GoCorral

Subraces

There are four subraces of dwarves separated into four kingdoms. The Hill Dwarves, the Mountain Dwarves, the Deep Dwarves, and the Duergar. Each of the four subraces resides primarily within one of the four dwarven kingdoms and is led by one of the descendants of King Cogard.

Hill Dwarves: The Hill Dwarves are the Kingdom of Prince Yentbern. Yentbern was a ward of Lord Shaelin in Dalleer. Shaelin was the most respected leader of the Hill Dwarves. He honorably executed his responsibilities as guardian of Yentbern. The prince became an adult of strong moral convictions, always seeking to help those in need, and the Hill Dwarf people followed his lead. They have spread throughout Cimmeria and are fairly integrated with the region’s people, unlike the other isolated dwarven subraces.

Hill Dwarves have the widest diversity among the dwarven subraces. Their hair and skin can be any sort of earthy color with black, brown, red, or blonde for hair and any shade for skin, but trending towards medium pigments of brown or bronze. Matching their skin pigmentation, Hill Dwarves often have brown or bronze colored eyes. While existing in all sorts of communities, every Hill Dwarf is trained in the use of weapons from a young age. And just the same, every Hill Dwarf is taught to use their martial training only in the defense of others.

The Hill Dwarf Kingdom was a staunch ally of the Second Alliance during the war against Xoria. The Hill Dwarves’ many connections throughout Cimmeria led them to support the freedom-loving side in the events leading up to the war. Dwarves fought alongside the other Alliance members during the opening skirmishes and in the Siege and Battle of Phoenix. After the Second Alliance War’s conclusion the Hill Dwarves fought on, assisting their cousins in reclaiming the Duergar Kingdom. All these actions give Hill Dwarves a well earned reputation for defending good and justice throughout Cimmeria.

Mountain Dwarves: The Mountain Dwarves are the Kingdom of Prince Coldruin. Coldruin was a ward of the dwarven lords in the Terror Mountains north of Cimmeria. He took naturally to life in the mountains and was accepted as one of the Mountain Dwarves’ own. When Cogard died, Prince Coldruin was the first to proclaim himself king. He swiftly transitioned to rule the Mountain Dwarves, but was unable to push his influence beyond the Terror Mountains.

Mountain Dwarves share many similar characteristics with the other main inhabitants of the Terror Mountains, giants. The initial settlement period of the Terror Mountains instigated conflict with the giants, but over time calmer relationships have prevailed, mostly. There are still occasional flare ups of violence between the two races. Like giants, Mountain Dwarves typically have red, brown, or blonde hair and brown or blue eyes. One notable distinction between Mountain Dwarves and giants, besides their size, is that Mountain Dwarves have only fair skin instead of the myriad of colors for different giant subraces.

Recently, King Torngar of the Mountain Dwarves received the Fierce Axe of Dwarvish Lords and became High King of All Dwarves. As part of the agreement reached at the Kingsmoot, Torngar agreed to lead his people against Xoria in reclaiming the Duergar Kingdom’s lands and people. While he succeeded in reclaiming the land, unfortunately the Xorians had cruelly slain all captives and turned them into undead. High King Torngar gave the lands back to the Duergar people and then withdrew his Mountain Dwarves to their mines and homes in the Terror Mountains. This habit of isolation is common among Mountain Dwarves as they often see themselves as above the events plaguing Cimmeria, both physically and figuratively.

Deep Dwarves: The Deep Dwarves are the Kingdom of Prince Steffern. Steffern was a ward of the dwarven lords in the Underdark below Cimmeria. When he came of age he became the royal representative to the Deep Dwarves that had raised him. After Cogard’s death, Steffern relied on his relationships in the Underdark to form his power base in the Dwarven Civil War. The war concluded indecisively, but Steffern was dubbed the King of Deep Dwarves by the end. His descendants maintain the Deep Dwarf throne as their own.

Deep Dwarves share similar physical adaptions to life underground. Their skin ranges from dark grey to white skin to help blend in with the tunnels of the Underdark. Deep Dwarf hair matches their skin with slightly more variation between black, grey, and blonde colors. All full blooded Deep Dwarves have dark brown eyes, but intermixing with other dwarven subraces allows for the occasional appearance of other colors. To assist with digging through the rock, Deep Dwarves are even shorter and wider than other dwarves. Similarly, Deep Dwarves have thicker skin and stronger muscles. Socially, Deep Dwarves have a reputation for being reserved and quiet, but that is only true when aboveground. Beneath the earth Deep Dwarves are as boisterous and cheerful as any other dwarf.

King Deekgaon is the current King of the Deep Dwarves. Deekgaon hosted the Duergar in the Deep Dwarf Kingdom when they were expelled by Xorians from their own lands. He, along with the Deep Dwarves, led the vanguard in reclaiming the Duergar Kingdom. The Deep Dwarves now help their cousins to rebuild. This long period of cooperation has brought the Deep Dwarves closer together with their underground brethren. It remains to be seen if the strong bonds will last now that the Duergar have started returning home.

Duergar: The Duergar are the Kingdom of Prince Albirnon. Albirnon was sent to the Dominarie Mountains to be raised in Queen Shortrastor’s court. While there Albirnon went wandering in the Underdark and became lost. In the deep he was captured by Dark Elves who placed a demon inside his body. The possession lasted too long and became permanent. Worse, it was transferable to other dwarves that went looking for the prince. Even King Cogard himself was unable to banish the demon. He did succeed in sealing the beast within Prince Albirnon and the other tainted dwarves. The corrupting influence could now only be passed on to the ancestors of these dwarves, the first of the Duergar.

Duergar all share similarities to Prince Albirnon after his corruption. They have completely bald heads and a red tint to their eyes around the outside edge. Duergar bear a pale grey colored skin that matches the stone tunnels beneath Dominarie. The grey dwarves have a habit of festooning themselves with gaudy jewelery to counter their natural drab appearance. All Duergar have an evil disposition and skills to match it. Sneaking comes naturally to Duergar and they are immune to poison. Duergar also have a natural talent for magic, notably enlarge and invisibility spells.

In recent history, the Duergar Kingdom has gone through trials and tribulations. Queen Anajakaze of the Xorian Empire ordered an invasion of the Underdark. Thousands of Duergar were captured and enslaved along with other Underdark races. To preserve the royal line and his kingdom’s people, King Sandil led an evacuation of the kingdom. All territories that were not occupied by Xorians were abandoned as the Duergar moved to their host nation, the Deep Dwarf Kingdom. After the ascension of High King Torngar, the united dwarven race began efforts to reclaim the Duergar Kingdom. In response, the Xorians turned all Duergar in occupied territory into undead wights and abandoned the Underdark. The dwarves purged the undead, but the Duergar must now mourn their fallen families and rebuild their broken kingdom.