Dwarves

Overview

The Dwarves are a hardy race of elite craftsmen who live beneath the mountains of Korozok. Garad's ascension to the throne radically changed from a monarchy to a dictatorship. Under Garad, he centralized power, radicalized the original clan system, and enforced a class segregation system that resulted in the enslavement of the lower classes and the elevation of the upper classes. The Dwarf Olrin has sought to end this by establishing a Resistance of Freesmith Dwarves in the nation of Nastiabach.

Culture

The Dwarves are a rambunctious race of people, who work hard and drink harder. They hold many festivals throughout the year, including the Festival of Kraz, which they use as an excuse to drink to the wee hours of the morning, singing wild drinking songs and participating in contests of strength. Despite being small in stature, the Dwarves are mighty in expression and never fail to share their thoughts or feelings, though, since Garad's ascension to power, freedom of speech in Dwarven culture has become more restricted and regulated.

Government

King Garad rules Korozok from one of the three main families, including the Hairsprings. The Dwarves worship noble blood and keep a well-documented history of a complicated but reliable genealogy. The Dwarf king's clan is the noblest in blood and, according to history, the most acceptable Dwarven clan for the position. Although always a monarchy, the Dwarves once had a council of seven sages of outstanding talents that advised the King and helped rule. With the centralization of power by the current King Garad, however, the council was disbanded, and Garad now leads with an iron fist. He has enforced a caste that benefits those Denerand and Dener, who are higher up in the system but is brutal for those Dwarves closer to the bottom. Indeed many political prisoners, arrested when Garad came to power had their titles, wealth and assets stripped from them as they were forced to become Yeldanjagh and forced to work the mines.

King Garad's Caste System Naming

Noble Classes:

Denerand (Den-er-rand)

Higher Caste:

Dener (Den-er)

Higher/Middle Caste:

Verishden (Veh-rish-den)

Middle Caste:

Verishimam (Veh-rish-ee-mam)

Common Dwarves:

Verishval (Veh-rish-val)

Low Born Dwarves:

Valballion (Val-ba-lee-on)

Labor:

Yeldanjagh (Yel-dan-yarg)

Physical

The Dwarves are shorter than the average Human but taller than Gnomes and Goblins. They are humanoid in shape but typically burly or round with large bushy beards.

Personality

The Dwarves are as serious at mining as they are jovial at festivities. They value honor and family, and desertion is considered the greatest shame, so Dwarven armies will never retreat, always fighting to the last moment. It is said that no mortal is as loyal to their family and country than a Dwarf.

Talents

The Korozok region produces large quantities of precious minerals, and these minerals are turned into all kinds of high-quality weapons and armor by the refined smelting skills of the Dwarves. The finest weapons and armor in the entire Vathrian continent come from the handiwork of these Dwarven masters. The export of these weapons and equipment is also the main economic income of the Dwarf Empire.