Dwarves

Lifespan: 450 years

Rarity: Rare (1 in 50)

Key aspects: Loyal, territorial, neutral.

Deep within mountain ranges, chasms, and caves, dwarves are a race of small humanoids that build thriving societies structured around self preservation. Their roots and history can be traced for millennia, and many of them claim to be descendants of mountain gods. Dwarves are often serious creatures that are found sparsely in mixed societies, but this does not mean they have a small population. The fact of the matter is that dwarves prefer to live amongst themselves within great cities and fortresses centered around their race. They do not do this out of a belief in superiority, instead this behavior is due to their heavy emphasis on loyalty to family and people. Dwarven friendship is hard to come across, but gaining one's trust ensures a loyal and long term ally. Dwarves also exhibit an innate talent for crafting and building fortresses, making them excellent in war despite their small stature. Combining this with their natural toughness, dwarves are able to survive harsh circumstances by maintaining an imposing defense for their brethren.

Hill Dwarves: Originates from coastal cliffs, deserts, and hilly areas. These dwarves are shorter than the other subraces and are less agile. They mingle with other races more than the two other types of dwarves, and typically leave their cities open but with strict visitation laws.
Mountain Dwarves: Originates from mountainous and cold regions. Mountain Dwarves are the tallest of the three subraces and are known for their auburn and red hair. They typically do not allow free travel into their cities, which function more like military fortresses compared to the other Dwarves.
Duergar: Originates from caves and the Underdark. The duergar have the same dark greyish blue skin as the drow, hinting at their shared ties to the Void. Unlike the drow, duergar were not chosen to venture into the Void, but instead are naturally exposed to it because of their Underdark origin. Without the heightened mind that the drow were blessed with, duergar are slightly mad due to the unknowable nature of the Void, resulting in unpredictability, aggression, and a distrust of others.