Physical Form
Dwarves are a short and stocky race originating from the Lobrandr Hills, adapted for life lived at least partly if not fully underground. They have rounded ears and broad shoulders, and their height allows them to fit easily into subterranean tunnels. Dwarves each have a set of whiskers on their face, two at the inner corner of each eyebrow and two next to each ear, that allow that to detect changes in airflow, or note closeness of tunnel walls. These whiskers can be also be flexed in various directions, often acting as an indicator of emotions. Dwarves have thick, sturdy claws on both their fingers and toes, which are useful for digging new tunnels. These claws grow at an accelerated rate, such that dwarves who don't dig regularly must trim or file them often. Both males and females grow facial hair, though males grow mustaches as well as beards whereas females only have beards. The beards assist in blocking dust particles from the airway when digging, and may also be used as an indicator of health and status. Dwarves don't begin to grow proper beards until they reach puberty, but they do have patches of hair that reach below their ears from a very young age, which have the appearance of mutton chops.
Dwarven skin is dappled brown or grey, colored much like the stone of their surroundings. Their hair is often red, brown, or black, and typically curly in texture. Their eyes are generally brown or grey, or very occasionally blue. Older dwarves' hair will begin to go white as they age, and their whiskers may also take on a crinkled appearance.
Dwarves are generally 4'0" - 4'10" feet tall and 130 - 230 lbs on average. Females tend to be smaller than males, though the margin is fairly narrow, and they nonetheless have similar strength.
Lifespan and Reproduction
Dwarves typically live from 300-350 years of age. They enter the preteen stage at 12, hit puberty around age 20, reach adulthood at age 32, are considered middle aged at 150, and are considered elderly at 250.
Dwarven pregnancy lasts 15 months, and typically only results in one child, with twins being rare and triplets even more so. Fertile periods occur roughly every two years.
Diet
Thanks to their strong stomachs, dwarves are able to derive nutrients from a wide range of food items with few ill effects. Meat, fruits, vegetables, foliage, and fungi can all be found in their diet, and many of these they can eat raw or well past their prime.
Notable Attributes and Abilities
By focusing closely on the vibrations through the stone, dwarves can detect the location and movement of things also touching it. This ability is believed to be facilitated by the whiskers detecting very slight vibrations through the skin.
Dwarven skin is particularly thick, which protects them from scratches and scrapes against rough stone or soil. The added protection has minimal impact where weapons are involved, but even a little bit of added shielding could possibly make a difference between life and death.
As expected from their diet, dwarves have a notable resistance to poison. In fact, several spices and sauces used in traditional dwarven cooking are known to be fatal to other races. This further serves as protection from the litany of venomous beasts that can be found in Dûnathel's larger underground environments.
Dwarven vision is well adapted to dim underground lighting. They cannot see in complete darkness, but a small amount of light is sufficient for them to see their surroundings accurately.
Culture
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Races
Galldim (GAHL-dim): also called mountain dwarves, Galldim descend from an offshoot of dwarves that retreated to the peaks of the Skyfangs during the Age of Ashes. They are taller and broader-shouldered than the other dwarf races, and are weaker diggers, as the stone of the mountains requires tools to excavate more than claws. Their skin is tan or pale. Their hair is usually light brown or sometimes blond, and their eyes are brown or blue.
Llifder (LIF-derr): also called hill dwarves, Llifder most closely resemble the original dwarves, and many still dwell in the Lobrandr Hills where both their race and species as a whole originated. They average smaller than the other dwarf types, and are better equipped for digging with stronger and faster-growing claws. Llifder skin is tan or brown, their hair is brown or occasionally red, their eyes are usually brown and very rarely blue. They have more freckles and dapples than the other dwarf types, often lending them an almost mottled or patchy appearance.
Myrken (MEER-ken): also called deep dwarves, Myrken are descended from the same Skyfangs population as the Galldim, but their ancestors descended to the depths of the Onureth Caverns and stayed there. Myrken skin is pale grey, their hair is nearly white, and their eyes are a piercing pale blue. They have the longest whiskers of all the dwarf subtypes, the better to navigate by detecting changes in airflow.
Ryx (RIX): also called coastal dwarves, Ryx originate from the western shore of Altandor and the Luill Forest. Their skin is typically brown, their eyes are usually dark brown, and their hair is typically dark brown and curly. Their claws are shorter than the other races, but sharper on average, better equipped to cut through underbrush.