Dwarf

Dwarves are a hardy people, as sturdy and solid as stone. Indeed, many creation myths claim that dwarves were sculpted from the earth itself and given life in the forge of a progenitor god. Regardless of whether these myths are true, the first dwarven cities were built below the world’s surface, filling chiseled mountain halls and sprawling caverns deep within the earth. Surrounded by an abundance of metals and minerals, mastery of stoneworking and metalworking allowed these first dwarves to survive the overabundance of monsters lurking underground.

As ages have passed, dwarves have spread across many worlds, some choosing lives far removed from the subterranean halls of their ancestors. However, modern dwarves still bear many of the adaptations that allowed their ancestors to thrive, including vision well-suited to sunless caverns and innate resistances to the poisonous denizens of the world below.

Dwarf Lineage Traits

Your dwarf character has certain hereditary traits dictated by their lineage.

Age. Dwarves mature at the same rate as humans, but most consider themselves young until they reach the age of 50. On average, they live about 350 years.

Size. Dwarves stand between 4 and 5 feet tall and average about 150 pounds. Your size is Medium.

Speed. Your base walking speed is 25 feet.

Night Vision. You have superior vision in naturally dark and dim conditions. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can’t discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.

Dwarven Resilience. You have advantage on saves against becoming poisoned, and you are resistant to poison damage.

Dwarven Toughness. Your hit-point maximum increases by 1, and it increases by 1 every time you gain a level.

Heritage Options

The following heritage options are most common among dwarven adventurers.

Fireforge Heritage Traits

Characters who choose this heritage were raised with the values and traditions of the fireforge dwarven clans.

Dwarven legends state the best metal-crafting is done in the fires of the earth itself. Long ago, groups of dwarves that followed this tradition settled near areas of volcanic activity, turning such places into their forges. These dwarves were the founders of the fireforge clans. To this day, these communities toil in the heat of magma, creating weapons, armor, and other goods noteworthy even among the finest dwarven crafts. They trade these goods for necessities not found in the harsh environment of their chosen settlements.

Fireforge communities maintain good relations with elemental creatures, coming to their aid when needed. In return, these elementals assist fireforge clans against giants, dragons, and other volcano-dwelling creatures who often compete with them for territory.

Alignment. Choose one of the alignments approved by your GM. Typical creatures of this heritage tend towards Chaotic or Neutral alignments.

Expert Artisan. You gain Proficiency with glassblower’s tools or smith’s tools. Choose one of those tools. Your PB is doubled for any ability check you make that uses the chosen tool.

Forgecraft. You are resistant to fire damage.

Friend to Elementals. You can speak, read, and write Ignan in addition to your chosen languages.

Reforge. Your people have a deep connection with elemental fire and have collectively learned how to repair forged items with a touch. You know the mending cantrip, and you can cast it as an action. However, you can use this trait to repair objects made only of metal, such as reconnecting two halves of a broken sword.

Languages. You know Common and one additional language of your choice. Typical creatures of this heritage choose Dwarvish.

Stone Heritage Traits

Characters who choose this heritage were raised with the values and traditions of the stone dwarven clans.

Regardless of time or circumstance, little changes in the great halls of the stone dwarf clans. Above all else, the residents of these ancient cities value tradition and champion the deeds of the ancestors who allowed their people to find safety within the earth. From infancy, the people of the stone are instructed in the traditional dwarven arts of smithing, metalworking and masonry. Many happily devote their lives to mining and working precious metals beneath the surface of the world.

Though members of the stone dwarf clans take great pride in their society, life in their cities is far from easy. The splendid caverns and mines occupied by the stone dwarves are under constant attack by other subterranean denizens. As children are raised to wield a mining pick, they are also taught to wield the armaments of their people against the many enemies that seek to claim generations of dwarven treasures for themselves.

Alignment. Choose one of the alignments approved by your GM. Typical creatures of this heritage tend towards Lawful or Good alignments.

Dwarven Weapon Training. You have Proficiency with the battleaxe, handaxe, light hammer, and warhammer.

Dwarven Armor Training. You have Proficiency with light and medium armor. Additionally, your speed is not reduced by wearing heavy armor—regardless of your STR score.

Tool Proficiency. You gain Proficiency with the artisan’s tools of your choice: smith’s tools, brewer’s supplies, or mason’s tools.

Eye for Quality. Whenever you make an ability check related to the origin of metalwork or masonry, you can add your PB to the roll. If you have Proficiency in a relevant skill or tool, you add double your PB to the roll.

Languages. You know Common and one additional language of your choice. Typical creatures of this heritage choose Dwarvish.