The dwarven race, or the khazar as they call themselves, was created by the god Denethor using the raw materials of the very earth itself- stone and clay. Ancient dwarven lore tells the tale of the 'sons of earth'. According to the myth of humankind, the dwarves were crafted by their god Denethor, Father of the Mountain, to be servants to the wills of the dragons, the first creation of the gods. The dwarves were always known for their great skill at mining and working the land and for their truly creative talents and warcraft. They were, and still are, expert weaponsmiths, armorers, metalworkers and jewelers and are said to work great magic into their craft.
Dwarven elders, however, assert that they are not, nor have they ever been, the 'servants' to any creature great or small. They are masters of their own destiny and always shall be. Indeed, dwarven myth asserts that the khazar were fashioned by their mighty creator god out of the very earth and stone. It is this very foundation that gives them their resiliance and strength of purpose.
Most dwarves appear as small, diminuitive folk about 4'-4.5' tall but with sturdy builds, a broad torso and strong limbs, very much like the foundations of the land from which they were formed. Dwarven males pride themselves in their long beards and often braid them or tuck them into their belts. Threading beads, pieces of metal or jewelry is also not uncommon. Female dwarves have similar builds to their male counterparts except they tend to be a bit shorter and do not have beards. It is believed by the College of Sages at the University of Meridia in the capital city of Primus that originally there existed only one race of dwarf but as the clans migrated to other regions of Hyerune, the dwarves diversified into the 5 sub-races that exist today.
Brown Dwarf- The brown dwarf is the most commonly seen dwarf. They follow all the same statistics as found in the Dungeons & Dragons Players Handbook ver. 3.5. Most are miners by profession and dwell in hills and under small mountain mine and cavern complexes.
Black Dwarf- The Black Dwarf is a more sturdy, more reclusive variety of dwarf compared to the brown dwarf. They generally live in much deeper caverns far below the earth and therefore do not have as much association with humankind. They resemble the brown dwarf variety except they tend to have darker skin tone and black or dark brown hair.
Red Dwarf- The red dwarf is the species of dwarf that dwells in tropical or desert environments. Many will also live in volcanic regions using the molten lava to fuel their mining and smithing tools. Red dwarves are typically shorter than the average dwarf generally not taller than 4'. They have a slight reddish tinge to their complexion and have red, orange or black hair and beard. Their eyes are said to resemble lumps of coal. Some sages believe that the red dwarf may actually be an offshoot of the race of azer from the Elemental Plane of Fire that was banished long ago to Hyerune.
White Dwarf- White dwarves are the arctic variety of dwarf. The have light or pale complexions with blonde, white or light brown hair and dark eyes. White dwarves dwell in the arctic or polar regions of Hyerune and make their living raising elk, cariboo and reindeer or through fishing. Their homes are built in hill or mountainsides or under the ground and are also built in such a way as to reduce the effect of wind. The home is always built around a large center hearth and the family unit will eat and sleep around this fire.
Barter Dwarf- Barter dwarves are the most social of the dwarven subraces. They are driven not so much by mining the metallurgy by rather by commerce and trade. They are born capitalists and love nothing better than the excitement of the business transaction. They are the most likely dwarven subrace to be found in nondwarven communities.