[ooc]So, I haven't posted anything of my own creation here in a while. For the last year or so I've had some ideas floating around in my head and today I was feeling particularly inspired so I decided to put some down. Please note: this is not anything particularly new or innovative. It is my take on standard fantasy and an attempt to make a setting that makes sense logically and suits me. Below is a write up of fluff for the dwarves of my setting, because i've thought the most about them so far, and their lore coincides with the history of the setting. I just want to see what you guys think of it. As of now, I have no pictures ('cause i'm artistically challenged) but I have a friend who's a good artist and might be interested, so its possible there are pictures to come.[/ooc]
Intro:
[spoiler]A particularly quiet traveler trekking into mountain valleys may come across a small figure whose clean shaven features seem to be carved from marble. These people are called by many names (Dwarves, the Fallen Ones, the Forgotten Ones, Mountain Folk, etc.) and their bloody history and role in the shaping of civilization stand in contrast with their reclusive existence and humble nature.[/spoiler]
History:
[spoiler]Three thousand years have passed since the fall of ancient dwarven civilization. Their former homeland is a sun scorched wasteland, and their population dwindles. It is relatively common knowledge (common to the scholars and men of intellect who search for such knowledge) that the dwarves were the first race to build an advanced civilization, and that they had some sort of power over the other races. The specific details are known in great detail to only a handful of scholars. At the dawn of civilization there were two proto-races: the Dvern and the Anmah. The Dvern were in touch with the raw energy of the universe, and were mentally gifted. The Anmah, lacking such power, attempted to replicate it in the way of tools and invention. Despite the ambition of the Anmah, the Dvern could manipulate the universe directly, giving them a huge advantage. The Dvern created a complex civilization with a pantheon of Gods. Huge monuments and buildings were constructed with precision and perfection, and their civilization was peaceful and flawless in almost every way, except for one fact that would ultimately be their downfall: the entire Dvern civilization was built on the backs of the Anmah. How exactly the Anmah brought about the downfall of dwarven civilization is unknown. Whether the Anmah rebelled or slave-sympathizers brought down dwarven utopia is a matter of debate, but the great civilization ended when the sun "fell from the sky" and burnt the dwarf homeland to the ground. The Anmah split into different races, and the remaining Dvern retreated to the corners of the world[/spoiler]
Place in the World:
[spoiler]The word 'dwarf' itself is derived from the word Dvern (meaning "us", the 'd' is silent) but has been converted to the human language to simply refer to a short person. Indeed, many humans see the descendants of the Dvern simply as shorter humans who live in the mountains. Dwarves don't have much of a place in the world, and live in small clans or as hermits. Dwarves seen in civilized kingdoms are usually wanderers, but on some occasions can be found as teachers and advisors to politicians. Humans generally make no distinction between unusually short human and dwarves. Folktales often include dwarves as wise men of the mountains. Although their physical presence in the world is minimal, human civilization is based on ancient Dvern civilization. However, humans posses far more ambition and far less refinement then the Dvern. War and poverty plague humanity as a result. In essence, humans are still only tribal's who have adopted and improved upon a method of living created by a people far more suited for it.[/spoiler]
Physiology:
[spoiler]Dwarves are short (average height 4' 6'') and muscular. They are never fat (eating for pleasure is not part of dwarven culture) but their compact bodies make them heavy. Their features are sharp and polished, and their skin is rarely blemished or diseased. They naturally grow fine black or silver hair, but how they deal with their hair varies (see culture). Skin tones are always light, sometimes with gray tones. They have extraordinary immune systems and can only suffer from diseases exclusive to dwarves, and those are rare. Dwarf live far longer than humans, on average 250 years, with old dwarves reaching over 300. This allows them to keep their population slim but in no immediate danger of disappearing. Perhaps the most surprising feature of dwarves is that they are incapable of using magic. After the fall of dwarven civilization, a powerful Dvern High Priest turned slave sympathizer used all his power to forever wipe magic from the hands of dwarves. They are still deeply fascinated and enthralled by magic, yet unable to use it themselves. Also: dwarves are able to have children with their own family members without consequences, and sex is seen only as a means to produce children, not for pleasure. Temperature does not affect dwarves much, and they are able to maintain their body temperature fairly easily. [/spoiler]
Culture:
[spoiler]Dwarven communities are made up of a few families living in a small settlement, usually in isolated mountain valleys or plateaus. Due to their immunity to the consequences of inbreeding, these communities could live for hundreds of years without outside contact. The community is considered the family, and the biological parents have no more say than any other adult. Inside dwarven communities, it is custom to stay clean shaven and free of tattoos, piercings and other things that would alienate the body, which is considered a temple. When traveling alone through human lands, dwarves often grow out their hair and beards. Religion and the old dwarven gods are forgotten and have been replaced with spiritualism and meditative exercises. Literature is limited to history, mathematics and other educational topics, which are taught to all young dwarves. Storytelling is prevalent and enjoyed by the community, but is just the recounting of entertaining stories, without the fables and allegories that inhabit human stories. Stories are largely recounted from memory at community gatherings and rarely written down, due to the limited nature of paper. Buildings are simple: usually the walls are made of rocks and stones, with interweaving pine boughs and branches creating the roof. Without the magic or slaves of their ancestors, they have no way to create large buildings and towns. Dwarves sustain themselves by herding goats and farming fish and fruits. Dwarves are very fond of the large cold weather tortoises that inhabit the mountains and often keep them as pets. Tortoise shell is a common material for dwarven armor, and in its finished state is not recognizable as a reptile's shell. Dwarves dress in simple clothes made from goat fur and animal hide, but have little need for heavy coats and such cold weather clothing due to an innate resistance to temperatures. [/spoiler]
Nice job deviating from the common archetype. There's just enough recognizable features left to identify them as dwarves.
Thanks, that was the idea. Just trying to gt away from those terrible PHB races.
Oh, and if these dwarves bear any similarities to the dwarves from Skyrim (lost civilization, etc.) its either a coincedence or Bethesda raided my thoughts, because I knew the general idea of what I was trying to do with these dwarves before Skyrim was released.