Dwarves (Talenaroi "The Underpeople")
Introduction
The dwarves of Gaia are a diverse group of people. Dwarves range in height from 4' to 4'8" tall, with females
slightly shorter. Dwarves weigh between 140 and 240 lbs., on average. Dwarves live about 400 years, on average.
Regardless of subgroup, all dwarves have the following standard abilities:
- +1 bonus per 3.5 points of constitution (rounded down) on saves vs. rods, staves, and wands.
- +1 bonus per 3.5 points of constitution (rounded down) on saves vs. spells.
- +1 bonus per 3.5 points of constitution (rounded down) on saves vs. poison.
- 20% chance of failure when using non-armor, -shield, -weapon, or -clerical items.
- Infravision to 60'.
- Detect grade or slope in passage on 1-5/d6.
- Detect new tunnel/passage construction on 1-5/d6.
- Detect sliding/shifting walls or rooms on 1-4/d6.
- Detect stonework traps, pits, deadfalls on 1-3/d6.
- Detect approximate depth underground on 1-3/d6.
- +1 bonus to constitution, maximum of 18.
- -1 penalty to charisma, minimum of 3.
- Ogres, trolls, ogre magi, giants, or titans subtract 4 from all attack rolls against dwarves.
Mountain Dwarves (Valenaroi "People Under the Mountain")
The Valenaroi, or Mountain dwarves, are what the average person on Gaia thinks of when someone says the
word 'dwarf'. They are dour and taciturn, although many have a hearty sense of humor. Mountain dwarves have
brown or steel grey hair, and have brown eyes. All mountain dwarves have beards, although females' beards are
usually just a light fuzz of hair on the cheeks. Mountain dwarves tend to dress in earth colors, although on
special occasions, such as festivals, bright reds and yellows will be worn.
Mountain dwarf society is somewhat rigid, and they tend towards lawful good, although individuals may vary
somewhat. The basic unit within mountain dwarf society is the house. A house consists of several extended
families joined by blood or marriage. Houses tend to follow one (or a few) professions, so, for example, there
are warrior houses, priestly houses, weaponsmithing houses, etc. This is not rigidly enforced, so for example,
a dwarf from a warrior house may become a priest, although the majority do follow the rest of the members of
their house.
Houses are grouped into clans, who are headed by lords. The clan lords are elevated from the heads of one, or a
few of the houses that comprise the clan, and is usually hereditary. There are approximately 115 mountain
dwarf clans. The clans are grouped into seven overclans, who are headed by dukes. The dukes are usually
elevated from the lord of one, or a few, of the clans, and this is usually hereditary. Kings are chosen
from one of the overclans until that overclan does not have enough support from the majority, at which time
the overclans will jockey for power, in the hopes that their candidate will found the new line of kings.
Mountain dwarves will usually wear some symbol of ther house, unless they are outcasts. Outcasts tend to
leave and live among other dwarves or in human cities. Dwarven warriors wear their beards in two large
braids, while craftsmen will wear one, two, or three small braids in their beards indicating that they are
apprentices, journeymen, or masters, respectively.
Mountain dwarves have the following special abilities in addition to the ones shared by all dwarves:
- +1 on all rolls against orcs, half-orcs, goblins, and hobgoblins when in melee.
- Underground survival proficiency.
- Reading/Writing (Dwarven) proficiency.
- +2 on attack rolls against Durgaroi and Derigaroi.
- +1 on attack rolls against Droweno'lanthalani.
Sun Dwarves (Darvanaroi "Wandering People")
The Darvanaroi, or sun dwarves, are a sharp contrast to their counsins the mountain dwarves. They
are open, friendly, and generally less stuffy than the mountain dwarves. Sun dwarves have dark brown to
almost blond hair, and brown (or rarely, green) eyes. Sun dwarves tend towards neutral good. Sun dwarves
have beards, although females shave theirs as is the style.
Sun dwarves are clannish, but not nearly so much as mountain dwarves. One or two clans will inhabit a group
of towns and villages in an area, which is lead by the head of the clan. Several clans areas will be ruled
by a lord, who is responsible for the mutual defence of the clans that he or she leads. Unlike mountain
dwarves, sun dwarves are pretty much equal between the sexes, so it is just as likely that there will be a
female lord as a male one.
Sun dwarves tend to travel a lot, and some even become sailors. Sun dwarf traders are well known in free lands,
and are common sights in human cities. Some sun dwarves even live in elven communities, especially in areas
that enjoy a lot of cooperation between the various peoples. Sun dwarf adventurers are a fairly common sight,
as well.
Sun dwarves have the following special abilities in addition to the ones shared by all dwarves:
- +1 on all rolls against orcs, half-orcs, goblins, and hobgoblins when in melee.
- Survival proficiency, from the area they inhabit.
- Reading/Writing (Dwarven) proficiency.
- +2 on attack rolls against Durgaroi and Derigaroi.
- +1 on attack rolls against Droweno'lanthalani.
Southern Dwarves (Kranaroi "The Wild People")
Kranaroi, or southern dwarves, are rare in the warm northern lands, although there are a few tribes living
in the southern tip of the Northern Dwarven Kingdom. Southern dwarves have blond hair and blues. Southern dwarves
are usually lawful good. Southern dwarves are very similar to their moutain dwarf relatives, although they live in
tribal groups.
Southern dwarf tribes are led by a chief. The chiefs of the tribes in turn elect one of them to be king. The kingship
is for life, and at the end of which, another king will be chosen from among the tribal chiefs. Southern dwarves tend
to travel in the outside world much more often than their northern neighbors.
Throughout much of their history, southern dwarves have been fighting with the orc tribes that also inhabit the southern
lands. This has led to the creation of a standing army, and the construction of fortresses away from the main area of
their kingdom.
Southern dwarves have the following special abilities in addition to the ones shared by all dwarves:
- +1 on all rolls against orcs, half-orcs, goblins, and hobgoblins when in melee.
- Survival proficiency, from the area they inhabit.
- Reading/Writing (Dwarven) proficiency.
- +2 on attack rolls against Durgaroi and Derigaroi.
- +1 on attack rolls against Droweno'lanthalani.
Dark Dwarves (Durgaroi "The Corrupted Ones")
Sand Dwarves (Derigaroi "The Accursed Ones")
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