Index races dwarf

Dwarves

Mountain dwarves are the most common type of dwarf, hailing from the kingdom of Runeheim in Lyder. Like all dwarves, they are short and broad, with muscle mass and body fat in equal measure. Mountain dwarves tend to have tough greyish skin and coarse brown hair, with some even having rock-like patches of callous along their bodies. Men and women alike grow and style long beards, the shaving of which is a sign of unspeakable dishonor. In general, it is difficult for outsiders to tell the difference between males and females, leading to the myth that there are no female mountain dwarves and that they are born from the rocks themselves. The fact that some mountain dwarves will eat certain rocks as a food garnish only adds to this rumor.

Mountain dwarves stand 4 to 5 feet tall and weigh around 200 pounds. They reach adulthood around the age of 40 and can live up to 350 years.

Mountain dwarves are generally found in their homeland of Runeheim, and even those found elsewhere in the world are generally close to their home clan. To most mountain dwarves, order and dependability are paramount, and stubbornness is a thing to be praised. They are even-tempered and good-natured, and the word of a mountain dwarf is worth its weight in gold. However, a long history of warfare and betrayal has made their culture xenophobic and closed-minded.

  • Ability Scores: +2 Constitution, -2 Charisma. Dwarves are hardy folk, but they tend to be difficult to work with.
  • Size: Medium. As Medium creatures, dwarves have no special bonuses or penalties due to their size.
  • Speed: Dwarf base land speed is 20 feet. However, dwarves can move at this speed even when wearing medium or heavy armor or when carrying a medium or heavy load (unlike other creatures, whose speed is reduced in such situations).
  • Favored Weapon: Urgosh. This iconic weapon of the dwarven hero Daragon is a cornerstone of dwarven culture.

Darkvision

Dwarves can see in the dark up to 60 feet. Darkvision is black and white only, but it is otherwise like normal sight, and dwarves can function just fine with no light at all.

Stonecunning

This ability grants a dwarf a +2 racial bonus on Search checks to notice unusual stonework, such as sliding walls, stonework traps, new construction (even when built to match the old), unsafe stone surfaces, shaky stone ceilings, and the like. Something that isn’t stone but that is disguised as stone also counts as unusual stonework. A dwarf who merely comes within 10 feet of unusual stonework can make a Search check as if he were actively searching, and a dwarf can use the Search skill to find stonework traps as a rogue can. A dwarf can also intuit depth, sensing his approximate depth underground as naturally as a human can sense which way is up.

Stability

A dwarf gains a +4 bonus on ability checks made to resist being bull rushed or tripped when standing on the ground (but not when climbing, flying, riding, or otherwise not standing firmly on the ground).

Saving Throw Bonus

+2 racial bonus on saving throws against poison. +2 racial bonus on saving throws against spells and spell-like effects.

Animosity

+1 racial bonus on attack rolls against orcs and goblinoids. +4 dodge bonus to Armor Class against monsters of the giant type. Any time a creature loses its Dexterity bonus (if any) to Armor Class, such as when it’s caught flat-footed, it loses its dodge bonus, too.

Skill Bonus

+2 racial bonus on Appraise checks that are related to stone or metal items. +2 racial bonus on Craft checks that are related to stone or metal.

Stribolg dwarves, sometimes called errant dwarves or hill dwarves, are an ancient offshoot of the mountain dwarves and are more nomadic and militaristic than their kin. Like all dwarves they are short and broad with muscle mass and body fat in equal measure. Their skin tones range from warm greys and tans to nearly pitch black, with black or reddish hair that tends to keep its color well into old age. While males and females both grow beards, it is not unheard of for females to shave their beards, and most males shave their heads.

Stribolg dwarves stand 4 to 5 feet tall and weigh around 230 pounds. They reach adulthood around the age of 35 and can live up to 300 years.

Stribolg dwarves, unsurprisingly, are primarily found in Stribolg, though many are found in The Wastes and scattered about the world. While most are ill-tempered, stubborn, and perpetually drunk, they are also remarkably passionate and protective, showing more emotion than their mountain kin. They hold great reverance for their families and anscestors, but are less ironclad in their traditions than mountain dwarves, seeing the past as an inspiration for future deeds rather than a strict guideline. Many clans are known to get along famously well with humans, who can often share their adventurous outlooks.

  • Ability Scores: +2 Strength, +2 Constitution, -2 Dexterity, -2 Charisma. Stribolg dwarves are tougher than their cousins, but they are also much bulkier.
  • Size: Medium. As Medium creatures, dwarves have no special bonuses or penalties due to their size.
  • Speed: Dwarf base land speed is 20 feet. However, dwarves can move at this speed even when wearing medium or heavy armor or when carrying a medium or heavy load (unlike other creatures, whose speed is reduced in such situations).
  • Favored Weapon: Dwarven war axe. This iconic weapon of the dwarven hero Stribolg is a cornerstone of dwarven culture.

Darkvision

Dwarves can see in the dark up to 60 feet. Darkvision is black and white only, but it is otherwise like normal sight, and dwarves can function just fine with no light at all.

Stonecunning

This ability grants a dwarf a +2 racial bonus on Search checks to notice unusual stonework, such as sliding walls, stonework traps, new construction (even when built to match the old), unsafe stone surfaces, shaky stone ceilings, and the like. Something that isn’t stone but that is disguised as stone also counts as unusual stonework. A dwarf who merely comes within 10 feet of unusual stonework can make a Search check as if he were actively searching, and a dwarf can use the Search skill to find stonework traps as a rogue can. A dwarf can also intuit depth, sensing his approximate depth underground as naturally as a human can sense which way is up.

Stability

A dwarf gains a +4 bonus on ability checks made to resist being bull rushed or tripped when standing on the ground (but not when climbing, flying, riding, or otherwise not standing firmly on the ground).

Saving Throw Bonus

+2 racial bonus on fortitude saving throws.

Animosity

+2 racial bonus on attack rolls against orcs, giants, kobolds, and goblinoids.

Skill Bonus

+2 racial bonus on Appraise checks that are related to stone or metal items. +2 racial bonus on Craft checks that are related to stone or metal.

Duergar, sometimes called dark dwarves, are dwarves who live deep underground or in the shadow lands of the Abyss. Duergar are short and broad, but slightly thinner than other dwarves, with sharp features and crooked noses. They have cold skin tones that run the range of greys, usually settling towards nearly black shades but with the occasional example of chalky white. Their hair grows patchy and coarse and is often shaved outside of their beards, which tend to grow black or dull blue. Like mountain dwarves, it is difficult to tell the difference between males and females.

Duergar stand 4 to 5 feet tall and weigh around 160 pounds. They reach adulthood around the age of 40 and can live up to 300 years.

Duergar are cruel and standoffish, harboring little patience for others and a constant hunger for retribution. Duergar institutions are built around spite and held together by the threat of outside forces, especially the mountain dwarves. When one enemy is exhausted, they scramble to find another before the fragile bonds of wartime trust can break. Even outcasts from this cultural norm still find themselves driven by revenge and a poor temper - attitudes that can nonetheless drive them to remarkable acts of bravery.

  • Ability Scores: +2 Constitution, -4 Charisma. Duergar are still tough like other dwarves, but they are even more reclusive and standoffish.
  • Size: Medium. As Medium creatures, dwarves have no special bonuses or penalties due to their size.
  • Speed: Dwarf base land speed is 20 feet. However, dwarves can move at this speed even when wearing medium or heavy armor or when carrying a medium or heavy load (unlike other creatures, whose speed is reduced in such situations).
  • Favored Weapon: Spiked chain. Duergar naturally tend towards intimidating weapons.

Shadowborn

Duergar are humanoids with the Shadowborn subtype. This grants the following traits:

  • Necrotic Energy Resistance 5: All necrotic damage that a Shadowborn creature takes is reduced by 5.
  • Darkvision: Shadowborn creatures can see in the dark up to 60 feet. Darkvision is black and white only, but it is otherwise like normal sight, and Shadowborn creatures can function just fine with no light at all.
  • Light Blindness: Abrupt exposure to bright light (such as sunlight) blinds Shadowborn creatures for 1 round. On subsequent rounds, they are dazzled as long as they remain in the lit area.
  • Healing Aversion: Any spell of the Healing subschool that restores hit point damage heals Shadowborn creatures half as much as normal.

Stonecunning

This ability grants a dwarf a +2 racial bonus on Search checks to notice unusual stonework, such as sliding walls, stonework traps, new construction (even when built to match the old), unsafe stone surfaces, shaky stone ceilings, and the like. Something that isn’t stone but that is disguised as stone also counts as unusual stonework. A dwarf who merely comes within 10 feet of unusual stonework can make a Search check as if he were actively searching, and a dwarf can use the Search skill to find stonework traps as a rogue can. A dwarf can also intuit depth, sensing his approximate depth underground as naturally as a human can sense which way is up.

Stability

A dwarf gains a +4 bonus on ability checks made to resist being bull rushed or tripped when standing on the ground (but not when climbing, flying, riding, or otherwise not standing firmly on the ground).

Immunities

Duergar are immune to paralysis, phantasms, and poison. They can also breathe normally in and are unharmed by mundane dust clouds and sandstorms.

Animosity

+1 racial bonus on attack rolls against dwarves (including other duergar).

Skill Bonus

+4 racial bonus on Move Silently checks. +2 racial bonus on Appraise checks that are related to stone or metal items. +2 racial bonus on Craft checks that are related to stone or metal.



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