The Dwarves

Overview

Master craftsmen and engineers living in the underground realm of The Deepen. Renowned for their incredible skill with metals, stone, and earth, they represent both material achievement and the philosophical questions that come with wealth.

Recent History

Recent History

The Great Drought (20 years ago): Severe drought threatened survival, solved by digging incredibly deep wells (with Ale-ore's help). Dwarves not only survived but profited selling water to desperate neighbors, creating wealth and enemies.

The Crafting Tournament: Year-long competition to select the Fellowship representative. Ale-ore won to become dwarven champion, though his victory carries secrets.

Cultural Beliefs and Values

Core Traits

• Master craftsmen - Legendary skills in metalwork, stonework, and engineering
• Greedy for earth's treasures - Cultural belief that desiring treasure is natural and right
• Practical engineers - Solve problems through ingenuity and hard work
• Community-minded - Work together for survival, though prosperity has created internal tensions
• Magical defense systems - Created the Seven Great Bells sonic defense system for Blackwharf

Current Challenges

Philosophical Crisis

Cultural Question: Having achieved great prosperity, dwarves now struggle with:

• What to do with accumulated wealth?
• Is pursuing material goods still meaningful?
• Do they need uniting purpose beyond profit?

Current Challenges

The Fuel Crisis

Dwarven forges like the Eternal Hearth now require twice their normal fuel to maintain heat, directly impacting legendary craftsmanship and representing the Shepherd's creeping influence.

The Collaboration Crisis

Devastating Discovery: Ale-ore's analysis of 5,000 bell construction documents revealed dwarven collaboration was necessary for The Entropy Shepherd's attack on the City of Bells.

Evidence:

• Systematic neutralization of bell defenses required inside dwarven knowledge
• Kurg possessed master tuning forks "stolen from original dwarven forge masters"
• These tools were essential for understanding sonic frequencies and vulnerabilities

Impact: Creates personal crisis for Ale-ore, challenging fundamental beliefs about dwarven honor and unity. Discovery that some dwarves may have "sold out their own for the right price" threatens core cultural identity.

Social Tensions

• Wealth disparity from water sales
• External resentment over drought profiteering
• Internal restlessness requiring direction
• Skill degradation rumors
• Trust breakdown from collaboration evidence

Relationships

Attitude Toward Others:

• View other races as customers or trading partners
• Skeptical of those who don't value hard work and craftsmanship
• Respect practical solutions over abstract philosophy

Notable Dwarves

Current Status

• Ale-ore Bridge** - Fellowship champion who has departed under mysterious circumstances, looking "especially solemn" with cryptic warnings
• The Bridge Family - Renowned craftsmen known for exceptional work
• Various craftsmen and competitors from the great tournament

Ale-ore's Recent Status

Mysterious Departure: Left looking troubled with cryptic warnings

• Left dwarven courage draught for Mortimer
• Absent during fall of Blackwharf, suggesting internal concerns
• Recent return with crucial bell construction documents

Key Locations

• The Deepen - Ancestral underground realm
• Khaz-Dorahn (Khazdor) - Major dwarven city housing one of The Eternal Hearths, currently under siege
• Hearthgate - Surface trade town serving Khaz-Dorahn, likely affected by siege
• The Eternal Hearths - Ancient forges requiring increased fuel
• Deep Wells - Engineering marvels that saved the people
• Bridge Family Workshops - Centers of master craftsmanship
• Tournament Grounds - Where crafting competitions determine champions

Major Engineering Projects

Defensive Systems:

• Seven Great Bells - Magical sonic defense for Blackwharf
  • 24-hour ringing schedule protecting against entropy
  • Pinnacle of dwarven magical engineering
  • Successfully defended city until destroyed by The Ash Dancer

Infrastructure:

• Deep Wells System - Life-saving drought engineering
• The Eternal Hearths - Ancient forges requiring increased fuel

Campaign Significance

The dwarves represent the theme of how even the most prepared and industrious peoples struggle against entropy. Their fuel crisis, philosophical questions, and social tensions show that material success alone cannot protect against the fundamental forces of heat death that The Entropy Shepherd represents.