Dwarf
Dwarven Upbringing
A shield dwarf not raised by or among their people may have different traits than those described below. If you wish to have a different upbringing for your character—a dwarf raised by gnomes, for example—consult with the DM.
- Dwarven Combat Training – Shield dwarves have proficiency with the battleaxe, handaxe, light hammer, and warhammer.
- Tool Proficiency – Shield dwarves have proficiency with the artisan’s tools of their choice: smith’s tools, brewer’s supplies, or mason’s tools.
- Stonecunning – Whenever a shield dwarf makes an Intelligence (History) check related to the origin of stonework, they are considered proficient in the History skill and add double their proficiency bonus to the check instead of their normal proficiency bonus.
- Dwarven Armor Training – Shield dwarves have proficiency with light and medium armor.
A shield dwarf raised among their own kin will speak, read, and write Common and Dwarvish. Dwarvish is full of hard consonants and guttural sounds, and those characteristics spill over into whatever other language a dwarf might speak. The written form of Dwarvish uses a runic script called Dethek.
Bold and hardy, dwarves are known as skilled warriors, miners, and workers of stone and metal. Though they stand well under 5 feet tall, dwarves are so broad and compact that they can weigh as much as a human standing nearly two feet taller. Their courage and endurance are also easily a match for any of the larger folk.
Shield dwarves’ skin ranges from light brown to a paler hue tinged with red. Their hair, worn long but in simple styles, is usually black, gray, brown, blond, or red. Male dwarves value their beards highly and groom them carefully. Female dwarves who choose to grow beards usually keep them braided and/or trimmed short.
Dwarves of the Sword Coast
Throughout most of Faerûn, the most-common type of dwarf is called a shield dwarf or mountain dwarf—though Delzoun is the proper dwarven name—but in the lands far to the south, gold dwarves (also called hill dwarves) are prevalent.
Concerned with the decline in numbers of his chosen people, the dwarven god Moradin gifted his people with the Thunder Blessing which dramatically boosted their reproductive rate: approximately 1 in 5 dwarven pregnancies results in twins. Thunder Twins are believed to be two halves of the same reincarnated dwarven soul.
Gray dwarves, also called duergar, and deep dwarves, also called derro, are rarely found on the surface of Faerûn.
Dwarf Names
A dwarf’s name is granted by a clan elder, in accordance with tradition. Every proper dwarven name has been used and reused down through the generations, though it is not uncommon for a new name to be created to allow Thunder Twins to “split” an ancestor’s name. A dwarf’s name belongs to the clan, not to the individual. A dwarf who misuses or brings shame to a clan name is stripped of the name and forbidden by law to use any dwarven name in its place.
Male Names: Adrik, Alberich, Baern, Barendd, Brottor, Bruenor, Dain, Darrak, Delg, Eberk, Einkil, Fargrim, Flint, Gardain, Harbek, Kildrak, Morgran, Orsik, Oskar, Rangrim, Rurik, Taklinn, Thoradin, Thorin, Tordek, Traubon, Travok, Ulfgar, Veit, Vondal
Female Names: Amber, Artin, Audhild, Bardryn, Dagnal, Diesa, Eldeth, Falkrunn, Finellen, Gunnloda, Gurdis, Helja, Hlin, Kathra, Kristryd, Ilde, Liftrasa, Mardred, Riswynn, Sannl, Torbera, Torgga, Vistra
Clan Names: Balderk, Battlehammer, Brawnanvil, Dankil, Fireforge, Frostbeard, Gorunn, Holderhek, Ironfist, Loderr, Lutgehr, Rumnaheim, Strakeln, Torunn, Ungart
Dwarf Traits
A dwarf has an assortment of inborn abilities, part and parcel of dwarven nature. A shield dwarf is strong and hardy, accustomed to a difficult life in rugged terrain, and they’re taller and tend toward lighter coloration compared to their gold dwarf counterparts from southern Faerûn. Regardless of subtype, dwarves tend to have a neutral or lawful alignment due to their strong clan ties.
Age
Dwarves mature at the same rate as humans, but they’re considered young until they reach the age of 50. On average, they live about 350 years.
Size
Shield dwarves stand between 4 and 5 feet tall and average about 170 pounds. Their size is Medium.
Speed
A dwarf’s base walking speed is 25 feet. Their speed is not reduced by wearing heavy armor.
Darkvision
Accustomed to life underground, dwarves have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. A dwarf can see in dim light within 60 feet as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. Dwarves can’t discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.
Dwarven Resilience
A dwarf has advantage on saving throws against poison and resistance against poison damage.