Brief History

Dwarves spent millennia toiling under the surface of Ezrahn, honing their stone and metalcraft while worshipping the ForgeFather Bodvarrk. They build extensive tunnel systems, connecting different clans, even forming several cities. Their only enemies being creatures from the Deep that sometimes found their way into the tunnels of the Dwarven people.

Oblivious to the war raging above their heads, they were unprepared for the savage invasion of the Orcs. The Orcs, for their part, were surprised to find anyone humanoid when they tried to tunnel under the Human and Elven lands of their enemies.

Discovering the ‘obstacle’ of the Dwarves already living underground, the Orcs attacked, slaughtering many. The Dwarven people called out to Bodvarrk. The ForgeFather heard their cries and, in anger, struck the Anvil of Creation with his hammer.

The resulting explosion of Aether raised tall mountains, splitting the forest of the Elves and disrupting many of the tunnels the Dwarven people had crafted over their lifetimes. Entire branches of clans lost contact with their brethren.

Thrust into a strange surface world unfamiliar to them, the Dwarves soon came in contact with the Elves and Humans, joining them in their crusade against the Orc clans to the North.

The superior craftsmanship of the Dwarven weaponry turned the tide and allowed a relative truce to be formed. The Orc clans retreated to their lands.

The Dwarves turned to rebuilding their subterranean empire while trade with their new allies brought new luxuries to their people. Some even began traveling the surface. Their experiences fueled trade and strengthened bonds between the races.

The establishment of several outposts on the borders of the mountains allowed easy mingling between trade partners as the city of Trahaearn in the west became the center of Dwarven society.

Over time, contact was reestablished with some far flung clans, found to have suffered a similar disruption in the eastern reaches of Ezrahn. Though they did not face the same Orcish invasion and subsequent bonding with the surface races, the Dwarves of the eastern mountains formed similar, though more limited bonds with the Humans and Elves who came to explore the newly risen mountains.

Both branches of the Dwarven people continued their traditions, with only slight differences. The Dwarves of the western mountains, with their centralized city of Trahaearn became more worldly and openly formed many trading partnerships and relationships with the surface races.

The Dwarves of the eastern mountains maintained smaller clan holdings with no central government. This gave them a less trusting and accepting policy of outsiders. This has continued through the modern times of Ezrahn.

Physical Description

Dwarves are a short and stocky race, and stand about a foot shorter than most humans, with wide, compact bodies that account for their burly appearance. The Dwarves from the western mountains of Trahaearn lean towards reds and browns for hair color while the eastern mountain Dwarves tend to be exclusively dark haired (deep browns and black hair). Complexion can run from pale to dark depending on family/clan genetics, with the majority falling into Copper or Tawny skin tones.

Society

The Western Dwarves of Trahaearn spend most of their time in family compounds scattered up and down the mountain range, though a healthy population of Kinless reside within the capital city full-time. The rest of the elders of the Clans typically visit for important events or votes, retiring to their own holdings. This leads to a strange commonwealth but isolated mentality among the various Clans. Unless a threat is great enough to challenge the entire Dwarven race, individual Clans handle their own problems and even trade agreements for good within their own domains.

The Eastern Dwarves are more isolated, living in Clan holdings with no central government and come together for negotiations regarding trade, marriage, or external threats.

Relations

Dwarves and Orcs of Ezrahn have a long standing animosity beginning when the Orcs originally invaded the peaceful Dwarven tunnels in millennia past. Most Dwarves will attack an Orc on sight. Dwarves generally distrust and shun half-orcs for this same reason. They find elves to be aloof, but worthy trade partners and compatriots during the Orc Wars. Gnomes and Halflings are generally treated more like children, even though Gnomes often reside within their borders as well. Humans are respected as trade partners and allies as long as the respect is returned and honored.

Alignment and Religion

Dwarves of Ezrahn are driven by respect for tradition and family. While they are often seen as gruff or distant, those who win their respect soon find they have an ally that would lay down their life for anyone considered ‘family’. Most dwarves tend to be lawful good.
Dwarves almost universally revere Bodvarrk, the ForgeFather. Some exposed to the outside world have come to respect Tessahl the Green Mother and even Sephter, The Immortal of Death.

Adventurers

Adventuring Dwarves typically are among the younger children of clans, ones too far down the line to be heir of the Clan. They often strike out to make their own fortunes, rather than stay and be subservient to older siblings. Dwarven warfare is often characterized by tunnel fighting and melee combat, so most dwarves tend towards fighters. Dwarven Barbarians are thought cursed with the Bloodrage and shunned in most polite Dwarven societies for their lack of control. Dwarven Clerics (of Bodvarrk) are not uncommon to see outside the strongholds as well. Dwarves are uncommonly Rogues or Rangers, and to a lesser extent the other spellcasting classes. The only class extremely rare among Dwarven society would be Wizards.