Dwarves

A Dwarven Warrior

The dwarves of Nyrus are a race shaped by their harsh environments, both above and below ground, embodying resilience and an unyielding spirit. Known for their short stature, broad frames, and muscular builds, these stout people thrive in some of the most challenging terrains, including towering mountain ranges and vast underground cities. Their natural affinity for stone and metal has made them legendary for their craftsmanship, with their skillful hands transforming raw materials into architectural marvels, intricate weapons, and finely crafted tools. Each dwarven creation reflects the centuries of tradition and skill passed down through generations, making their goods highly sought after across Nyrus.

Dwarves in Nyrus are a noble and proud race, deeply bound to their traditions and the legacy of their ancestors. Every action they take, from crafting a blade to governing a kingdom, is guided by the teachings of the past. Their respect for lineage is unparalleled, with many dwarves able to trace their ancestry back through countless generations. Ancestral halls are common in dwarven cities, where stone carvings and murals depict the deeds of great heroes and forebears. The weight of this history informs their decisions, making dwarves cautious and deliberate, but also deeply principled. To dishonor one’s family or clan is considered the gravest of sins, and much of dwarven society revolves around maintaining the dignity and honor of one’s lineage.

Living primarily in mountainous regions, dwarves have an innate affinity for rocky, high-altitude environments, where they feel closest to the earth. They are master miners, digging deep into the mountains to extract precious gems, metals, and stone, which they then forge into remarkable works of art and craftsmanship. The architecture of their underground cities, hewn from solid rock, reflects their deep connection to these landscapes. However, dwarves are less comfortable in wide open spaces and hold a strong aversion to the sea. The vastness of open water is unsettling to them, as it lacks the solidity and safety of the mountains they call home. Dwarves are seldom seen at sea and, when they do, are often with other races.

Culturally, dwarves place a high value on hard work, craftsmanship, and loyalty to their clans. They are known for their tireless work ethic, especially in the forges and mines where they spend much of their time. Dwarves tend to live in complex, well-fortified underground cities carved from the stone of mountains. These settlements are not merely places of residence; they stand as testaments to dwarven artistry and engineering, with each hall, archway, and fortress reflecting the unmatched skill of their builders . Dwarven society is also deeply hierarchical, with respect and honor earned through one's craft and contribution to the clan.

Though their communities are often isolated, dwarves are not entirely cut off from the world. Stone Dwarves, the most common subrace, have formed strong trade relations with humans and other races, exchanging their expertly crafted goods for resources and wealth. On the other hand, more reclusive subraces, like the Frost Dwarves and Sand Dwarves, prefer to remain within their harsh environments, far from the bustling cities. While trade and diplomacy with outsiders exist, trust is hard-won among dwarves, and loyalty is fiercely protected.

Description

Dwarves share these characteristics:

• Size: medium-sized, from 4 to 4.5 feet tall and weighing between 125 and 250 pounds.
• Gender Differences: Males are taller and noticeable heavier than women.
• Skin Tones: Skin tones span from dark brown to pale white.
• Hair: Hair colors include blonde, auburn, brown, black, and white. Their hair can grow straight or curly.
• Eye Color: Shades of brown, green and blue.
• Builds: heavy builds. Dwarves are short but broad and bulky, which make them have similar weights to taller races..
• Weather and Terrain Adaptability: They are resilient and sturdy, best suited for mountainous and underground environments.
• Life Span: Dwarves reach physical maturity at around 25-30 years old, and mental maturity at around 50, age at which most of them are considered adults. They normally live up to 400 years old.

The Dwarves of Nyrus are a stout and resilient people, their physicality a testament to the rugged environments they call home. Standing between 4 and 4.5 feet tall, these dwarves are short in stature but far from diminutive. Their bodies are broad and muscular, their heavy builds giving them a presence that commands respect. Weighing between 125 and 250 pounds, they carry the weight of their ancestors’ legacy, their frames as solid and unyielding as the mountains they inhabit.

Among the dwarves, the differences between males and females are subtle yet unmistakable. Males tend to be taller and noticeably heavier, their shoulders broader, their muscles more pronounced. Females, though slightly more compact, are equally resilient, their strength no less formidable. The dwarves are a hardy people, built to endure the harshest conditions, their skin a tapestry of tones that range from the dark browns of rich earth to the pale whites of deep caverns. Each shade tells a story of the environments they have adapted to, a reflection of the subterranean and mountainous realms they dominate.

Their hair, thick and voluminous, comes in shades of blonde, auburn, brown, black, and white, each hue carrying its own significance. Whether straight or curly, their hair is a source of pride, often meticulously groomed and, in the case of males, grown into long, elaborate beards. For the females, their hair tends to be especially voluminous, cascading in rich waves or curls that are as much a symbol of their vitality as their strength. Rarely, some female dwarves even grow beards, though much shorter than those of males. While, of these females most decide to shave them especially if they have interactions with people from other races, a few let their beards grow as a sign of their lineage. As male dwarves age and enter their third century of life, it is common for them to go bald, their once-thick hair receding and leaving them with smooth, bare heads. This transition is accepted with dignity, as the loss of hair is often seen as a sign of wisdom and experience.

The eyes of the dwarves are deep and expressive, found in shades of brown, green, and blue. These colors often mirror the minerals that surround them, with brown eyes common among those who dwell deep within the earth, while green and blue are seen more frequently in those from the high peaks and rolling hills. Their gaze, sharp and unwavering, reflects the determination that has carried them through countless generations of toil and triumph.

Dwarves are a race built for endurance, their bodies adapted to the challenging terrains they inhabit. Whether scaling the steep slopes of a mountain range or navigating the dark, labyrinthine tunnels of their underground cities, they move with a sturdy grace that belies their heavy builds. Their skin, thick and durable, provides a natural barrier against the cold, allowing them to thrive in the frigid climates that would wither other races. they are so resilient that their bodies even show some degree of natural resistance to diseases and toxins that would affect other races.

The lifespan of a dwarf is long, stretching across centuries. They reach physical maturity at around 25 to 30 years of age, but it is not until they are 50 that they are considered truly mature—both mentally and socially. This extended period of growth is a reflection of their enduring nature, with many dwarves living up to 400 years. This longevity allows them to accumulate knowledge, skills, and traditions over generations, contributing to a culture that is as deep and rich as the mines they carve their homes from.

The Dwarves of Nyrus are a people shaped by their environment, their bodies molded by the demands of the land they cherish. They are resilient and proud, their physical traits not merely a reflection of their surroundings, but a testament to their unyielding spirit and the legacy they carry with them.

Subraces

From left to right: Stone, Frost, Sand and Plain Dwarves

There are four dwarven subraces, each of them showing evident differences that result from the adaptation to their environments. The four races are:

Stone Dwarves

Main article: Stone Dwarves

The Stone Dwarves of Eldenvar are a proud and ancient race, hewn from the very rock they call home. Residing deep within the towering mountains, their underground cities are marvels of craftsmanship, where vast halls echo with the sound of hammer on anvil, and walls are adorned with intricate carvings that tell the stories of their forebears. Stocky and stout, with powerful arms shaped by generations of stonework and smithing, they possess an unyielding connection to the earth, capable of bending metal and stone to their will. Though slow to trust outsiders, the loyalty of a Stone Dwarf is as unshakable as the mountains themselves, and their finely wrought tools, weapons, and armor are coveted across the lands of Nyrus. Their society thrives on deep familial bonds and a reverence for tradition, with each clan cherishing its unique legacy, woven into the rich tapestry of their storied culture.

Frost Dwarves

Main article: Frost Dwarves

The Frost Dwarves, a resilient and isolated subrace, inhabit the frozen peaks of Kharnak, their society shaped by the harsh, icy environment. Known for their short, muscular builds, pale skin, and striking blue eyes, they endure the extreme cold with dense bodies and thick white hair. Living in intricately crafted glacier citadels illuminated by frost crystals, they excel in craftsmanship, creating weapons and armor that harness the power of the cold. Their culture values unity, self-reliance, and loyalty, welcoming peaceful visitors while fiercely defending their homeland. Skilled in defensive warfare, Frost Dwarves use their deep knowledge of the icy terrain to set traps and outmaneuver their enemies, with their traditions steeped in rituals celebrating the endurance of winter.

Sand Dwarves

Main article: Sand Dwarves

The Sand Dwarves of Nyrus are a hardy and resilient people, shaped by the relentless heat and sweeping dunes of the Al'Anwaar desert. With skin bronzed by the sun and leaner, more agile frames, they are masters of survival, their every movement a testament to centuries of adaptation. Beneath the golden sands, their hidden cities rise from the rocks, blending into the landscape like natural fortresses, where craftsmanship reigns supreme. Known for their masterful metalwork, stone carving, and jewelry, the Sand Dwarves are shrewd traders, journeying across the vast desert to barter their finely crafted wares for the supplies they cannot produce in their arid homeland. In battle, they are swift and cunning, using the desert's shifting terrain to strike with precision and vanish before their foes can retaliate. A people of both tradition and ingenuity, the Sand Dwarves thrive where others falter, their story forever intertwined with the sun-scorched sands they call home.

Plain Dwarves

Main article: Plain Dwarves

The Plain Dwarves, known as the Koropokkuru, dwell in the lush, rolling plains and fertile valleys of Igochi, where rivers weave through their settlements like veins of life. Unlike their mountain-dwelling kin, these dwarves embrace the open sky and rich earth, forging a harmonious existence with nature. Their stout figures, adorned with intricate hair ornaments that reflect their unrivaled craftsmanship, bustle with precision in every task—be it crafting fine tools, farming equipment, or delicate jewelry sought by nobles and traders alike. In their egalitarian society, leadership is earned by wisdom, not birthright, and every member is bound by a deep sense of communal unity. Though they cherish their quiet lives, the Koropokkuru hold fairness and honor in high regard, welcoming trade and cooperation with those who meet them on equal ground.