Homebrew Athasian Dwarf Species Details
“The worst thing you can say to a dwarf is ‘It can’t be done.’ If he’s already decided to do it, he may never speak to you again. If he hasn’t decided to take up the task, he may commit himself to it simply out of spite. ‘Impossible’ is not a concept most dwarves understand. Anything can be done, with enough determination.” - Sha’len, Nibenese trader
Dwarves form a good part of the people encountered in the Tablelands.
These strong and devoted beings live to fulfill their focus, a task they choose to devote their lives to. Stubborn and strong-minded, dwarves make good companions, even though their usual focused nature can tend to be bothersome.
Personality:
Dwarves prefer to occupy themselves with meaningful tasks, and often approach these tasks with an intensity rarely seen in other races.
As such, dwarves make excellent laborers, and take great pride in their accomplishments. However, their stubbornness can lead to difficulties. Dwarves will sometimes fail to listen to reason, attempting to accomplish what are impossible tasks. Dwarves live for their focus. Dwarves that die while being unable to complete their focus return from the dead as banshees to haunt their unfinished work. A dwarf also rarely divulges his focus to anyone.
Physical Description:
The dwarves of the Tablelands stand 4 1/2 to 5 feet tall, with big muscular limbs and a strong build. They weigh on average 200 lbs. Dwarves are hairless, and find the very idea of hair repulsive. They have deeply tanned skin, and rarely decorate it with tattoos. Dwarves can live up to 250 years.
Relations:
A dwarfʹs relation with others is often a function of his focus. People that help the dwarf accomplish his focus or share his goals are treated with respect and considered good companions. There is little room for compromise, though, with those that disagree with the dwarf’s focus. If they hinder the dwarf, they are considered obstacles that must be removed. Community is important to the dwarves. Dwarves have a very strong racial affinity. They rarely share their history with non–dwarves; it can take years for a stranger to gain enough trust to be admitted into a Dwarven family circle.
Alignment:
Dwarves tend towards a lawful alignment, with most members either good or neutral.
Their devotion to following the established hierarchy in their village means they tend to follow the rules, sometimes to the point of ridicule.
Language:
Dwarves have a long and proud oral history. They have an old written language, but this is mostly used for writing histories. Dwarves will not teach their ancient language to outsiders, they prefer to keep that knowledge to themselves. The Dwarven language is deep and throaty, composed of many guttural sounds and harsh exclamations. Most non‐dwarves get raw throats if they try to speak Dwarven for more than a few hours.
Dwarven Names:
A dwarf’s name is usually granted to him by his clan leader after he completes his first focus.
Male Names:
Baranus, Biirgaz, Bontar, Brul, Caelum, Caro, Daled, Drog, Fyra, Ghedran, Gralth, Gram, Jurgan, Lyanius, Murd, Nati, Portek.
Female Names:
Ardin, Erda, Ghava, Greshin, Gudak, Lazra, N’kadir, Palashi, Vashara.
Dwarf Society:
No dwarf is more content than while working toward the resolution of some cause. This task, called a focus, is approached with single‐minded direction for the dwarf’s entire life, if need be, though most foci require considerable less time.
Free dwarves form communities based on clans, and are much focused on family. Ties of blood are honored and respected above all others, except the focus. Family honor is important to every dwarf, because an act that brings praise or shame in one generation is passed down to the family members of the next generation. There is no concept in the minds of dwarves of not following these family ties.
Athasian Dwarf Traits
Dwarvs but on AthasAge
Dwarves reach adulthood around 35 and live for around 280 years, though very few make it that long.
Language
Dwarves are one of the few races to have their own racial language remain intact.
You know two city state languages of your choice as well as Dwarven.
Size
Your size is medium.
The dwarves of the Tablelands stand 4 1/2 to 5 feet tall, with big muscular limbs and a strong build. They weigh on average 200 lbs.
Ability Score Increase
Both your Constitution and Wisdom score increase by 2. Either your Strength or Dexterity score increases by 1.
Dwarven Toughness
Your hit point maximum increases by 1, and increases by an additional 1 every time you gain a level.
Dwarven Focus
You gain proficiency in Wisdom Saves, if you are already proficient you instead double your proficiency bonus in Wisdom saves.(I couldn't get this to work right, you can change it manually though)
In addition you gain a +3 to your passive perception.(This works fine though)
Superior Infravision
Thanks to long ago when the dwarves mined the mountains of Athas, you have better Infravision than most races.
You can see in infrared out to a range of 120ft in low light conditions.