Dwarves¶
Stamina, stone, suspicion of strangers. Two dwarves who have never met share a wordless trust the moment they shake hands.
Dwarves have populated Aarklash since the beginning of Creation, and believe they were named by the gods themselves. They share an intimate bond with the earth and dwell either underground or on isolated plains. Reluctant to travel. Hate strangers. But a deep community instinct binds them — even meeting for the first time, two dwarves feel shared trust at once.
Males typically wear dense decorated beards (not required, but widely practiced). Females are less stocky but equally stout; their less massive fingers and limbs suit them to work requiring agility and precision.
Average height ~1.5–1.6m, weight ~35–60kg.
The Three Branches¶
Tir-Nâ-Bor (Paths of Destiny)¶
Mountain dwarves of the Aegis range. Wild Boar culture. Life expectancy ~90 years. Contributed enormously to Cadwallon's architecture — many of the city's modern districts owe their structure to Tir-Nâ-Bor engineers. Formerly held a Cadwallon embassy; their diplomats still travel in regularly.
Akkylannian-raised (Ways of Light)¶
Dwarves who were raised within or aligned with Akkylannie. Griffin culture. Same Tir-Nâ-Bor stock biologically, but raised on the Ways of Light, often with strong religious commitment.
Mid-Nor (Meanders of Darkness)¶
The Possessed — see Possessed. Dwarves bewitched by the Despot, originally a dwarf of Tir-Nâ-Bor. Their souls are imprisoned in canopic dolls while their skinned bodies are sewn from victims' skin. Hydra culture. Life expectancy can stretch to several centuries. Renegade Mid-Nor dwarves (those whose link to the Despot has been broken) sometimes appear in Cadwallon — and are hunted by their unbroken kin.
In Cadwallon¶
The dwarves "do not like to live far from the Aegis Mountains" but Cadwallon is one of the few cities they've taken to. They are responsible for many of the city's innovations (the Tractor, the air-balloon transports, the thermo-forges in Thunder Vale). Some Cadwës whisper they have secret intentions — exploitation of the Cynwäll vestiges, perhaps.
The Despot's reach
Renegade Mid-Nor Possessed in the city are always being tracked. Why are they running, and what did they take with them when they ran?