Dwarves are stout humanoids renowned for their martial tradition, superior craftsmanship, and the fortresses that they carve beneath the mountains that they call home.
Appearance[]
Dwarves are similar to humans, though much more squat and stocky, typically being around 4 ½ feet tall and weighing around 150 pounds. The most distinctive feature of dwarves are their carefully groomed beards, which grow much longer and faster than those of humans, and can even be grown by women.
Dwarves have the same range of skin tones as humans, though earthen tones such as light brown and deep tan are common. Dwarven hair is usually dark. The duergar are an exception, typically having dark gray skin and white or maroon hair.
Origins[]
The dwarves are believed to be the second race created by the gods after their arrival on Exandria. They were crafted by Moradin, the All-Hammer.[3]
Society[]
Tal'Dorei[]
Most dwarves on Tal'Dorei live in the great city of Kraghammer, or are descended from those that did.[2] Mountain dwarves make up the majority of those found within Kraghammer, while hill dwarves are more likely to be found across the cities of the Dividing Plains.[2]
Deep beneath the Cliffkeep Mountains lies the duergar fortress of Emberhold. The gray dwarves there continuously launch raiding parties against the dwarves of Kraghammer, hoping to destroy them from the bottom up.[4]
Wildemount[]
In the Dwendalian Empire, dwarven society has two points of origin. The mountain dwarves of Grimgolir are prized for their soldiers and their mines, so much so that they were granted unprecedented autonomy when they were inducted into the Empire.[5] Meanwhile, the hill dwarves of Pride's Call carve out a more agrarian lifestyle, while cultivating the priceless pride silk from the caverns beneath.[6]
To the north in the Greying Wildlands are the dwarves of Uthodurn, who live side by side with elves after taking in the refugees from the mysterious destruction of Molaesmyr.
Dwarves are rare within Xhorhas and the few that are there are duergar. Some can be found living among the Kryn Dynasty, though most live deep beneath the surface within the Underdark, striking against the Dynasty in an attempt to carve out their own underground dominion.[7]
Dwarves are also relatively rare in the Menagerie Coast, and most of the dwarves in that region are visitors from the Empire or sailors from other continents. There are legends of an ancient dwarven society that worshiped Kord in the Cyrios Mountains, which have granted dwarves a reputation along the coast for passion and intensity.[7] There is one notable dwarf in Concordian society, Marquis Alamads Haddou of Port Zoon.[8]
Powers, abilities, and subraces[]
Dwarf traits[]
Dwarves are renowned for their mighty constitution, to the point that they are resistant to poison. Thanks to their subterranean delves, dwarves are capable of seeing in dim light and darkness. Many dwarves also train with axes and hammers, in order to help defend their clan.
A duergar, a mountain dwarf, and a hill dwarf, by Bryan Syme.[art 2]
Mountain dwarves[]
Mountain dwarves are the strongest among dwarvenkind, and following their martial tradition, train in the use of light and medium armor.
Hill dwarves[]
Hill dwarves are wisest among dwarves, and are often the heartiest as well.
Gray dwarves[]
The duergar live deeper beneath the earth than any other dwarf, so much so that their darkvision is superior to other dwarves. However, they are unused to the light of the sun, and have difficulty seeing outside on sunny days. Most duergar have innate psionic abilities, allowing them to shrug off magic, beguilement, and paralysis, and can see through many illusions. Duergar are also capable of doubling their size for a short time, as well as cloaking themselves in invisibility.
Notable dwarves[]
Campaign One: Vox Machina[]
PCs[]
- Hazel Copperpot: A bard from Hupperdook and member of the Darrington Brigade.
- Thorbir Falbek: A notoriously unlucky fighter and guild member of the Slayer's Take.
- Tova: A werebear blood hunter who helped Vox Machina on their journey through the City of Dis.
NPCs[]
- Gradim Greyspine: Ironkeeper of Kraghammer in 812 PD.
- King Murghol: King of the duergar of Emberhold.
- Drake Thunderbrand: Elementalist and member of the Arcana Pansophical.
- Queen Ulara: Queen of the duergar of Emberhold.
Critical Role: Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting[]
- Haddi Bronzegrip - Foredwarf of the Bronzegrip Metalworks and purportedly the wealthiest dwarf in the North.[9]
- Kradin Grimthorne - Top talent scout for the Brawlers' League.[10]
- Oalan - Clasp Spireling of Blades in Westruun.[11]
- Oben Sunderchin - Head of the Brawlers' League.[10][12]
- Teresa Dulamar - Blood domain cleric and head of the Claret Orders in Tal'Dorei.[13]
- Theadorn Krazz - Master of Development on the Tal'Dorei Council.[14]
Campaign 2: The Mighty Nein[]
PCs[]
Fan art of Lorenzo tormenting Keg, by Hugo Cardenas.[art 3]
- Keg: Fighter from Shadycreek Run who helped the Mighty Nein rescue their companions from the Iron Shepherds.
NPCs[]
- Ulog: Member of The Knights of Requital.
- Umagorn Smeltborne: Weapon and armorsmith from Uthodurn.
- Dagen Underthorn: Guide in Eiselcross
Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn[]
- Deirdrik Greyspine - Ambassador from Kraghammer to the Tal'Dorei Council.[15]
- Palluda Zuurthom - Ironkeeper of Kraghammer in 836 PD and major proponent of Kraghammer joining the Republic of Tal'Dorei.[16]
Exandria Unlimited[]
- Dariax Zaveon: Criminal, divine soul sorcerer, and member of the Crown Keepers.
Campaign Three[]
PCs[]
- Deni$e Bembachula: Criminal, barbarian/rogue, and ally of part of Bells Hells while she was looking for her ex, Dariax.
NPCs[]
- Dugger: Involved in smuggling brumestone through Jrusar. Killed Bertrand Bell.
- Armand Treshi: Head of the Mahaan house Treshi and believed by Lord Eshteross to be a member of the Chandei Quorum.
- Oshad Breshio: A bodyguard in Jrusar who was badly wounded while trying unsuccessfully to protect the Lumas twins from an attack.
- Barahai: A companion of Trist, a mortal incarnation of the Everlight, shown in an arcane recording in the ruins of Aeor.[17] He was killed by devils while protecting Hawk's Hill.[18]
Trivia[]
- Apparently there is a type of dwarven currency in Exandria (more specifically in Marquet)[19] called dol'ar,[20] presumably sharing its symbol with the real-world dollar ($).
- After Liam jokingly compared Predathos to Pac-Man, Matt followed up by joking about "Jonathan Pacman", who was involved in a famous dwarven stage play about destroying ghosts.[21]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8
Dwarf on D&D Beyond
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 See Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting, p. 22.
- ↑ See Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn, p. 13.
- ↑ See Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting, p. 62.
- ↑ See Explorer's Guide to Wildemount, p. 86.
- ↑ See Explorer's Guide to Wildemount, p. 102.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 See Explorer's Guide to Wildemount, p. 162.
- ↑ See Explorer's Guide to Wildemount, p. 75.
- ↑ See Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting, p. 67.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 See Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting, p. 32.
- ↑ See Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting, p. 34.
- ↑ See Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn, p. 50.
- ↑ See Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting, p. 33.
- ↑ See Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting, p. 36.
- ↑ See Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn, p. 46.
- ↑ See Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn, p. 56. See also pp. 97–98.
- ↑ See "Downfall: Part One" (3x99) at 1:24:45.
- ↑ See "Downfall: Part Three" (3x101) at 2:55:54.
- ↑ See "Collecting Legends" (3x105) at 3:47:13.
- ↑ See "A Haunted Past" (3x63) at 4:03:47.
- ↑ See "Bittersweet Reunions" (3x93) at 3:48:04.
Art:
- ↑ Official art of dwarves, by Ari from "Exandria: An Intimate History" (Sx61) at 0:58. Used with permission.
- ↑ A duergar, a mountain dwarf, and a hill dwarf, by Bryan Syme ([Critical Role: Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting, p. 22 source]). Used with permission.
- ↑ Fan art of Lorenzo tormenting Keg, by Hugo Cardenas (source). Used with permission.
External links[]
Dwarf on D&D Beyond- Dwarf (Dungeons & Dragons) on Wikipedia
- Dwarf on The Forgotten Realms Wiki (note)
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