Revision as of 18:49, 25 November 2014

The dwarves are likely the most friendly and commonly encountered humanlike with humans. Dwarves are mentioned in some of the most ancient human legends as servants of the gods and creatures of the mountains. Dwarves today retain much of their ancient customs, language, and resilience. They are leading innovators of titancraft technology and critical to the trade of the Pallathantic Region. The close proximity and commercial concourse with humans of the dwarves ensures that the relationship between and dwarves and humans will endure into the unforeseeable future.

Dwarven Physiology

Dwarven Diet

Dwarves are omnivores, with a cultural preference for meat and liquors such as beer, ale, mead, and whiskey. Dwarves are fond of beef, lamb, and other heavy meat common to humans for which they will pay in hard currency. Dwarves are also resourceful enough to use the beasts of the deepearth as nourishment to prevent their dependence upon surface food. Subterranean dwarves are excellent preservers of food. Dwarven lands, however, are sufficiently abundant that they can provide much if not all of their demand for red meat.

History

Origins

Dwarven oral accounts reach back before the Flood of Aturyanda. Records written contemporary to the period from which the oldest dwarven writings survive date at least to the end of the Vorudian Cataclysms, (11,800 AS to 8,300 AS). Dwarven history is an important corroborative component to human historiography. Dwarves were thought to have been about 35 cm taller before the Flood, based upon legends and archeological evidence. In the old world, known antediluvian dwarven homelands include Bukalaa and Old Hearth, with additionally accepted homelands in Za-Bahuna, Sungo, and the new world.

Migrations

Midrardian and Old Hearth Dwarven Migrations in the West

Dwarven oral accounts, subsequently committed to stone, report the Vorudian Cataclysms, associated with the blue-violet illumination of the mysterious star, Vorud. During the Vorudian Cataclysms, dwarven groups which survived the Flood of Aturyanda tended to two differing strategies, remaining cloistered in their deepearth sanctuaries or trekking through or above the earth in search of new homes. Earth changes made both strategies potentially dangeous. During this time, migrating dwarven groups could not make or carry permanent records and so kept extensive oral accounts of their folk. Qaish'aa Dwarves reveal that their ancient homeland before the flood was in Midrardia. During the Vorudian Cataclysms, some groups left, most notably the forebears of the Bukalaan Dwarves and the forebears of the Ithradic dwarves. Tauhad is one of the oldest dwarven colony since the Vorudian Cataclysms in Pytharnia and the mother of all Qaish'aa dwarven colonies in the Jaggudorns. Dwarves of Old Hearth and of the Amandal Plateau largely remained in their mountain fastnesses. Dwarven scholars have determined that there is likely an antediluvian link between the Qaish'aa dwarves of Midrardia and the dwarves of Old Hearth (Emegul-Thaudh) based upon linguistic evidence and religious customs. Persistent legends of the dwarves reveal nine lost dwarven colonies which either remain hidden from human history or succumbed to the vicissitudes of the Vorudian Cataclysms.

Dwarves during the Yophenthean Empire

Main article: Relations between Dwarves and the Yophenthean Empire

Dwarves view the period of Yophenthean Imperial rule with mixed thoughts, generally negative. Dwarves found the Arathracian nobles' religious justification for confiscating dwarven gold deeply offensive. In practice, Yophenthean rulers did not confiscate dwarven gold, but expressed religious dogma that all gold originated from the sun and was therefore subject to the stewardship of the offspring of Arathrax. Yophenthean rule however provided a lawful super-kingdom in which the dwarves could conduct commerce with humans with consistent laws, justice, and uniform currency.

Dwarves in the Medieval Period

Dwarves in modern times

Dwarven Customs

social classes, family and marriage, birth customs, death and burial practices

Dwarven Burial Customs

Dwarven culture deems the earth to be the only suitable locale in which to inter their dead. The manner of preparing the body for burial has varied considerably through dwarven history and among the several dwarven sibling cultures. Additionally, the social status of the deceased can greatly decided the lavishness or paucity of the funereal accoutrements. Dwarven Kings have traditionally been embalmed and interred in great stone sarcophagi of fine workmanship. Dwarven commoners were buried in communal floor crypts, usually covered with stone tiles. To tread such tiles was considered a manner of connecting spiritually with the ancestors. Dwarves prefer by far to bury their dead in whole form, although exceptions include cremation and placement of the organs of the deceased in various vessels. But these rare exceptions almost usually insist that the remains be placed in the depths of the earth. Dwarves living abroad such as among human lands will have the dead of their number preserved and the corpse born by land route to their ancestral homeland to be interred in the depths. A land route is almost always taken as the thought of a calamity bringing about an accidental burial at sea is unthinkable.

Dwarven Languages

Dwarven Languages have been divided into broadly three groups, sometimes four. The most plentiful group comprises languages related to Ithradic, including the languages of the southwest Jaggudorns. The language of the Emegul-Thaudh (Old Hearth) is sometimes classified along with the Ithradic language. The Amandal Language comprises another group. Philologers are unable to establish any relationship between Amandal and Ithradic. The last group is the language of the dwarves of the new world.

Dwarven Races

There are several dwarven races throughout the world. They are not physiological different from one another, except in superficial regards. In the west, there are three main dwarven races, the Bukalaan, the Qaish'aa, and the Amandal. The Qaish'aa are the most wide-spread, being found in Old Hearth, the Ithrads, and the southeastern Jaggudorns. For this reason, Qaish'aa and Amandal dwarves are often found in the southern Jaggudorns, with the Amandals indigenous to the plateau and the Qaish'aa in mountainous periphery. In the East, the Shihethwö Dwarves of Kuham are one of the most ancient dwarven races in the world.

Amandal Dwarves

Main article: Amandal Dwarves

Many dwarven scholars consider Amandal Dwarves to hold the most ancient dwarven civilization in the world.

Midrardian Dwarves

Midrardia was once a great homeland of dwarves who dwelt in the caves of the mountains underneath the glaciers. When the glaciers melted some twenty to fifteen thousand years ago, most dwarves fled the cataclysms and migrated overland, some departing southwest for Barathorn and others southeast for the Jaggudorns and Pytharnia. The terms Midrardian Dwarves and Qaish'aa Dwarves are virtually interchangeable in use.

Bukalaan

Bukalaan (Ruby Gates)

Qaish'aa

Main article: Qaish'aa

Most Qaish'aa dwarves are descended from the early dwarves of the Ithrads. The remaining dwarves are Bukalaan.

Ancient North Jaggudornish, "Mountain Dwarves" not to be confused with Amandal Dwarves and Ithradite dwarves of the southwest Jaggudorns.

Ithradic (Ithradic/Ithradite, Dagdorian, Sardichite, Gdelisican, Themetese)

Shihethwö Dwarves

Main article: Shihethwö Dwarves

in the Shwok Shanya Mountains in Kuham

Tuhumpawa Dwarves

Main article: Tuhumpawa Dwarves

Originating in Za-Bahuna

Kattu-Kattu

Entele Dwarves

Dwarves of Zephasia have dark skin and in keeping with their most ancient ancestors, prefer the mountainous regions. They are expert gem-cutters and often prefer gems to gold and other precious metals.

Dwarven States of the West

In the west, dwarven governments have a long standing of rule and tradition, interrupted only by the Middle Ages of Chaos.

Dwarven Kingship

Main article: Dwarven Kingship

Kinship in Dwarven Society

Dwarven Warfare

Ancient Dwarven Warfare Against Dragons

Modern Dwarven Warfare

Gods and Religion of the Dwarves

Main article: Dwarven Gods and Religion

Seven Dwarven Immortals

Main article: Seven Dwarven Immortals

Amandal Dwarven Religion

Dwarven Technology

Ancient Crafts

Metallurgy, Stone-cutting, Gem-cutting, Deepearth Engineering

Dwarvenfire

Main article: Dwarvenfire

Dwarven Titancraft

Dwarven Worldview

The dwarven word equivalent for 'humanlike' means literally 'dwarflike' and the dwarven word for humans means literally 'little giants.' The expression 'mountain dwarf' does not mean a race of dwarves but means any dwarf who was raised in the mountain fastnesses of the dwarven folk. Dwarves are friendly to humans, but regard their own kind with great admiration and believe certain customs, lore, and practices should abide with exclusivity to the dwarves. Dwarves regard the earth, particularly the earth beneath the mountains, as the sacred womb of creation.

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 ==Migrations==
 [[File:MapMajorDwarvenMigrationsWest.jpg|thumb|300px|Midrardian and Old Hearth Dwarven Migrations in the West]]
-Dwarven oral accounts, subsequently committed to stone, report the [[Vorudian Cataclysms]], associated with the blue-violet illumination of the mysterious star, [[Vorud]]. During the [[Vorudian Cataclysms]], dwarven groups which survived the [[Flood of Aturyanda]] tended to two differing strategies, remaining cloistered in their deepearth sanctuaries or trekking through or above the earth in search of new homes.  Earth changes made both strategies potentially dangeous.  During this time, migrating dwarven groups could not make or carry permanent records and so kept extensive oral accounts of their folk. [[Qaish'aa]] Dwarves reveal that their ancient homeland before the flood was in [[Midrardia]].  During the Vorudian Cataclysms, some groups left, most notably the forebears of the [[Bukalaa]]n Dwarves and the forebears of the Ithradic dwarves. [[Tauhad]] is one of the oldest dwarven colony since the Vorudian Cataclysms in [[Pytharnia]] and the mother of all Qaish'aa dwarven colonies in the [[Jaggudorns]].  Dwarves of [[Old Hearth]] and of the [[Amandal Plateau]] largely remained in their mountain fastnesses. Dwarven scholars have determined that there is likely an antediluvian link between the Qaish'aa dwarves of Midrardia and the dwarves of Old Hearth (Emegul-Thaudh) based upon linguistic evidence and religious customs.  Persistent legends of the dwarves reveal nine lost dwarven colonies which either remain hidden from human history or succumbed to the vicissitudes of the Vorudian Cataclysms.
+Dwarven oral accounts, subsequently committed to stone, report the [[Vorudian Cataclysms]], associated with the blue-violet illumination of the mysterious star, [[Vorud]]. During the [[Vorudian Cataclysms]], dwarven groups which survived the [[Flood of Aturyanda]] tended to two differing strategies, remaining cloistered in their deepearth sanctuaries or trekking through or above the earth in search of new homes.  Earth changes made both strategies potentially dangeous.  During this time, migrating dwarven groups could not make or carry permanent records and so kept extensive oral accounts of their folk. [[Qaish'aa]] Dwarves reveal that their ancient homeland before the flood was in [[Midrardia]].  During the Vorudian Cataclysms, some groups left, most notably the forebears of the [[Bukalaa]]n Dwarves and the forebears of the Ithradic dwarves. [[Tauhad]] is one of the oldest dwarven colony since the Vorudian Cataclysms in [[Pytharnia]] and the mother of all Qaish'aa dwarven colonies in the [[Jaggudorns]].  Dwarves of [[Old Hearth]] and of the [[Amandal Plateau]] largely remained in their mountain fastnesses. Dwarven scholars have determined that there is likely an antediluvian link between the Qaish'aa dwarves of Midrardia and the dwarves of Old Hearth (Emegul-Thaudh) based upon linguistic evidence and religious customs.  Persistent legends of the dwarves reveal nine lost dwarven colonies which either remain hidden from human history or succumbed to the vicissitudes of the [[Vorudian Cataclysms]].
 ==Dwarves during the Yophenthean Empire==

Difference between revisions of "Dwarves"