SHORT AND STOUT
Bold and hardy, dwarves are known as
skilled warriors, miners, and workers
of stone and melaI. Though lhey sland
well under 5 feel tall, dwarves are so
broad and compael lhal lhey can weigh
as much as a human slanding nearly lwo
feet laller. Their courage and endurance
are also easily a maleh for any of
lhe larger folk.
Owarven skin ranges from deep brown to a paler
hue linged wilh red, bul lhe most eommon shades are
lighl brown or deep lan, like cerlain lones of earlh.
Their hair, worn long bul in simple slyles, is usually
black, gray, or brown, lhough paler dwarves oflen have
red hair. Male dwarves value lheir beards highly and
groom lhem carefully.
LONG MEMORY, LONG GRUDGES
Owarves can live to be more than 400 years old, so lhe
oldesl living dwarves often remember a very differenl
DWARF world. For example, some of lhe oldesl dwarves living
in Ciladel Felbarr (in lhe world of lhe Forgotten Realms)
"YER LATE, ELF!" CAME THE ROUGH EDGE OF A FAMILIAR can recall lhe day, more lhan three cenluries ago, when
voice. Bruenor Battlehammer walked up the back of his ores conquered lhe forlress and drove lhem into an exile
deadfoe, disregardingthefact that the heavy monster lay lhal lasled over 250 years. This longevity granls lhem a
perspeclive on lhe world lhal shorter-lived races such as
on top ofhis elvenfriend. In spite ofthe added discamfort, humans and halflings lack.
the dwarf's long, pointed, often-broken nose and gray- Owarves are solid and enduring like the mounlains
streaked though still-fiery red beard came as a welcame they love, wealhering lhe passage of cenluries wilh stoic
endurance and little change. They respecl lhe lradilions
sight to Drizzt. "Knew I'dfindye in trouble if I came out
of lheir clans, lracing their anceslry back lo lhe
an' lookedforyel" founding of lheir mosl ancienl slrongholds in lhe youth
-R. A. Salvatore, The Crystal Shard of lhe world, and don'l abandon those lradilions lighlly.
ParI of lhose traditions is devolion lo lhe gods of lhe
Kingdoms rich in ancienI grandeur, halls carved into the dwarves, who uphold lhe dwarven ideais of induslrious
rools of mountains, lhe echoing of picks and hammers labor, skill in baltle, and devolion lo lhe forge.
in deep mines and blazing forges, a commitmenl 10 Individual dwarves are determined and loyal, lrue lo
clan and lradilion, and a burning halred of goblins and lheir word and decisive in action, somelimes lo lhe poinl
ores-lhese eommon lhreads unile ali dwarves. of ~tubbornness. Many dwarves have a strong sense
PART I I RACES
18
of justice, and they are slow to forget wrongs they have SLOW TO TRUST
suffered. A wrong dane to one dwarf is a wrong dane to Dwarves gel along passably well wilh mosl olher races. "The
the dwarf's entire dan, so what begins as one dwarf's difference belween an acquainlance and a friend is aboul a
hunt for vengeance can become a full-blown dan feudo hundred years," is a dwarf saying lhal mighl be hyperbole,
bul cerlainly poinls lo how diflicull il can be for a member of
CLANS AND KINGDOMS a shorl-lived race Iike humans lo eam a dwarf's lrusl.
Elves. "I!'s nol wise lo depend on lhe elves. No lelling whal
Dwarven kingdoms stretch deep beneath the mountains an elf will do nexl; when lhe hammer meels lhe orc's head,
where the dwarves mine gems and precious metais lhey're as apllo slart singing as lo pull oul a sword. They're
and forge items of wonder. They love the beauty and fiighly and frivolous. Two lhings lo be said for lhem, lhough:
artistry of precious metais and fine jewelry, and in some They don'l have many smilhs, bullhe ones lhey have do very
dwarves this lave festers into avarice. Whatever wealth fine work. And when ores ar goblins come slreaming down
they can't find in their mountains, they gain through oul oflhe mounlains, an elf's good lo have aI your back. Nol
trade. They dislike boats, so enterprising humans and as good as a dwarf, maybe, bul no doubllhey hale lhe ores
as much as we do."
halflings frequently handle trade in dwarven goods
Half/ings. "Sure, lhey're pleasanl folk. Sul show me a
along water routes. Trustworthy members of other races
halfiing hera. An empire, a lriumphanl army. Even a lreasure
are welcome in dwarf settlements, though some areas for lhe ages made by halfiing hands. NOlhing. How can you
are off limits even to them. lake lhem seriously?"
The chief unit of dwarven society is the dan, and Humans. "You lake lhe lime lo gel lo know a human, and
dwarves highly value social standing. Even dwarves by lhen lhe human's on her dealhbed. If you're lucky, she's
who live far from their own kingdoms cherish their dan gol kin-a daughler ar granddaughler, maybe-who's gol
identities and affiliations, recognize related dwarves, hands and hearl as good as hers. Tha!'s when you can make
and invoke their ancestors' names in oaths and curses. a human friend. And walch lhem gol They sellheir hearts on
To be danless is the worst fate that can befall a dwarf. somelhing, lhey'll gel il, whelher i!'s a dragon's hoard ar an
empire's lhrone. You have lo admire lhal kind of dedicalion,
Dwarves in other lands are typically artisans,
even if il gels lhem in lrouble more oflen lhan nol."
especially weaponsmiths, armorers, and jewelers. Some
~ r
become mercenaries ar bodyguards, highly sought after
for their courage and loyalty.
GODS, GOLD, AND CLAN
Dwarves who take up the adventuring life might be
motivated bya desire for treasure-for its own sake, for
a specilic purpose, ar even out of an altruistic desire to
help others. Other dwarves are driven by the command
ar inspiration of a deity, a direct calling or simply a
desire to bring glory to one of the dwarf gods. Clan and
ancestry are also important motivators. A dwarf might
seek to restore a dan's lost honor, avenge an ancienl
wrong the dan suffered, ar earn a new place within the
dan after having been exiled. ar a dwarf might search
for the axe wielded bya mighty ancestor, lost on the lield
of battle centuries ago.
DWARF NAMES TooJProficieney. Vou gain proficiency with the
artisan's tools of your choice: smith's tooIs, brewer's
A dwarf's na me is granted by a c1an elder, in accordance supplies, or mason's tools.
with tradition, Every proper dwarven na me has been Stoneeunning. Whenever you make an Intelligence
used and reused down through the generations, A (History) check related to the origin of stonework, you
dwarf's name belongs to the c1an, not to the individual. are considered proficient in the History skill and add
A dwarf who misuses or brings shame to a c1an name double your proficiency bonus to the check, instead of
is stripped of the na me and forbidden by law to use any your normal proficiency bonus.
dwarven name in its place, Languages. Vou can speak, read, and write Common
Male Names: Adrik, Alberich, Baern, Barendd, Brottor, and Owarvish. Owarvish is full of hard consonants and
Bruenor, Oain, Oarrak, Oelg, Eberk, Einkil, Fargrim, guttural sounds, and those characteristics spill over into
Flint, Gardain, Harbek, Kildrak, Morgran, Orsik, whatever other language a dwarf might speak.
Oskar, Rangrim, Rurik, Taklinn, Thoradin, Thorin, Subraee. Two main subraces of dwarves populate the
Tordek, Traubon, Travok, Ulfgar, Veit, Vondal worlds of 0&0: hill dwarves and mountain dwarves.
Female Names: Amber, Artin, Audhild, Bardryn, Choose one of these subraces.
Oagnal, Oiesa, Eldeth, Falkrunn, Finellen, Gunnloda,
Gurdis, Helja, Hlin, Kathra, Kristryd, lide, Liftrasa, HILL DWARF
Mardred, Riswynn, Sannl, Torbera, Torgga, Vistra As a hill dwarf, you have keen senses, deep intuition,
Clan Names: Balderk, Battlehammer, Brawnanvil, and remarkable resilience. The gold dwarves of Faenln
Oankil, Fireforge, Frostbeard, Gorunn, Holderhek, in their mighty southern kingdom are hill dwarves, as
Ironfist, Loderr, Lutgehr, Rumnaheim, Strakeln, are the exiled Neidar and the debased Klar of Krynn in
Torunn, Ungart the Oragonlance setting.
Ability Seore Inerease. Your Wisdom score
DWARF TRAITS increases by 1.
Dwarven Toughness. Your hit point maximum
Your dwarf character has an assortment of inborn increases by 1, and it increases by 1 every time you
abilities, part and parcel of dwarven nature. gain a leveI.
Ability Seore Inerease. Your Constitution seore
increases by 2. MOUNTAIN DWARF
Age. Owarves mature at the same rate as humans, but As a mountain dwarf, you're strong and hardy,
they're considered young until they reach the age of 50, accustomed to a difficult life in rugged terrain. You're
On average, they live about 350 years. probably on the tall side (for a dwarf), and tend toward
Alignment. Most dwarves are lawful, believing firmly lighter coloration, The shield dwarves of northern
in the benefits of a well-ordered society. They tend Faerun, as well as the ruling Hylar c1an and the noble
toward good as well, with a strong sense of fair play and Oaewar c1an of Oragonlance, are mountain dwarves.
a belief that everyone deserves to share in the benefits of Ability Seore Inerease. Your Strength score
a just order. increases by 2.
Size. Owarves stand between 4 and 5 feet tall and Dwarven Armor Training. Vou have proficiency with
average about 150 pounds. Your size is Medium. light and medium armor.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 25 feel. Your
speed is not reduced by wearing heavy armor. ••
DUERGAR
Darkvision. Accustomed to life underground, you
In cities deep in the Underdark live the duergar, ar gray
have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. Vou
dwarves. These vicious, stealthy slave traders raid lhe surface
can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were world for caplives, lhen sell lheir prey lo lhe olher races of
bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim lighl. Vou lhe Underdark. They have innale magical abililies lo beco me
can't discern color in darkness, only shades of gray. invisible and lo lemporarily grow lo gianl size.
Dwarven Resilienee. Vou have advantage on saving
throws against poison, and you have resistance against
poison damage (explained in chapter 9).
Dwarven Combat Training. Vou have proficiency
with the battleaxe, handaxe, throwing hammer,
and warhammer.
PART I I RACES
20