The Dwarven nation appeared in the mountains of this part of the world well before the founding of any human settlements. Said to be old enough as a race to have known the Ancient Elves, the Dwarves have changed little over the long years since their appearance. Dwarves as a people suffer from a magical deficiency that makes it difficult for them to become mages of any kind.

Though they consider themselves one people, most non-dwarves recognize two races of Dwarves; the Hill Dwarves who live in the lower hills near the mountains and the Mountain Dwarves who live deep inside the mountains. The closest Dwarven kingdom to Avalon is found in the Black Hills, the mountain range north and west of Avalon.

There is one king of the Dwarves who rules over all Dwarven people. There are Dwarven knights and lords, but no known high nobles. Their society has its share of farmers, herders, and craftsman, mostly among the Hill Dwarves. The underground lands of the Mountain Dwarves provide little of the sustenance for their people, instead Mountain Dwarves mine, and mine with a great tenacity. Stone and ores of all kinds are their chief export.

While life in and on the mountains is not harsh, it is dangerous. Many of the creatures of the Hierarchs – Goblins, Orcs, Trolls and Ogres – have taken refuge and live there. Underground, the Dark Elves of the Underdark war with the Mountain Dwarves nearly constantly, both having a great hatred for the other.

Dwarves worship the three gods at about the same frequency. Many Mountain Dwarves are warriors, though a few overcome their magic weakness and pursue the higher magical arts. Hill Dwarves are craftsman, but also pursue careers as warriors, rogues and a few even as mages. Counter to popular belief, Dwarves live about as long as humans do.

Any union between any Dwarves always results in one of the parent’s racial characteristics being dominant. The player therefore has to choose one of the two races to be their character’s racial characteristics. For example, if a Mountain Dwarf and a Hill Dwarf have a child, that child will either look like and have the racial advantages and disadvantages for either a Mountain Dwarf or a Hill Dwarf, not some mix of the two.

Advantages
Half cost for the Armor Smith skill (1.5 Build Points)
Half cost for the Weapon Smith skill
Can purchase the Dwarven Resist skill
+5% Bonus to Alchemical Success Rolls
Disadvantages
Cannot learn Power Points until Level 5. Can have a maximum of 7 Power Points per Level starting at Level 5 (i.e. 42 PP at Level 10).
Cannot use bows, may use crossbows
Can only learn one Warlock skill every other level starting at Level 15
Cannot learn Sorcery until Level 15 and receives a -15% Ritual Casting Bonus
Cannot learn Spell Singing skills until Level 15 and can only earn a rank of Spell Singing every 5 Levels starting at Level 15. Then can have only a maximum of 6 Spell Singing Points per level starting at Level 15
Costume and Roleplaying Requirements
The player must wear a brown or red beard if they are playing a male character – even if they have a real beard – or two long brown or red braids of hair if they are playing a female character.
Native Literacy
Dwarven

Advantages
+1 Strength Bonus, Non-Combinable
+2 Body Points for the first three Levels (+6 Body Points Total)
Can purchase the Dwarven Resist skill
Disadvantages
Cannot learn Power Points until Level 5. Can have a maximum of 7 Power Points per Level starting at Level 5 (i.e. 42 PP at Level 10).
Cannot use bows, may use crossbows
Can only learn one Warlock skill every other level starting at Level 15
Cannot learn Sorcery until Level 15 and receives a -15% Ritual Casting Bonus
Cannot learn Spell Singing skills until Level 15 and can only earn a rank of Spell Singing every 5 Levels starting at Level 15. Then can have only a maximum of 6 Spell Singing Points per level starting at Level 15
Costume and Roleplaying Requirements
The player must wear a black beard if they are playing a male character – even if they have a real beard – or two long black braids of hair if they are playing a female character.
Native Literacy
Dwarven