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  ·  .  .  ·  ·  . |          Help on:  Dwarf          | .  ·  ·  .  .  ·
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Adjustments: +1 Strength, +2 Constitution, -1 Dexterity, -1 Piety, -1 Intelligence
Compatible Classes: Assassin, Bard, Berserker, Cleric (Gradius), Fighter, Monk, 
                    Paladin (Gradius), Ranger, Rogue, Thief, Fighter/Thief

General
Dwarves are unbreakable warriors, master craftsmen, and relentless brawlers, known for their 
unyielding stubbornness, love of hard labor, and unmatched endurance. They thrive in deep 
underground halls, forging legendary weapons and armor, drinking barrels of ale, and preparing 
for the next great battle or brawl. A dwarf's greatest joys are a full tankard, a well-crafted 
axe, and an enemy to test it on. They are not a race of dreamers or poets¿they are workers, 
builders, warriors, and drinkers. Laziness is a sin in dwarven culture, and a dwarf without a 
purpose is a dwarf ready for the grave. Dwarves are known for their explosive tempers - they 
do not simply feel pain; they get angry at it. A dwarf in battle will not retreat, no matter 
how outnumbered or injured. To flee is to bring shame upon one¿s ancestors, and no dwarf would 
suffer such disgrace.

Physical & Mental Traits
Dwarves are short but solid, standing barely over four feet tall but built like living boulders. 
Their muscles are dense, their bones thick, and their bodies resistant to poison, pain, and 
exhaustion. Centuries spent in mines and forges have given them iron endurance and a natural 
resistance to toxins. While strong and sturdy, dwarves are not fast or agile, and their blunt, 
pragmatic minds leave them less inclined toward magic or deep philosophical thought. Their 
preference for stone over soft ground makes them clumsy in forests and fields, and they loathe 
open water, considering boats a death trap waiting to happen. A dwarf¿s pride and identity are 
tied to their beard. Beards are never cut except in extreme dishonor, and insulting a dwarf¿s 
beard is one of the fastest ways to start a fight. Calling a dwarf a "bearded gnome" is a grave 
offense, one that often ends in broken teeth and shattered bones. Dwarves try to avoid magic, 
seeing it as frivolous nonsense unworthy of a proper warrior. Instead, they trust in steel, 
stone, and strength.

Culture & Philosophy
Dwarven society is fiercely traditional - they believe in hard work, honor, and clan loyalty 
above all else. To a dwarf, family and duty come before personal ambition. A dwarf who betrays 
their clan, their craft, or their oath can be considered worse than an orc. Dwarves view the 
surface world with skepticism - they loathe forests, hate riding horses, and refuse to sleep in 
soft beds, preferring stone floors deep underground. 

Dwarves have deep racial grudges that stretch back centuries:

-Orcs and their closer kin are their mortal enemies, responsible for countless wars and atrocities.
-Goblins and Kobolds are vermin, deserving of extermination but not hatred.
-Giants are arrogant foes that dwarves love to fight, often taunting them mid-battle.
-Elves are soft, self-important snobs who waste time on art and poetry instead of battle and 
 smithing. Any race that prefers wine over ale is not to be trusted.

Dwarves are known for their gruff, no-nonsense demeanor, but those who earn their respect will 
find them unshakable allies. However, steal a dwarf's ale, and you may not live to regret it.

Religion: Gradius, the Forge-Lord
Dwarves do not worship gods in the way that others do - they revere Gradius, the Dwarven God of 
Creation, as the ultimate craftsman, warrior, and drinker. 

According to dwarven lore:
-Gradius forged the world itself in his great forge, his sweat and blood giving birth to dwarves.
-In a drunken accident, he created the Duergar (help duergar), who became a dark reflection of 
 the dwarven race.
-Orcs and Goblins were forged from his excrement after an especially bad drinking binge.

The Priesthood of Gradius is structured like a warrior-guild, where acolytes:
-Master smithing, mining, and warfare before earning the title of Priest.
-Forge their own holy symbols, believing divine power comes through craftsmanship, not prayer.
-Drink heavily before battle, considering ale to be sacred to Gradius.

Every year, dwarves gather for the Great Games of Gradius, where they compete in:
-Weaponsmithing & Armorsmithing
-Stonemasonry & Engineering
-Wrestling & Single Combat
-Crossbow & Sling Marksmanship
-Kobold Tossing
-The Drinking Contest (widely considered the most important event)
-The Great Brawl - an annual, unplanned, free-for-all fight where the last clan standing wins 
 the Mithril Brawling Medal.

Dwarves believe that Sama Redhammer, the first Prophet of Gradius, will one day return from the 
depths of the earth to lead them to war in an age of great need. Until then, they drink, they 
fight, and they craft.

Racial Traits
-See in dark (Infravision): Yes
-Size class: Medium

Racial Perks & Benefits
-Master of the Forge: Natural hit bonus with hammers and axes, the favored weapons of dwarven warriors.
-Stone-Warden: Increased defense against giantkin, a result of centuries of war against towering foes.
-Iron Constitution: High resistance to poison, honed through generations of underground survival.

Final Notes
Dwarves are unyielding in battle, unbreakable in spirit, and unmatched in craftsmanship. Whether 
charging into combat with an axe, forging the next legendary blade, or drinking themselves into 
oblivion, dwarves are the toughest, most stubborn race in all of Derlith. They are not for the 
faint of heart - only those willing to fight, brawl, and drink without hesitation will truly understand 
what it means to be dwarven. If you seek a life of unyielding honor, unbreakable brotherhood, 
and ale-fueled warfare, then you were meant to be a dwarf.