Dwarves of Vastonia!

There are 3 major races of Dwarves within Vastonia as detailed below. All of which have many common traits, but each race undoubtedly having their own unique qualities. These 3 races of Dwarves include the Mountain (or earth) Dwarves, Hill Dwarves and the Duergar.

Dwarves usually have decent constitution scores, and can be exceptionally hard to get along with. A few races within Vastonia detest all dwarves "Orcs and Goblins". Other races believe dwarves to be greedy treasure horder's Dwarves view this as totally preposterous. Dwarves believe their hard work and eager attitudes make them worthy of the riches and those who disagree are considered lazy and outright useless.

Amongst their own people dwarves consider tedious labor and opulent wealth to be two of life's greatest erotica's. Although dwarves are not greedy, they do enjoy the comfort of fine furnishings. "A firm bed may always be there but not necessarily your closest companion", says one old Dwarven proverb.

With a lifespan that runs into multiple centuries, dwarves tend to be collectors of ornament's, tapestries, carvings and statuary and decorate their dwellings accordingly. They do not wear jewelry with the exception of heirlooms or medals of honor.

Food and drink, legends, song and miraculous tales are some of the Dwarves greatest passions. Around Elves, or sometimes referred to as "big folk" dwarves conceal their passions, and therefore seem inscrutable, abrasive, and oddly peculiar.

Dwarves dislike stealth, trickery and dishonesty, thus the number of thieves and other rogue classes within Dwarven communities is very low. When dwarves turn to thievery, they often do it openly. Dwarven rogues simply take what they want through sheer force rather than stealth. Dark dwarves are perhaps the more common Dwarven race to become thugs and muggers.

Mountain Dwarves

General Traits, Life Expectancy

The Mountain Dwarves are short, robust race of dwarves. They are almost as wide as they are tall. Males have full beards, taking pride in the longer they grow. Females and youths also have small whiskers that do form but not as full as the male beard. On the whole, Mountain Dwarves have tough skin, and most males begin going bald while still quite young, around the youthful age of 50. Their stubby legs sometimes have trouble keeping pace with other more lanky party members of the taller races. Due to their permanent underground existence, Mountain Dwarves have developed the ability to see outside the normal range of visible light. When using their infravision they can see up to 60' into the darkness. The Mountain Dwarves usually have black, brown or gray hair and have dark brown or green eyes. They stand between 3'7 to 4' in height and weigh anywhere from 134 lbs - 180 lbs. They life up to ages of not more than 450 years.

Social Structure, Government, Laws, Religion

Social structure is strict but in the same time socially tolerable. Laws are made according to necessity. Criminal behavior is rare but still occurs. When found guilty of a major crime, the guilty party is usually sentenced to life imprisonment or exiled to the surface for the remainder of their life. Religious believes are very common, but not a must. Most Dwarves make sacrifices or give homage to Moradin "Soul Forger".

Armor, Weapons and Advancements

The Mountain Dwarves make crude platemail "Dwarven plate" and heavy chainmail or scalemail armors. Leather and other light armor type are not readily used. Mountain Dwarves prefer weapons of great bulk when used in combat, some of the more common one's are warhammers, Orc picks, two-handed maces, war axes and shortened halberds. The Mountain Dwarves most famed contribution to the realm is the use of mining carts and great labyrinth's of mining tracks. They have developed perhaps the fastest and most efficient mining techniques of all the races, even better than their distant cousins the Duergar. The infamous Dwarven Far Tunneler's (a certain group of Mountain Dwarf miners) are known to be the best deep core engineer's throughout the land.

Hunting Strategies, Tactics, Local Game

This is not the Mountain Dwarves greatest feat. In fact they almost never hunt for wild meat. Instead they eat mushrooms, potatoes, figs, beets, poultry, fish, treanty roots, rot pigs, shrieker, grubs and other natural products of the underworld. If a great festival is to be held the Mountain Dwarves will hunt down and kill a bothersome umberhulk, or perhaps a small sized purple worm to cook up for the festivities. Occasionally the Far Tunneler's will present the colony with a healthy portion of dragon meat or the like.

Trading Habits, Routes

The only trade amongst these people is with their closest neighbors, the Hill Dwarves. Between the the two races a great trade agreement has transpired. "We give you precious metals and you give us wood, food and other above ground delicacies". So far the agreement has stood, and both races have thus prospered throughout the passing centuries.

Use of Animals/Mounts

Many animals are used by the Mountain Dwarves including oxen, large dogs, miniature horses, boring beetles and well contained rust monsters. Most of which are used to pull carts, but some are used as transportation. No! They don't ride rust monsters around, they are used only to pull mining carts. This is done because if allowed to go free, the rust monsters would devour the metals which the Dwarves work so hard to collect.

Goals, Passions, Perseverance

Mountain Dwarves praise their delves, members within it or their achievements rather than glorifying the ethics, politics and doings of the outer world. Mountain Dwarves recognize their own sheltered lifestyle and now cherish past memories of a once happier world gone by. Although passionate about their own labors, they see the passing of history as something beyond their control. When faced with certain death, a Mountain Dwarf often says "well, it looks like a good day to visit the gods" They take personal defeat as valued lessons, making them tenacious survivors. Dwarves see themselves as Vastonia's underworld guardians, striving to maintaining the past in the present.

Dwarven tempers can flare like throwing a Greek fire vial into a blazing forge. Despite their nattered clothing and rugged features, the Mountain Dwarves are passionate peoples. They live life to the fullest, with little patience for hesitation. To them work is glory and play is serious. They take great enjoyment in earthly music, played in deep harmonic-bellied horns. But a soft flute, harp or pipe can bring tears to their beady little eyes. Dwarven music, whether on battlefield or in great hall, is played at maximum volume, for which they show no regret in self pride.

Education, Alphabet, Languages

Dwarven children learn about responsibility at a young age. These lessons in self-discipline takes years, with responsibility building according to age. The Mountain Dwarves use the same alphabet as their ancient ancestors before them. They speak the common language of Dwarves and use a complex set of symbols to describe their intentions, feelings and warnings to others who may travel through the depths of Mt. Silvertip.

Magical Expectancy, Usage

Magic is used by only the clerical members of the society, and the wizards to decipher tomes, scroll and magical plaques. Sometimes magic will be used to support major building stones, during final placements. However magic using Mountain Dwarves are very rare, perhaps 1 in 5000.

Racial Customs, Burial Ceremonies, Celebrated Holidays

Mountain Dwarves tend to be suspicious of races other than their own, thus is a custom to pack a good weapon on their sides. A trusty weapon is a Dwarves best friend and they spend a good part of their time making sure that the weapon carried is in top notch shape. The Mountain Dwarves bury their dead within giant stone tomes, constructed by themselves. If one is to far or to mutilated to bring to the proper burial grounds. They will be buried deep within whatever earth can be provided. Mountain Dwarves celebrate only one major holiday "Year End" On this day all colony members partake in a huge social gathering and feast upon a what would seem to be unlimited banquet of common food and drink. Celebrated on the last day of the year. Of course many other small occasions are also celebrated.

Housing Materials, Architecture, Skills

This short stocky race builds the best stone complexes, houses, tunnels or anything made of stone around. The stone is made from the many types of core rock found deep below the surface. Occasionally the Mountain Dwarves will visit the surface to break up a large boulder and use it below.

Hill Dwarves

General Traits, Life Expectancy

Hill dwarves tend toward obstinacy, they remain above ground due to stubbornness rather than lack of suitable mountains to delve. Their coarse lifestyle, crude aspirations, and grumpy attitudes to non-dwarves rival even their underground kin. Even so, hill dwarves partake in united battles, seemingly impossible tasks and independent trade agreements with whom ever they choose. The constant complaining and bullheadedness of hill dwarves is generally used to disguise a pleasant and kind hearted nature.

The Hill Dwarves are built much the same as their distant compatriots the Mt. Dwarves, almost as stocky and have slightly smoother features. Males have full beards and the females and youths have small light whiskers. They also have short legs but not so short as the Mt. Dwarves. They live above ground but still posses the ability to see using infravision at a range equaling 60'. Hill Dwarves usually have dark brown, reddish or light gray hair and have dark blue, green or hazel eyes. They stand between 3'8 to 4'4 in height and weigh anywhere from 122 lbs - 155 lbs. They life up to ages of not more than 450 years.

Social Structure, Government, Laws, Religion

Social order is also strict, well organized and maintained throughout the colony. Laws are existent, but citizens tend to take more liberty in breaking them within Hill Dwarven societies. Criminal activity however is much more severe. When found guilty of a crime a the guilty party can be sentenced to anything from having a hand removed, to being publicly humiliated, which usually works well considering that Dwarves hate to be embarrassed. Religion is thought of as a must, Most Hill Dwarves pray to Moradin "Soul Forger" or Albrecht but about 2% sacrifice to Hephaestus.

Armor, Weapons and Advancements

Hill Dwarves also relish crude platemail "Dwarven plate" and other heavy armors. Although leather and other light armor types are way more common amongst these people. Hill Dwarves prefer the use of the following weapons to use in combat: warhammers, hand-axes, war maces, broad axes and shortened halberds or bardiches. Hill Dwarves were the first race to incorporate windmills and water wheels used for the grinding of wheat, barley and oats.

Hunting Strategies, Tactics, Local Game

The Hill Dwarves have developed much greater talents than the Mt.Dwarves when it comes to hunting wild game. They use pitfall traps, log barriers, snares and many other methods to capture prey. Some of the local game include mountain goat, wild boar, rabbit, fox, dessert wolves, black or cave bear and wild ape.

Trading Habits, Routes

The Hill Dwarves trade between many local regions on a somewhat regular basis, including the Human Kingdom of Mecadina, the Valley Elves of Elflore, the Kingdom of Hadaurm and the main trade route leading their underground cousins the Mt. Dwarves.

Use of Animals/Mounts

All types of common animals are used by the Hill Dwarves. Most mounts include small horses, mule and elephant. Some of the more readily used slaughtering animals include, chicken, common sheep, cows, and pigs.

Goals, Passions, Perseverance

Hill Dwarves praise much the same things as the Mt. Dwarves. Hill Dwarves lose themselves in their work for weeks on end until the task at hand is completed, then bask in their accomplishments for a few week or so and then back to work. When Hill Dwarves work, they never %$#% the dog or delay, they achieve this through constant focus and motion. Hill Dwarves never retire, they only find simpler tasks to accomplish as they age.

Education, Alphabet, Languages

Hill Dwarven children learn through local scholars, and other intellectual teachers about the world within. The training of work is self-disciplined and taught through real life experiences The Hill Dwarves speak the same language as Mountain Dwarves "Dwarf Common" but add several different slurs and slangs to the languages entirety. They have a detailed scriptural language and use many glyphs to indicate common messages to other Dwarven folk.

Magical Expectancy, Usage

Excepted as a general asset throughout the colony. Many Hill Dwarves take up magic as their primary profession. Not only as clerics but some even become magic users of great talents. Magic is used to heal the injured, purify food and water, construct buildings, repair armor, and light bond fires within the city core. So don't be alarmed if you walk passed a Hill Dwarf who lets rip with a fire blast, attempting to light a local fire pit.

Racial Customs, Burial Ceremonies, Celebrated Holidays

It is a custom for male Hill Dwarves to spend one full day a month with their families, unless it is a time of war. This day is spent playing with children, helping his mate with household tasks and sharing quality time in general with them. In turn female Hill Dwarves are expected to provide their husband with a special meal which is not normally had one those days in which the husband/mate is home.

Hill Dwarves bury the dead in the same manor as Humans.

Hill Dwarves celebrate Year End day as the Mt. Dwarves. They also have a week in each year that is dedicated to a huge festival called "Fire Fest". Here thousands gather and watch acrobat's juggle flaming sticks, tongs and hand size balls that are also on fire (one wrong move and the acrobat will be burnt fer sure). Minstrels play music and Bards tells the stories of the land. Local Magic user's show off their talents with flaming hands, electric light shows and disappearing acts. This grand event usually takes place mid summer.

Housing Materials, Architecture, Skills

Most buildings and other complexes are made of stone blocks, but certain other buildings such as gigantic halls are made from massive logs hauled from with Rhudar Forest.

Duergar (Dark Dwarves)

Although they do exist in Vastonia, the Duergar are so rare that a full description is not needed. Small sections and rare NPC's will be the only material presented throughout this site. The race of Duergar within Vastonia have been turned to stone now for over 3000 years. This community consisted of nearly 6,000 inhabitants and resided deep within Mt. Pelay's core in a city known as Tarpathe "the lost city".

Currently the only resource available within this site is one of my best friends characters. He is a true representative of the Duergar and easily exemplifies the epitome of evil. Here he is " THANE ".