Dwarf
Guardians Under the Mountain
Guardians of the depths of the world, Dwarves, live halfway between the surface of Erenel and the horrors found at its core. Thanks to their tremendous skill in forging metals, the Dwarves use the Utterance, an Ancient Language of the Architect, to safeguard against the Leviathan’s Realm.
The stout dwarf folk are steadfast and strong-minded, with a proud history of great artisans, builders, and tinkerers. They can endure much and stubbornly defend their beliefs even when pressed against a wall. Naturally skeptical and rarely impressed, they carve out their underground kingdoms beneath mountains and hills, ever searching for the precious minerals that fuel their civilization.
One of two reasoning species capable of withstanding the might of Utterance, the dwarves shape wondrous creations imbued with the Axioms of their creator, Al'Madoon, the Architect. These Axioms, infused into weapons, armor, and fortifications, serve as a vital defense against the horrors below. When the Great Sacrifice reshaped the world, the dwarves awoke in their citadels and mines only to find abominations rising from the depths—creatures spawned from the corruption of Vyse Tyranal, the Fallen Elf. This battle against the darkness beneath the world has never ceased, defining their role as protectors of Erenel’s underbelly.
The Mawborn
Since their awakening following the Great Sacrifice, dwarven history has been defined by war beneath the earth. Crawling forth from the depths of the world under the Crestfallen Mountains, Storm's Coast Mountains and Sundermist Tips, the Mawborn were the first to greet the dwarves. Emerging like maggots from the rotting carcass of a demigod known as Leviathan, these enormous otherworldly abominations exist solely to consume and exterminate. Using the underground tunnels and mines as their pathways, the Mawborn launch relentless invasions, seeking to overwhelm dwarven mines and strongholds time and time again.
by Dean Spencer
Yet, all is not lost. Thanks to their mastery of Utterance, dwarven colonies construct enormous fortifications reinforced by guardian Axioms, sealing breaches in the rock wherever the Mawborn is discovered. Seeing themselves as the last line of defense between the horrors of the deep and the surface world, dwarven clans work together to hunt, trap, and eradicate these monstrous invaders before they can spread beyond the underground realms.
Basic Information
Anatomy
Dwarves generally stand between 4 to 5 feet tall, their stocky builds reflecting the dense muscle and endurance required for life underground. Their skin, eye, and hair color vary similarly to humans but often take on hues of gray, red, or bronze, reflecting the minerals and metals they work with daily.
Masculine Dwarves generally wear long beards, which they meticulously braid and decorate with clan markings, rings, and clasps of status.
Feminine Dwarves grow long hair, similarly braided and adorned with intricate clasps and gemstones. While they occasionally grow beards, they often wear elaborate headpieces that signify their family lineage.
Dwarves have naturally resilient bodies, with thick bones and sturdy frames that make them difficult to topple in battle. Their eyes have adapted to the dim light of the underground, giving them excellent vision in darkness but making them sensitive to sudden flashes of bright light.
Additional Information
Social Structure
Dwarven society is clan-based, with each clan serving as both an extended family and a political entity. Honor and duty to one’s clan are paramount, and to be clanless is the greatest shame a dwarf can endure. Even dwarves who live beyond their subterranean homes cherish their clan identities, invoking their ancestors’ names in both oaths and curses. Those without a clan are often shunned, regarded as rootless and untrustworthy.
Dwarves in foreign lands typically take up professions as artisans, weaponsmiths, armorers, and jewelers, their work highly sought after for its craftsmanship and durability. Many also serve as mercenaries or bodyguards, prized for their courage and loyalty in battle.
Civilization and Culture
Naming Traditions
Dwarven names are a legacy passed down through generations, with names belonging to the clan rather than the individual. A dwarf’s name is not just their own, it carries the weight of their ancestors' deeds. A dwarf who dishonors their name may be stripped of it, forbidden by law from using any dwarven name in its place.
Masculine Names
Adrik, Eberk, Fargrim, Rangrim, ThoradinFeminine Names
Bardryn, Diesa, Kathra, Riswynn, VistraClan Names
Amberanvil, Battlehammer, Fireforge, Frostbeard, IronfistAverage Technological Level
Mastery of Utterance
Dwarves are one of two reasoning species capable of enduring the might of Utterance, the ancient language of the Architect. Through this divine craftsmanship, they forge legendary weapons, armor, and artifacts that stand the test of time. Their smiths and rune-carvers carefully etch Axioms into metal and stone, creating protective sigils and enchantments that reinforce their citadels against both natural collapse and unnatural horrors.
This divine craftsmanship is more than mere tradition—it is a sacred duty. The creation of weapons, armor, and constructs imbued with Utterance ensures the dwarves remain Erenel’s greatest line of defense against the Mawborn. Many dwarves dedicate their entire lives to mastering runic inscriptions and artifact forging, with some even sacrificing their own lifespans to fuel the most powerful enchantments.
Utterance Defenses Against the Mawborn
Dwarves wield a variety of rune-inscribed defenses in their endless war against the Mawborn. These items are carefully crafted using the ancient knowledge of Utterance, each serving as a vital tool for protecting their underground citadels.
Aegis Gauntlet
Heavy gauntlets etched with shockwave runes that, when struck against stone or armor, emit concussive bursts capable of repelling smaller Mawborn or disorienting larger ones.
Echo Lantern
Suspended from fortress walls, these enchanted lanterns emit waves of resonant sound that reveal hidden Mawborn tunnels and disrupt their movement, making it easier to predict and intercept their attacks.
Warhammer of Sundering
A finely crafted dwarven warhammer infused with destruction runes that cause its strikes to burn through the unnatural chitin of the Mawborn, preventing them from regenerating their wounds.
by Dean Spencer
Stonesoul Hearthplate
Worn by dwarven defenders, this breastplate radiates a protective aura that hardens nearby armor and shields. It allows warriors to form an unbreakable line of defense in the heat of battle.
Wardstones of Binding
These towering rune-inscribed pillars are planted deep in cavern walls to reinforce structural integrity and slow the advance of burrowing Mawborn. When activated, the wardstones pulse with golden light, sealing tunnels and preventing creatures from passing through for a limited time.
Major Language Groups and Dialects
Dwarves speak multiple dialects, each shaped by their environment and cultural traditions. The language of one dwarven stronghold may be completely alien to another, despite sharing common ancestral roots. Below are the three primary dwarven languages of Erenel:
Cantoral (Five Dwarven Cantons)
The Five Dwarven Cantons beneath the Sundermist Tips speak Cantoral, a formal and rigid dialect. Unlike the more pragmatic Thommari, Cantoral is almost musical, often spoken in a rhythmic, almost chant-like manner. This dialect is often inscribed into runes, making it the most commonly used language for magical inscriptions and historical texts.
Notable Cantoral Phrases
Krogrun (Reclusive Dwarves)
The dwarves of the Storm’s Coast Mountains speak Krogrun, a rough and layered language influenced by their seclusion and the wilds they have learned to live alongside. This dialect integrates whistles, clicks, and drawn-out consonants, allowing for quiet communication in dense jungle terrain. Unlike other dwarven dialects, Krogrun has absorbed words from the Osloru people, reflecting centuries of distant trade and observation.
Notable Krogrun Phrases
Thommari (Forge Dwarves)
The dwarves of Thommar, City of Anvil, speak Thommari, a deep and resonant language built for clarity and efficiency. Words are structured to be short and precise, allowing smiths and miners to communicate over the roar of forges and the echo of tunnels. The language has a unique rhythm, often compared to the ringing of a hammer against an anvil.
Notable Thommari Phrases
Lifespan
About 350 years
Average Height
Medium (about 4–5 feet tall)
Torgrim Runehouse
Character played by oRevert
Herbal Ale
While many have tasted dwarven ale, few outside of their deep citadels have experienced the herbal ales brewed in secret. These potent draughts are not magical but require rare ingredients found only in the depths of the world.
Dozens of recipes exist, each jealously guarded by different clans. A single sip of these ales grants unique effects, invigorating the drinker or enhancing endurance, but always accompanied by temporary side effects until the potent alcohol wears off. Only the highest of fortitude can stomach more than a tankard in one sitting.
by Dean Spencer
by Dean Spencer
Dwarven Clans of Erenel
Dwarven settlements are found beneath three major mountain ranges, each home to unique clans that have developed distinct traditions and leadership structures. While all dwarves share a deep-rooted duty to protect the world from the Mawborn, the differences between these settlements shape their way of life.
The Five Dwarven Cantons
The dwarves beneath the Sundermist Tips are known as the Five Dwarven Cantons, a collective of five powerful clans that maintain their own settlements under the mountain. Each dwarven canton operates independently but unites when necessary to repel threats from below the mountain.
Forge Dwarves of Thommar
Deep within the Crestfallen Mountains, Thommar, City of Anvil serves as home to the Forge dwarves. Unlike the more divided cantons, Forge dwarves operate under a singular rule, led by Chieftain Farn Ironborn, who has sat upon The Great Throne for the past 90 years. The Ironborn lineage has guided Thommar since its founding, ensuring its continued prosperity and unbroken defenses against the Mawborn.
The Reclusive Dwarves
Bordering the Great Oyudanyi Jungle, the dwarves of the Storm’s Coast Mountains are more secluded than their kin in other regions. Isolated from the wider world, these clans have developed their own ways of life, adapting to the rugged coastline and deep jungle caves.
Unlike other dwarven strongholds, they have learned to coexist with the wilds, integrating unique flora and fauna into their architecture and forging techniques. Their secrecy makes them a mystery to outsiders, though whispers speak of untapped knowledge and lost techniques hidden within their under mountain halls.
Kazrak Runevein
Character played by Rainingdragon
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