied even the gods. In the Black Forests of Europe, they are kobolds or mine wights; in Persia, they appear as djinn of iron. Across Celtic fringe, they’re whispered of as “stone-born,” children of the deep earth who sleep beside the bones of giants. Wherever stone meets story, there is a Dvergar beneath it, forging legend with every strike.
Genetic Ancestor(s)
Scientific Name
Neacha; Nádúrtha; Celticus dvergar
Origin/Ancestry
According to Norse mythology, Dvergar were originally formed from the body of the primordial being Ymir, fashioned by the gods and given life and intellect.
Average Height
Dvergar typically stand between 4 to 5 feet tall.
Average Weight
Dvergar are stocky and muscular, weighing between 150 to 200 pounds.
Average Physique
Compact, dense, and tremendously strong, the Dvergar body is built not for speed, but for lasting impact. Their musculature is anchored deep in thick bone, and their limbs are proportioned for power rather than agility. Hands are broad, fingers deft, and torsos barrel-like—supporting both endurance and precision in equal measure. There is no wasted space in their forms; every inch is earned and used.
Body Tint, Colouring and Marking
Dvergar skin reflects the stone they hail from—ranging from ashen gray to rich umber, with undertones of copper, slate, or granite. Their complexions are often textured, almost weathered, with veins of color that seem mineral in origin. Hair is coarse and plentiful, commonly dark but streaked with reds, golds, or silvers in age or distinction. Many adorn their bodies with geometric tattoos or etched runes, marking heritage, forge-craft, or kin-oaths sworn.
