Dwarfs
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| Dawi (Dwarfs) | |
|---|---|
 Stone and steel, honour and grudge |
|
| Founding | |
| Founded | Before the coming of Chaos; the Ancestor Gods carved us from the living rock |
| Founder | Grungni, Grimnir, and Valaya |
| Current Leader | High King Thorgrim Grudgebearer |
| Geography | |
| Capital | Karaz-a-Karak, the Everpeak |
| Major Cities | Karak Eight Peaks (lost), Karak Azul, Barak Varr, Zhufbar, Karak Kadrin |
| Regions | World’s Edge Mountains, Norscan peaks, Vaults, Grey Mountains |
| Biology | |
| Lifespan | 400-600 years (and still complaining about their joints) |
| Height | 140-160 cm (4′7″ - 5′3″) |
| Culture | |
| Language | Khazalid (spoken like gravel rolling downhill) |
| Religion | Ancestor Gods: Grungni, Grimnir, Valaya, Gazul, Smednir, Morgrim |
| Government | |
| Government | Clan-based monarchy under the High King; every hold is sovereign |
| Relations | |
| Allies | The Empire (grudging), Halflings (they cook), Bretonnia (occasionally) |
| Enemies | Greenskins, Skaven, Chaos Dwarfs (Dawi-Zharr), Dark Elves, anything that walks on two legs and owes us money |
The Dawi are the Dwarfs: the oldest, stubbornest, and most honourable race still breathing. We were here when the world was young, we carved cities inside mountains, and we will still be here, axe in hand, when the world burns. Every lost hold is a wound that never heals, every grudge is written in blood and stone, and every promise is kept even if it takes ten thousand years. We do not forget. We do not forgive. We do not change our minds.
Overview
If you want to play a four-and-a-half-foot wall of beard, iron, and pure spite who would rather die than break an oath or lose a drinking contest, you have found your people.
Appearance
Built like a barrel forged from granite. Broad shoulders, thick arms like bridge pilings, legs like tree trunks. Skin weathered to old leather, eyes like chips of obsidian. The beard is sacred: longer than your arm, oiled, braided, decorated with runes, rings, and the occasional enemy tooth.
Culture & Society
- Regions: The surviving Karaks of the World’s Edge Mountains and beyond.
- Culture: Honour, craftsmanship, and grudges are the only currency that matters.
- Names: Thorgrim, Ungrim, Gotrek, Grombrindal, Alrik, Thori, Bokki, Snorri.
- Religion: The Ancestor Gods walked among us once. We still set a place for them at the table.
Morality, Slavery, and Corruption
- Slavery: Forbidden. Dwarfs value honor, craftsmanship, and personal loyalty; enslaving others is considered dishonorable and contrary to their cultural ethics.
- Non-consent sexual relationships: Condemned. Dwarfs uphold strict codes of honor and family reputation; coercion is socially unacceptable and can lead to severe reprisals.
- Vulnerability to Chaos corruption: Low. Dwarfs’ disciplined lifestyles, strong traditions, and rigid societal structures make them highly resistant to Chaos, though exposure to dark magic or long-term isolation may corrupt individuals.
Strengths & Weaknesses
- Strengths: Tough, disciplined, and skilled in craftsmanship, mining, and warfare; loyal and unflinching; resilient to both physical and magical threats.
- Weaknesses: Stubborn, slow to forgive or adapt, prideful of lineage and grudges, often intolerant of other races’ ways.
Relations with Other Races
| Category | Faction | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| Humans | Empire | Friendly |
| Bretonnia | Friendly | |
| Kislev | Friendly | |
| Sartosa | Neutral | |
| Araby | Neutral | |
| Cathay | Friendly | |
| Norsca | Hostile | |
| Elves | Asur (High Elves) | Hostile |
| Asrai (Wood Elves) | Hostile | |
| Druchii (Dark Elves) | Hostile | |
| Dwarfs | Chaos Dwarfs | Hostile |
| Greenskins | Orcs | Hostile |
| Goblins | Hostile | |
| Monstrous | Ogre | Neutral |
| Beastmen | Hostile | |
| Affliction | Chaos | Hostile |
| Vampire | Hostile |
Playing a Dawi
Speak slowly, scowl permanently, and never, ever forget. A thane would rather walk into dragon fire than break his word. An engineer trusts his new steam-tank more than any living soul. A Slayer dyes his beard orange and charges trolls with a smile because death is preferable to living with shame.
Your humour is black, your ale is strong, and your memory is longer than your beard.
Physical Appearance
Imagine a brick wall grew arms, legs, and a beard that could hide a pony. Then gave it gromril plate, a rune-axe older than most kingdoms, and a glare that could sour milk. That is an average Dwarf on his day off.
Gender Roles & Sexuality
Gender Roles
- Dwarf society is patriarchal but highly meritocratic, emphasizing skill, craftsmanship, and honor. Men traditionally dominate military, political, and smithing roles, but women hold important positions in trade, family management, and mining communities.
- Royalty and Nobility: Male kings, lords, and clan leaders rule formally, but matriarchal influence exists through family lineage and the management of clans’ estates. Women manage households, apprentices, and economic affairs, especially when male leaders are at war.
- Commoners: Dwarf women participate in mining, crafting, and artisan work, particularly in family-run operations. Men focus on smithing, defense, and exploration.
- Society values skill, endurance, and honor above gender, giving women significant de facto influence even if formal leadership is male-dominated.
Sexuality
- Sexuality in Dwarf society is private, conservative, and focused on family continuity. Arranged marriages are common among noble houses; monogamy is expected in most cases.
- Taboos: Adultery and non-procreative sexual activity are socially frowned upon, though private liaisons exist discreetly.
- Courtship and Marriage: Romantic relationships are generally long-term, practical, and focused on family alliances or economic advantage. Emotional attachment is valued, but erotic indulgence is secondary to duty.
- Sexuality is framed around family, legacy, and clan honor rather than pleasure or hedonism.
Attitudes toward Other Races (Sexualized)
- Dwarfs are pragmatic and xenophobic, valuing trade and alliances but mistrusting outsiders. Sexualized perceptions of other races are minimal and often framed in humor or exaggeration:
- Humans: Female humans may be admired for beauty, but sexual relationships are rare and socially discouraged. Male humans are allies or rivals, not sexual objects.
- Elves: High Elf and Wood Elf females are sometimes fetishized for beauty and elegance, though Dwarfs often regard elves with suspicion or grudging respect. Male elves are rarely sexualized.
- Greenskins: Orcs and goblins are enemies and objects of disdain; sexualized depictions are almost nonexistent outside crude humor.
- Other Dwarfs: Inter-clan marriages are common; intra-race sexual relationships are primarily practical and family-oriented.
Notable Cultural Nuances
- Dwarf society emphasizes honor, skill, and family continuity, shaping both gender and sexual norms.
- Sexuality is practical and private, primarily concerned with marriage, offspring, and clan alliances.
- Women wield significant influence through household management, trade, and economic oversight, despite male formal dominance.
- Sexualized fascination with other races is rare, cautious, and often humorous rather than erotic or fetishistic.
Notable Ranks & Careers
Beardling → Warrior → Longbeard → Ironbreaker → Hammerer → Runelord → Slayer → Daemon Slayer → King (if you live long enough)