Dwarf
You surface folk break so easily. You break your legs. You break your promises. You break apart when the winter comes. Down here, we are stone. Stone supports stone. If my arm fails, my brother lends me his. If his eyes fail, my sister sees for him. We do not break. We endure.
Origins: The Mother Stone
While Elves argue about which star they fell from, Dwarves simply point down.
- The Carved Myth: Every Dwarf believes they were not born, but carved. Their creation myth says the Great Shaper chiseled the first ancestors from the bedrock of the "Motherland" (The First Citadel) and breathed the heat of the earth's core into them.
- The Motherland: All Dwarves in Cruinlagh, no matter how far they travel, trace their lineage back to the Prime Fortress. It is not just a city; it is a pilgrimage site. A Dwarf might be born in a surface trading post, but their soul belongs to the deep dark of the Motherland.
Cultural Values: The Chain of Iron
Dwarven society is the ultimate collective. Individual glory is fine, but Communal Survival is the law.
- The Clan Unit: Dwarves do not really have "nuclear families." Children are raised by the hall. Everyone is an uncle or an aunt. Resources are pooled. If a Dwarf starves, it means the whole Hall has failed.
- Work as Worship: They do not pray by kneeling; they pray by working. striking a hammer, refining ore, or building a wall is an act of spiritual devotion. Laziness isn't a sin; it's a safety hazard.
- The Braiding Ritual (Intimacy): To a Dwarf, the beard is the self. It is their vanity, their history, and their status.
- Public: Beads and clasps show rank or profession.
- Private: Allowing someone to touch and braid your beard is the highest form of trust. It is an act of extreme intimacy (placing sharp tools/fingers near the throat). Lovers, life-partners, and the closest of siblings braid each other. To touch a Dwarf's beard without permission is grounds for a brawl.
Placeholder Misc by Lou
Common Names
Dwarven names are hard, consonantal, and enduring. They often grant themselves surnames based on feats or craftsmanship.- Male/Female/Neutral (Interchangeable): Thrum, Bord, Karga, Hlin, Dwalin, Vorn, Runa, Torra.
- Surnames (Earned): Stone-Foot, Iron-Grip, Gold-Thumb, Deep-Eye, Anvil-Laugh.
Other Information
Gender Neutrality of the Beard:In Cruinlagh, everyone has beards. "Bearded Sisters" are the norm. Human standards of dimorphism (smooth-chinned women) look alien and childish to them. Gender is often defined by the style of the braid or the accessories used, rather than physical traits.
Disability & Prosthetics:
Dwarven life is dangerous. Rockfalls happen. Crush injuries happen. Because of this, Dwarves have the most advanced Prosthetic Technology in the world.
Mental Health (The Silence):
The only thing Dwarves fear is isolation. Exile is a fate worse than death. An adventurer Dwarf might be prone to separation anxiety if split from the party, constantly checking in on their friends to ensure the "Clan" is safe.
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