Physical Appearance and Personality
Physical Appearance
Dwarves are a short race, as the name implies, standing from 4'3" – 4'9" (1.3 – 1.45 meters) on average,.What Dwarves lack in height they make up for in bulk; they are, on average, about as heavy as humans. A dwarf can weigh anywhere from about 160 – 220 lbs (73 – 100 kg). Dwarven males are a bit taller and heavier than their female counterparts. Like humans, dwarves have a wide variety of skin, eye, and hair colors. Those born within the same clan tend to share similar physical traits.
Male dwarves have a variety of different hairstyles and naturally grow thick facial hair. As boasting is typically frowned upon in dwarven society it is a common for well off dwarves to elaborately style their beards and ornament them with gold and jewels to display their wealth.
Women are short and stocky. Wearing their hair in elaborate braids, adorned similarly to a male dwarf’s beard. ‘Roundness’ and ‘plumpness’ are considered beautiful qualities for a female dwarf to have.
Runic tattoos are very common amongst both male and female dwarves. It is a common belief that these runes can ward off ill spirits as well as bring luck.
Dwarves are a long-lived race, though not so much as the Elves, and reach physical maturity somewhat later than humans. A dwarf is considered an adult once he or she reached age fifty. Dwarves age much like humans but over a longer period of time, remaining vigorous well past 300 years. Most dwarves live for five or six centuries, some even beyond that.
Personality
Dwarves are generally regarded as being very cynical, slow to trust and highly secretive in their nature. They hold an immense sense of pride but are never seen to boast. Believing that showing one’s worth and think little of those who speak of their own.
This pride extends to many aspects of their life, taking great pride in their loyalty and straightforward dealings. Dwarves think little of those who are dishonest or disloyal.
Dwarves tend to choose their words very carefully and do not often speak without meaning. They put great weight behind not only their own words but words spoken to them. Because of this insults are taken with the utmost gravity and are rarely spoken by dwarves.
They are cautious in all things and often times stubborn because of this they are often slow to act, sometimes to a fault.
Dwarves, too, are known for personally holding grudges for centuries and the race as a whole is known to hold certain wrong-doings deep in their hearts for millenia at a time. The High Kings are rumored to have a massive tome of grudges but it has never been seen by an outsider.
They likewise hold oaths to high esteem, believing it being not only a bond to whom it’s given but a bond to Saerin himself. Because of this oaths do not end with the passing of the oath giver but last generation after generation. Because of the weight oaths carry amongst dwarves very few have ever been given throughout their history.
Though much of the tales of Dwarven greed are exaggeration, they do tend to have a heavier sense of greed and ambition than the other races. A dwarf may never feel happy with their holdings in life, ever pursuing greater wealth and standing. Though the severity varies greatly from one dwarf to another.
To an outsider Dwarves may seem solemn and serious, within their homeland of Karagard there can be found merriment abound. Great feasts and heavy drinking being a long standing tradition for celebrations and holidays. Due to their distrustful nature they rarely permit themselves to cut loose outside of the safety of their homeland.
