Mountain Dwarves

Classes

Backgrounds

Feats

Dwarves

There are several clans of Dwarves living within the Crystal Mountain range. As a race, the Dwarves are relatively new to Novaria arriving as mercenaries and prospectors. While similar in many respects, the two Dwarven sub-races have some traits that are peculiar to them individually.

Base Age: 40 Years
Aristocrat, Barbarian, Rogue, Sorcerer: +3d6
Bard, Fighter, Paladin, Ranger: +5d6
Adept, Cleric, Druid, Monk, Wizard: +7d6

[ Hill ] [ Mountain ]

Mountain Dwarves

Base Height (M/F): 49"/47"
Height Modifier: 1d10
Weight (M/F): 150/125
Weight Modifier: Height Modifier x2d6

Native Languages: Dwarven
Bonus Languages: Futhark, Giant, Goblin, Orc, Terran, Undercommon, Dwarven Script
Ability Adj.: +4 Con, -2 Dex, -2 Chr

Base Speed: 20 ft.

Special Abilities
No speed penalty in Heavy or Medium armor.

Darkvision: 60 ft.

Stonecunning: Automatically search within 10' of unusual stonework, use Search skill to find stonework traps, sense depth below surface.

+2 Stone or Metal related Appraise and Craft checks.

Weapon Familiarity: Dwarven Urgrosh, Dwarven Waraxe

Stability: +4 vs. bull rush or trip while standing on ground.

+2 save vs. Poison

+2 save vs. spells & spell-like effects

+1 attack vs. orcs & goblinoids

+4 dodge vs. giant types.

Favored Class: Fighter

Religion: Traditional Dwarven

Description
Mountain Dwarves have bronze complexions and black, brown or gray hair. They are stockier and heartier than their Hill Dwarf cousins. Many, though not all, Mountain Dwarf females are capable of growing beards that rival those of their men.

Origin
Mountain Dwarves followed the Hill Dwarves into the region at a later date after tales of gold, gems and mithril reached the depths of their halls.

Views
Mountain Dwarves care for little for the surface world, venturing out only to sell some of their treasures for supplies and foodstuffs. Mountain Dwarves view the Futhark as foolhardy ruffians and the Latinians as greedy and arrogant. Very few Clasbron have ventured into the deep halls of the Mountain Dwarves and fewer Mountain Dwarves have left these halls for Clasbron lands. Mountain Dwarves fail to understand Erian Elves or any of their kin, including Half-Elves. They recognize the value of Elven work, though the apparent carefree attitude that Elves take about their creations perplexes and dismays them. Mountain Dwarves mistrust Halflings and like to keep a good eye on valuables when Halflings are around. Occasionally, a Mountain Dwarf clan will allow a Stout halfling family to settle among them, with the Stouts working in the Mountain Dwarf mines. Mountain Dwarves are also wary of their Hill Dwarf cousins, thinking the Hill Dwarves are too close in their relations with the other races and therefore unreliable as allies. Mountain Dwarves probably hold more animosity towards Goblins and Hobgoblins than any other races. While they view Orcs as an occasional irritation, Goblins and Hobgoblins are a constant pestilence to Mountain Dwarf settlements. Kobolds also make regular intrusions into Mountain Dwarf territory, but are only seen as a minor nuisance to the Mountain Dwarves.

Culture
Deep within the heart of the Crystal Mountains, Mountain Dwarves have carved strongholds and homes out of the granite and bedrock. Most Mountain Dwarves do not swear fealty to Novaria, instead giving their honor to the Dwarven King of Durinheim.
Like their Hill Dwarf cousins, Mountain Dwarf society is patriarchal, with the males working outside of the home and the females almost exclusively take care of the housework. Mountain Dwarves are also more solitary, settling more as clans and individual families than villages or towns. Due to this fact, most Mountain Dwarf marriages are arranged between clans. Mountain Dwarf marriages are lifelong affairs and extra-marital liaisons are nearly unheard of.
Though they revere Moradin Soulforger, religion is a personal matter for most Mountain Dwarves. Mountain Dwarves have built few temples to their deities, and most Mountain Dwarf clerics serve their clan rather than at a temple. Mountain Dwarf temples are generally small remote affairs and the majority of Mountain Dwarves that do serve in temples are generally found among those built by Hill Dwarves.