Dwarves

The remaining Dwarves had a difficult life under the Orcs. The Orcs drove the Dwarves out of their holds and took whatever they wished from their subjects. The Dwarves held little status, reduced to performing hard labour in the fields and mines, and with their former allies too weakened to help, they lived under cruel Orc rule for generations. 

Then the Great Rift tore through the land, destroying many of the ancient holds. Many Orcs were killed by cave-ins, whilst the rest were forced to abandon the holds, leaving behind much of their armour and weapons. The Dwarves took the opportunity to rise up, using whatever weapons and tools they could find to seize back their destroyed holds. Much of their ancient wealth was lost, either buried, carried away by Orcs, or traded away long ago. Despite this, the Dwarves were determined to rebuild. 

Dwarves soon developed industries and new technologies like coal-powered Constructs and factories. Their once glorious holds laden with gold and gems are now polluted ruins, supported by steel and steam, and they venture out only to take what they need and settle old grudges. No matter what, the Dwarves will not allow their homes to fall again. 

How will you defend your hold?

History

Mountain Folk

The Dwarven tribes were once spread throughout Tyria, but as the plains were settled by humanity and Orcs came to the grasslands, the Dwarves retreated into Dwarfholds, forts in the mountains. These mountains became their home as they developed terrace farms on the heights and dug mines deep below.

New Heights

For most of their history, Dwarves had to travel overland, often through hostile territory, to visit other Dwarfholds. Dwarves began to experiment with ways to travel safely, using gliders. These Dwarves also began to experiment with powered flight.

Havoc Wars

When Havoc arrived in Tyria, the Northern Dwarfholds were assaulted, and many were laid under siege. The Northern Dwarves defended their homes, while the Southern Dwarves joined with the Great Alliance.

Betrayal

While the Dwarven warriors were fighting Havoc in the Empire, the Orcs attacked the Dwarfholds, which quickly fell. The Orcs then broke the returning Dwarven army against their own fortifications.

Downfall

The Dwarves left the armies of the Great Alliance right before their final confrontation with Havoc in order to save their families. The Orcs defeated the Dwarves, and by the end of the Havoc Wars, the last Dwarfholds had fallen.

Subjugation

The Dwarves had a difficult life under the Orcs. Orcs drove the Dwarves out of their holds and took whatever they wished from their subjects. The Dwarves held little status, reduced to performing hard labour for little pay.

The Return of Havoc

The Rift tore through the land, destroying many of the ancient holds. Many Orcs were killed by cave-ins; others were forced to abandon their weapons and flee the holds. The Dwarves took the chance to rise up, driving the Orcs out of their lands.

Homecoming

Most of the newly freed Dwarves returned to their old ruined Dwarfholds. Much of their ancient wealth was lost, either buried, carried away by Orcs, or traded away long ago. Despite this, the Dwarves were determined to rebuild.

Timeline

• 2410 BR - Creation of the First Hold
• 343 BR - Discovery of Powered Flight
• 192 BR - Dwarves Join the Great Alliance
• 179 BR - Fall of the Holds
• 5 AR - Rebellion Routs the Orcs

Society

Also called Dwarves of the Southern Holds, these dwarves are a people that have been through hell and survived to tell the tale. When they came to the mountain to escape the Humans swarming the plains, they established a prosperous civilisation composed of many Holds, fortified cities built around mines.

While the old mountain Holds have mostly been turned exclusively into mines, most of the population resides in the foothills communities, sometimes nicknamed the Low Holds. These are the places where Orcs brought them, imposing unfair wages and working conditions. Still, to many Dwarves, these places became home. They are usually dense towns built around a mill, a furnace or a coal mine, with big collective habitats, warehouses and silos. Everything is focused around work, a Dwarf’s pride. The coal fumes make most holds easy to spot from far away.

Smoke-spewing Mines

The high mountain holds of yore were rife with precious minerals. The Orcs stripped everything that they could, emptying mines and ancestral halls. In order to sustain their economy, the Dwarves have had to resort to more destructive mining methods. Now their grandiose mountains are topped by smokestacks spewing columns of black ash, and the sounds of explosives ring out across the passes. Most of the population has remained in the foothills, where they used to toil for the Orcs, in big farms and coal mines.

A Humbled People

The ancient Dwarves wore gems and jewels, and every object they had was exquisitely engraved. They enjoyed pomp and grandeur. After the Orc occupation, where generations laboured in poverty, this taste for luxury is mostly gone. They don’t have easy access to such high-quality materials or sufficiently trained expert craftsmen. Their focus is efficiency, getting the most out of impure metals, infertile lands and brittle stone. They have become an extremely practical people, valuing the skills and thriftiness that helped them survive in times of misery. They are good at repairing things, and they eat everything that’s edible. Their armour and weapons reflect this philosophy. They are bulky and unpolished but very intelligently conceived to do what they are meant to.

Rune Magic

Dwarves have never been skilled magicians. Instead, they rely on Rune magic and enchantment, which is a slow and long process that allows them to store magic for later use. Their society generally does not rely on magic; however, instead, they have developed industries to rebuild, using coal to power Constructs and factories.

A Reclusive Culture

Due to their history, Dwarves are fairly isolationist. They don’t mind individual outsiders but are very careful to protect their own interests and tend to keep their dealings with other people limited in scope and time. They have a trading network used to export excess coal and crops, as well as limited quantities of rare gems and metals. Despite their fall from grace, they are still some of the best miners around, and they know that these materials are a powerful tool to maintain positive relationships with other factions.

Bitter Memories

The Orc occupation was a dark time for the Dwarves, and they have not forgotten it. The stories and scars from this period are everywhere in Dwarven culture, in their songs, children’s tales, and proverbs. As pragmatists, and after a couple of generations back holding the reins, they are able to work with Orcs, if necessary. However, they do not enjoy it and are easily provoked by any perceived disrespect. Many individual Dwarves will refuse to even talk to an Orc, but this attitude varies depending on the settlement.

Worker’s Councils

Dwarves have long abandoned their old nobility. Not only did the aristocrats fail to protect their people, but the Orcs made sure to get rid of them to hinder organised resistance. Under the yoke, a new social structure emerged, akin to a commune or a union. It started as a partisan network and grew into a free society. Each dwarf group is composed of workers that debate big decisions together, vote and elect temporary representatives. These groups form larger alliances, negotiate and compromise to reach a final decision that works for all. This makes their society slow to change but pretty united.

The Great Rift

The destruction caused by the opening of the Great Rift is known to the Dwarves as the Shattering. Its effects were incredibly destructive, particularly to the mountain fortresses which their ancestors had carved. Yet by the time it arrived, most Dwarves had been forced out into the foothills, ruled over by the Orcs beneath the Law of Iron. 

Seeing their overlords caught off guard and devastated, the Dwarves were able to drive them back. Yet, their victory was bittersweet; their old way of life was forever lost, and many began to refer to the Rift itself as the Grave of Empires, claiming not only that of the Orcs but also the last hope of rebuilding the holds of their ancestors.

Some would leave their people forever, but others would remain in the foothills, living in the shadow of their ancestors’ monuments while seeking to build something new.

Language

Dwarves throughout Tyria are able to understand each other with little difficulty, as their language has changed little over the centuries in their Dwarfholds, and contact between traders helped to ensure that dialects did not diverge significantly. But since gaining their independence from the Orcs, some frays have begun to arise within many of the emerging factions of Dwarves beginning to adopt new words, whether from their new gods or allies.

Dwarves have a personal name and a surname. Most personal names are two syllables. As a general rule, female names have an "a" as their final vowel sound, often ending on it. Male names generally have a "u" as their final vowel sound, most often ending with an "un". Nicknames using only the initial syllable of a forename are relatively common in some Holds and considered fairly gender neutral.

Dwarven surnames usually begin with "oth" or "ant" separated from the rest of the name. 'Ant' is usually used as a title for youths or newcomers, implying that they are still earning their place within the community, while 'oth' is a sign of respect given to those who are full members of their community, especially one's own.

Example Names

[Kroma] [oth] [Ragharth] - [Personal Name] [particle] [Surname]

Male Names

• Gunhurl oth Arnhath
• Rikthun ant Feldrad
• Ulthrund oth Irndrim

Female Names

• Kroma oth Ragharth
• Nimdatha ant Tridgarth
• Larna oth Mitkrat

Note that characters are usually referred to by their personal name (in italics).

Trivia

Notable Characters

• Gamharl oth Brondrad (The Rusted Crown) – A charismatic Dwarf driven to restore the line of kingship of Konaghald by any means necessary, including an alliance with an mysterious wizard.

Proverbs

• “Our axes are forged from the chains that once bound us.”
• “We remember too well the bitterness of defeat to ever give up our freedom again.”
• “Count on your kin, your axe, and nothing else."
• “It’s not a good debate until somebody gets punched in the mouth.”
• “A good customer pays in advance and leaves in a hurry.”

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