Dwarves are my favorite race in DnD 5e. And today we will be taking a look at them.
This article will be in the same vein as the one we did on Elves’ previous, so go check that one out. Today instead, we will be looking at our bold and stout friends underground.
So let’s begin with talking about the dwarves, their characters, their culture, and any other interesting information regarding them.
Table of Contents
The Biology of Dwarves in DnD 5e
Their Basic Characteristics
Dwarves are shorter and more stout than the other races. Not as much as halflings, yet noticeably more than humans and elves.
Although they are stout, do not be fooled; it’s all muscle. And even though a dwarf may not look imposing, their strength is that of a creature beyond their size.
Other than their stoutness, they can be found in a variety of pigments ranging from a deep brown to a paler hue. Often their skin color is similar to the earth and minerals that they so commonly work with.
Their hair and beards they usually wear long – yet with simple styles and ornaments. They take pride in the grooming of their beard and do so meticulously.
Dwarves are also long-lived in comparison to some of the other races. The average dwarf lifespan is 350 years, with some reaching well over 400 years of age.
Their Psychology
Living for so long makes the Dwarves in DnD 5e quite a peculiar people. Unlike the elves which we’ve discussed whom prefer to explore the world fueled by their wanderlust. The dwarves instead prefer to stick to their holds and focus on their crafts and their matters inside their clans.
As such, it’s not an uncommon sight to see a dwarf dedicate himself to his craft for centuries on end inside his hold. Becoming a master with no equal.
Of course, this isolation from the world, fueled with an intense dedication to the crafts makes them an interesting people indeed.
There is no dwarf who isn’t a skilled craftsman. Each and every dwarf, no matter their age or sex is a skilled craftsman in their field. But, while they are skilled craftsmen, they aren’t as skilled in enterprises.
The dwarves can produce, yes. But they rarely go out and trade that with others. They prefer to trade with a select few individuals whom have gained their trust, and very rarely do they trade by water. They have a disdain for water, avoiding it at all costs if possible. So all water-bourne trading they leave to the outsiders whom they trade with.
The Culture of the Dwarves
Their Society
The Dwarves are a race that prefers to stick with their own. They organize themselves in a clan system – in which they take great pride. When a dwarf is born they are given a name, these names are clan names that have been handed down to them throughout generations. When a dwarf does a shameful act they are stripped of their name, so as to not bring shame to the entire clan.
They spend most of their days in their hold perfecting their craft, and perfect craftsmen they are. The dwarves make for some of the greatest stonemasons, miners, blacksmiths, engineers, scientists, and any manner of craft that they lay their hands on.
Being a secular people with a long life, it takes long to gain their trust – and even longer to gain their friendship. Only a select few may enter their holds, and yet even to them, some parts of the hold are forbidden. These select few most often gain their privilege after decades of working together.
The Reasons a Dwarf may Depart Their Hold for
There are very few reasons a dwarf will depart from their hold, but the most common are.
Gold. Plain and simple. It draws dwarves to it just as much as it draws humans. More often than naught dwarves who aren’t content with the simple life of working in a hold for a couple of centuries will depart from their holds in search of riches to bring back.
Yet not all dwarves depart for gold. Some are ostracized for bringing shame to their clan’s name and must amend what is broken before they can return. Return with glory, or do not return at all.
Another reason a dwarf may depart from his hold is on a pilgrimage. The dwarves have many gods, some of war, some of the crafts, others of the arts. Each demanding devotion to them in a certain way.
