Dwarves are, by and large, a short, stocky, incredibly strong race. There are exceptions to this, as there are with all Arcanic Highborn races. Dwarves have significantly fewer variants than Elves and Bestials.
The Dwarves of Dycent are miners and skilled craftsmen, although they have magical prowess in varying degrees. The majority of the population is content to stay in the underground realm, but there are many who choose to leave. Those that do tend to visit either Laenost proper or Carenal, the latter being accessible due to the connections made by Orcs. While it may seem to outsiders that the Dwarves are a warlike race, they actually dislike violence in all forms. They value honor extremely highly, though, and will gladly fight to protect it or regain it. They do make many weapons, but no more weapons than any other type of artisan craft. Most food for the Dwarves comes from underground lakes and streams in the form of sightless fish, so learning to fish is important to them. They have incredible night vision. Dwarves are proficient in Geomancy and Holy Magic.
The other type of Dwarf that is commonly seen belie the stereotype of Dwarves as being underground creatures. These Dwarves are much smaller (though still larger than Gnomes) and live above the surface. They are known as Wood-Dwarves by Humans. They have an incredible connection with Vitaramancy and Arbormancy, greater even than the Elves of Myrchrend. They make their homes in trees, using magic they will increase the size of a tree (or grove) and make the tree grow in such a way that holes and rooms are made in the wood. These tree-houses also go underground, the Dwarves are able to manipulate the roots as far down as they go. The Wood-Dwarves will create instruments, crafts, and other items out of living wood, without ever harming a tree. They get along well with Humans, though they keep their distance when they can. They understand that Humans must harm trees for houses or fires, but they do not like it.
There are rumored subtypes of Dwarves in other realms, dubbed the "Water-Dwarves" of Torrentia and the "Sun-Dwarves" of Carenal. Though the existence of these groups has been verified, their societies have never been found and little is known of them. Even their cousin Dwarves know little of them.
The Dwarves of Dycent are miners and skilled craftsmen, although they have magical prowess in varying degrees. The majority of the population is content to stay in the underground realm, but there are many who choose to leave. Those that do tend to visit either Laenost proper or Carenal, the latter being accessible due to the connections made by Orcs. While it may seem to outsiders that the Dwarves are a warlike race, they actually dislike violence in all forms. They value honor extremely highly, though, and will gladly fight to protect it or regain it. They do make many weapons, but no more weapons than any other type of artisan craft. Most food for the Dwarves comes from underground lakes and streams in the form of sightless fish, so learning to fish is important to them. They have incredible night vision. Dwarves are proficient in Geomancy and Holy Magic.
The other type of Dwarf that is commonly seen belie the stereotype of Dwarves as being underground creatures. These Dwarves are much smaller (though still larger than Gnomes) and live above the surface. They are known as Wood-Dwarves by Humans. They have an incredible connection with Vitaramancy and Arbormancy, greater even than the Elves of Myrchrend. They make their homes in trees, using magic they will increase the size of a tree (or grove) and make the tree grow in such a way that holes and rooms are made in the wood. These tree-houses also go underground, the Dwarves are able to manipulate the roots as far down as they go. The Wood-Dwarves will create instruments, crafts, and other items out of living wood, without ever harming a tree. They get along well with Humans, though they keep their distance when they can. They understand that Humans must harm trees for houses or fires, but they do not like it.
There are rumored subtypes of Dwarves in other realms, dubbed the "Water-Dwarves" of Torrentia and the "Sun-Dwarves" of Carenal. Though the existence of these groups has been verified, their societies have never been found and little is known of them. Even their cousin Dwarves know little of them.