Difference between revisions of "Dwarf"

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[[File:Dwarf.jpg|thumb|243px|A '''Dwarf''' warrior]]
 
The '''Dwarfs''' are an ancient and proud race, although not quite as old as the [[Elf|Elves]]. The Dwarf civilization itself has long been under threat of destruction as they are under constant attack from [[Orc]]s, [[Goblin]]s and [[Skaven]] and have fought a bitter never-ending war against these invaders as well as aiding other races in the war against [[Chaos]], most notably the [[Empire]]. The Dwarfs are masters of the forge and of metal working, where they make use of many minerals and metals including their famed Gromril. In war, Dwarfs make use of highly advanced technology including superb armour, handguns and powerful war machines. In close combat, Dwarfs are more than a match for most other creatures and they tend to prefer hand-to-hand combat to ranged attacks. Dwarfs are alone in the Old World in that they do not make use of the wild winds of magic in the form of wizardry but instead rely on the powerful runic magic of their [[Runelord]]s.
 
The '''Dwarfs''' are an ancient and proud race, although not quite as old as the [[Elf|Elves]]. The Dwarf civilization itself has long been under threat of destruction as they are under constant attack from [[Orc]]s, [[Goblin]]s and [[Skaven]] and have fought a bitter never-ending war against these invaders as well as aiding other races in the war against [[Chaos]], most notably the [[Empire]]. The Dwarfs are masters of the forge and of metal working, where they make use of many minerals and metals including their famed Gromril. In war, Dwarfs make use of highly advanced technology including superb armour, handguns and powerful war machines. In close combat, Dwarfs are more than a match for most other creatures and they tend to prefer hand-to-hand combat to ranged attacks. Dwarfs are alone in the Old World in that they do not make use of the wild winds of magic in the form of wizardry but instead rely on the powerful runic magic of their [[Runelord]]s.
  

Revision as of 20:12, 5 September 2009

File:Dwarf.jpg
A Dwarf warrior

The Dwarfs are an ancient and proud race, although not quite as old as the Elves. The Dwarf civilization itself has long been under threat of destruction as they are under constant attack from Orcs, Goblins and Skaven and have fought a bitter never-ending war against these invaders as well as aiding other races in the war against Chaos, most notably the Empire. The Dwarfs are masters of the forge and of metal working, where they make use of many minerals and metals including their famed Gromril. In war, Dwarfs make use of highly advanced technology including superb armour, handguns and powerful war machines. In close combat, Dwarfs are more than a match for most other creatures and they tend to prefer hand-to-hand combat to ranged attacks. Dwarfs are alone in the Old World in that they do not make use of the wild winds of magic in the form of wizardry but instead rely on the powerful runic magic of their Runelords.

Dwarfs live in a highly structured society centred around their vast underground Keeps and mines in the World's Edge Mountains. They trade the raw materials and finished goods for food and other goods they cannot easily acquire. The skills of the Dwarfs at working materials have not, however, declined like their empire, meaning that their goods will always attract a high price. Good farming land is scarce, and Dwarfs do not make good farmers, but they are enthusiastic hunters and often feast on the meat of beasts they have killed while roaming the mountains around them. Generally, grain and fruit are brought into the mountains by traders and are bartered for metalwork and gold.

Dwarfs are also famous for their ale. It is so nutritious that they can survive on it for weeks. Dwarf ale is stored in vast quantities in huge warehouses, each keep being proud of their efficacy and flavour. They can also make 'rock bread', a tough mixture of wild grain and crushed rocks, but this, according to the Dwarfs, requires a lot of ale to wash down properly.

History

The Dwarfs have a long and glorious history involving a good deal of fighting and war as well as amazing technological advancements and powerful alliances and peace treaties. See Dwarf Timeline.

Society

Dwarf society is mainly Monarchistic and organized into strongholds each governed by a king. The kings of each stronghold are largely independent but all swear allegiance to the Dwarven High King. Outside of stronghold affiliations, Dwarfs are organized into clans. Clans are like an extensive family group, all sharing common ancestry although mostly not directly related.

The general principle of Dwarf society is that of three things: age, wealth and skill. The more of these that you have, the higher you are in Dwarf society. Dwarfs never boast of their family achievements, more accurately they set the record straight and proclaim their ancestors' greatness by their wealth and skills.

The other important part of Dwarf culture is their beards. They are immensely proud of them and attempt to never cut or trim them, and the Dwarf with the longest beard is usually seen as the leader. One of the greatest insults to a Dwarf is to take off their beard, as the High Elves did to the Dwarf ambassadors sent to attempt to preserve peace, thereby initiating the War of the Beard.

Dwarfs have an affinity for the past and constantly seek to remember their fore bearers by repairing and maintaining their products. All Dwarfs know how to reforge an ancient blade and are constantly trying to incorporate ancient relics into their newer works.

They also enjoy hoarding their hard earned treasure and gold. When a Dwarf dies, his wealth goes to his family and so passed down the generations. This process ensures the memory of the dead and secures a Dwarf's supply of money for a more desperate time. Often a Dwarf will measure his security by how far off the ground they are when they sit on their treasures. Often the supplies of the stronghold itself are so huge as to be a massive attraction to Orc and Goblin hordes willing to take the risk of death to gain huge amounts of gold.

Dwarf society is also based around honour, centered around the bond or promise. A Dwarf will always keep a promise, even if it costs him to do it. A Dwarf will even honour an ancestor centuries ago. Dwarfs also expect others to keep their word and seek out recompense for oathbreakers.

Language

The Dwarf Language is called Khazalid and it is a deeply conservative language that has not changed noticeably in many thousands of years either in its spoken or written runic form. The Dwarfs are extremely proud of their tongue which they rarely speak in the company of other races, although the priesthood of Sigmar was taught the Khazalid language 2,500 years ago, as a gift from the dwarven king saved by Sigmar.

The Dwarf language includes very few words of obvious Elvin or Human origin. By contrast there are many loan words from Khazalid in the tongues of Men, which suggests that Dwarfs must have taught some fundamental words to their taller allies. This is most obviously the case of words to do with traditional Dwarfish craftskills of smithying and masonry, skills which Dwarfs taught Men many centuries ago. The sound of Khazalid is entirely separate from human speech and even further from the melodious sounds of Elfish. It is guttural tongue; comparisons have been drawn to the rumbling of thunder. All dwarfs have deep, resonant voices and a tendency to speak more loudly than is strictly necessary. Khazalid vowel sounds in particular are uncompromisingly precise and heavily accented. Consonants are often spat aggressively or gargled at the back of the throat. Contrary to Men, whose dialect differs widely depending on Geographic location, the Dwarfs remain fairly consistent in dialect across the Dwarven Empire, although there are exceptions

Physiology

Dwarfs are short, very short. This is sometimes a point of humour for other races, although said directly to a Dwarf will often end in pain for the offender. As such, they have large muscles and support a stumpy, squat body and this means they are often out of the reach of any other swordsman, and such would be disadvantaged. Their use of the axe as their primary weapons means they can get into combat more easily by using the axe as a shield until the last moment. They also tend to weigh a lot more than an equivalent human or elf. Their extra weight and lack of height means that few, if any, Dwarfs would even ride a beast, let alone a horse. Dwarfs occasionally ride in advanced Gyrocopters through the sky to attack their foes with a small cannon. Occasionally Dwarfs are mounted on Dwarf-drawn thrones if they are of sufficient rank and power.

Dwarfs do not use magic like the High Elves or Humans, but make use of tough Runemagic. This magic is closely related to their craftsmanship as they use their runes to aid their machinery. Most knowledge is passed down by word of mouth, although the most powerful runes are known to but a select few.

Military

The Dwarfs make use of large numbers of super tough infantry as well as highly advanced technology, including black powder weaponry and thick armour. They are analysed in the Dwarf Army List.

Influence of Chaos

In ancient times, some Dwarfs moved far to the Northeast over the mountains, and were caught by the onslaughts of Chaos. Dwarfs are very resistant to the forces of Chaos, but these Dwarfs gradually changed over time, becoming the evil natured Chaos Dwarfs. In many ways they are the antithesis of the Dwarfs that remained. Where Dwarfs shun most magic except for their Runic magic, Chaos Dwarfs have embraced it; where Dwarfs worship their Ancestor Gods, Chaos Dwarfs worship "Hashut, Father of Darkness". Dwarfs hate the "greenskin" races (Goblins, Orcs and the like) but the Chaos Dwarfs are often allied with or even overlords of many greenskin tribes, most of them Hobgoblins.

Related articles

Sources