\\ ====== Dwarves ====== //// //"Meeting the dwarves for the first time was like encountering the spirit of the mountains themselves. Short and stout, with an intense and rugged presence, they are as unyielding as the stone they call home. Their faces, framed by long and luxurious hair and beards convey a sense of age-old wisdom and unshakable determination. Their eyes, shining with the colors of the earth, reflect the depths of their subterranean world. Among the dwarves, one can feel the pulse of ancient traditions and the enduring pride of a people who carve their destiny from the heart of the mountains."// **//— Excerpt from the Journal of Explorer Talos Thorn// ** //// {{ :sentient_species:dwarf.webp?nolink&400x400 }} \\ **Physical Appearance:** Dwarves are short with stout builds, standing around 3 to 4 feet tall. Both male and female dwarves are known for their abundant body and facial hair, with hair colors ranging from blonde to brown to reds. They have a variety of eye and skin colors and possess facial features similar to humans, but with a more rugged and intense appearance. **Lifespans:** Dwarves live about 200 years and have a high birthrate, resulting in large populations. They often reside in tight, compact underground cities. Dwarven families are expansive, as they typically birth in groups of three to six children. This biological trait leads to large family lineages, sometimes comprising the majority of a city's population. **Culture and Beliefs:** Dwarven culture is built on the principles of living deep underground. Some of the wealthiest and most noble dwarves, hold beliefs that sunlight should never touch their skin, a mark of elite status. Dwarves have an affinity for carving out spaces underground and building compact cities that span vast distances downward. The wealthiest dwarves live deepest underground, while the poorer reside closer to the surface. Surface levels of dwarven cities are often incredibly minimalistic, leaving the natural surface environment largely untouched. Dwarves are renowned for their mining expertise and advanced forges. Most dwarves take pride in professions involving mining, smithing, or construction. Their culture values hard work and physical labor, viewing it as a source of strength and pride. Dwarves are deeply committed to their families, with pure bloodlines being highly important. This focus on family and lineage results in cities where 90-100% of the population can share the same family heritage. Dwarven families can be immense, sometimes totaling in the millions, and they take great pride in their expansive family networks.