Frost Dwarves

Frost dwarven family names are typically their clan names. The clan names of frost dwarves are not that different from other dwarves except that their clan names tend to have some reference to the cold lands they live in or the colors blue and white.

The major language of the frost dwarves is a dialect of Dwarvish. The frost dwarven dialect of Dwarvish is noticeable and distinct from other forms of Dwarvish. It is probably the most distinct Dwarvish dialect given the fact that the frost dwarves are not as close to as many other dwarves.

The frost dwarves value strength and battle-prowess to a high degree. The ancient war with the frost giants has had a huge impact on the cultural values of the frost dwarves and this valuing of strength and battle-prowess comes from that. Every adult is expected to fight for the homeland in frost dwarven society at some point or another.   Community is very important to the frost dwarves. They consider their communal strength to be one of the main reasons why they have not been defeated by a larger and stronger foe like the frost giants. They don’t have to worry about things like infighting nearly as much as the more selfish giants do.   Frost dwarves, like most dwarves, value fine craftsmanship and those who can make it, but they tend to value more practical forms of craftsmanship such as weapons and armor. Although the ability to craft the runic bands that hold hair and beards are also highly valued.

One of the most common rules of etiquette in frost dwarven society is to clearly say what you mean. Frost dwarves do not have time or patience for people who play games with words. The only exception to this is storytelling.   Showing respect to the elderly and those who have been severely wounded in battle is another rule of frost dwarven etiquette. Those who have live long and or sacrificed for the community, they deserve to be shown respect.

The frost dwarves have a tradition of creating carvings on columns or pillars that depicts some of the dwarven gods.

Frost dwarves tend to value strength and thus their beauty ideals tend to be associated with strength. Beauty is often associated with physical fitness whether its large muscles or a more wiry build.   As is the case with most dwarves, beards are considered both a status and beauty symbol. Beards are considered beautiful on both men and women. For frost dwarves, beards are at their most beautiful when they are braided and held together with intricately carved runic bands.   Frost dwarves tend to prefer longer hair on both men and women. Although, the mohawk is also very popular with younger frost dwarves and is considered very attractive among the youth, with the high mohawks being considered quite beautiful.

Both men and women frost dwarves are trained to fight and can be soldiers. The expectation for women frost dwarves is that they should take care of the home and hearth and make sure it serves the family’s needs, but men are expected to help out in this regard and if they do not, a woman is well within her rights to leave the man and publicly humiliate him.   All frost dwarves are expected to learn how to smelt, forge, brew, or farm. Different clans have different gender expectations for these positions and which positions are more important, but there is no shame in either gender taking any of these professions.   Traders who venture out beyond the Frostspine Mountains are expected to be men, but this is mostly because they think that outsiders have certain expectations of what a frost dwarf is supposed to look like and often times women do not meet that expectation. But male dwarves who do not meet these expectations are often discouraged from being traders.

Courtship among the frost dwarves is a blunt affair. If a man or a woman likes someone, they are expected to simply approach that person and bluntly state their desire for courtship, and the person approached is expected to give a straightforward answer.   However, for frost dwarves in high social stations, they are often involved in marriages arranged by their parents or clanhead for political or economic goals. These frost dwarves are expected to produce a finely made item and give this to the person they are arranged to marry.

The relationship ideal for the frost dwarves (and many other dwarves) is for those in the relationship to serve as the foundation that something greater is built upon. Supporting your partner(s), your children, and even your families is the normal expectation for frost dwarves, and if a partner does not meet that expectation for whatever reason, the relationship can be dissolved as a solid structure cannot be built from something that has a weak foundation.

Kuzad-Nikar is the kingdom of the frost dwarves and most frost dwarves live here with others scattered throughout other parts of the world.