Rootward Dwarf

Rootward Dwarves

  The Keepers Beneath Rootward Dwarves are the spiritual stewards of dwarven tradition, dwelling in the wooded hills and forested lake valleys of eastern Brynstone. They live in quiet harmony with the land, following the teachings of Brômak, the god of roots, memory, and ancestral strength.   Unlike their mountain kin, Rootwards do not shape the stone — they listen to it. They serve as lorekeepers, trail guides, hearth-guardians, and seers who interpret the whispers of the past through soil, rootlines, and the rhythms of the land.  

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Physical Characteristics

Appearance: Rootward Dwarves have warm, earthen skin tones — ranging from bark brown to mossy tan — often marked with natural pigments or ritual tattoos. Their hair and beards tend toward muted auburns, greens, and deep browns, usually worn braided with wooden beads or knotted leather strips.
Height and Build: Slightly leaner than forge-dwellers, with strong legs for hilly terrain and wide, calloused hands from working wood and stone by hand.  

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Cultural Traits

Ancestral Reverence: Rootwards keep long oral lineages and hold memory-stones or carved prayer roots that tie them to generations past.
Spiritual Balance: They believe strength without humility leads to ruin — every step forward should echo one behind.
Natural Attunement: Their homes blend into the hills and trees, and they read the forest like a book — not as masters, but as guardians.
 

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Lifestyle and Beliefs

Rootward Dwarves live in stone-and-timber dwellings built into hillsides, often near the geothermal lakes that feed into the eastern Brynstone forest. They follow the Way of the Root, a religion centered on inner stillness, ancestral dialogue, and living in accordance with one's place in the greater cycle.   Their leaders are often called Heartseers or Rootwards — figures who guide both community and spiritual memory. Festivals involve songs, carved offerings, and community reflection rather than noise or spectacle.  

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Role in Dwarven Society

Though quieter than their forge-born kin, Rootward Dwarves are trusted as judges, mediators, and lorekeepers. Many larger dwarven settlements invite Rootwards to officiate rites of passage, burial, or conflict resolution. Some Rootwards serve as spiritual guides to noble families or accompany dwarven warriors to ensure their choices remain grounded in purpose.  

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Relationships with Other Races

Humans: Rootwards are cautious of humanity’s haste, but admire those who honor land and story.
Elves: Mutual respect, especially with wood elves who understand ancestral reverence and seasonal cycles.
Gnomes: Their fast speech and light feet baffle Rootwards, but mutual curiosity often leads to friendship.
 

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Legacy

Rootward Dwarves are not etched in monuments or weapons — their legacy lives in story, root, and ritual. Their influence quietly shapes much of Brynstone’s spiritual rhythm, and their presence is felt in every carved hearthstone or whispered tale that begins with, “So the root remembers…”