Homebrew Dark Sun, Dwarf Species Details

 

 

Cities of the dwarves were once as numerous as the caravan forts guarding the trade roads, but today not one exists. Likewise, no more than a handful of dwarf villages remain in the Tyr Region. Kled and the twin villages of North and South Ledopolus are the most prominent. The rest of the dwarf population lives in the city-states of the sorcerer-kings or among the slave tribes that wander the desert wastes. Dwarves of Athas have no lands on their own and live among the other folk of Athas. They reside both in cities and the countryside, and they tend to be builders and farmers instead of nomads or raiders. And despite the absence of their once marvelous cities and strongholds, they still possess a rich cultural history passed down from generation to generation in great sagas and secret traditions.

Stocky and Rugged

 Most dwarves have deep tanned complexions from  lives spent toiling in the hot sun, with wide, callused  hands and feet. They usually sport little or no hair; the  flowing beards commonly found in dwarven societies   of other worlds are never seen on Athas. Life in the   Athasian wastes has given the dwarves a rugged   look. They prefer simple and practical clothing that  is sturdy and unadorned, a set of clothes that shall be  worn over and over again in their span of toiling in the  harsh lands.

Laborious Folk

Dwarves embrace work with joy, often giving themselves over to a favorite cause of task. They are a stoic, single-minded people to whom compromise doesn’t come easy. Dwarf soldiers, laborers, and crafters are common, though members of this race can be found among the templars, nobles, merchants, and slaves. Dwarves are by nature industrious, skilled, and materialistic. They make excellent artisans and merchants, specializing in either the craftsmanship of handicrafts, weapons, and armour, or the trade thereof. While they can serve the city or their tribe as warriors, followers of the Way, or healers, their most important contribution to their community is as artisans or traders.

Persistent Minds

Dwarves are known for their stoicism and single-mindedness. They prefer to occupy themselves with meaningful tasks, and often approach these tasks with an intensity rarely seen in other races. Once they fix their minds on the task at hand, be it a challenging fit of engineering, an intricate work of craft, a struggle for survival, or a quest for revenge, it’s impossible to abandon it or leave the work half done. Dwarves will simply fail to listen to reason, and will treat any who hinder them as obstacles that must be removed. On the other hand, people who help a dwarf accomplish its task or share its goals are treated with respect and considered good companions.The commitment to a single task is called a dwarf’s focus. A dwarf will work to complete its focus above all else, for the compulsion to succeed is built into the dwarven nature. They literally live for their focus; if a dwarf dies without completing its focus, the need remains so strong that the dwarf may return as an undead to finish the task that drives it.

Dwarf Names

A dwarf receives its name by the community leader, who usually grants it to them after they have completed their first focus, in accordance to their ancient traditions. Thus, they jealously strive to honour their names and never misuse or bring shame to it.

Male Names: Birgaz, Bontar, Brul, Caelum, Caro, Daled, Drog, Ghedran, Gralth, Gram, Hai, Jo’orsh, Jurgan, Kov, Krom, Lian, Lodo, Ltak, Lyanius, Murd, Nati, Portek,Rkard, Sa’ram, Sult, Veso.

Female Names: Ardin, Erda, Ghava, Greshin, Gudak, Fyra, Kesi, Lazra, N’kadir, Palashi, Vashara.

 

 

 

 

A Dwarves Focus

A dwarf’s focus is the central point of its existence. Nothing is more rewarding to a dwarf than to complete its focus. But no simple job can be such a focus; anything taking a few days to complete is too simple a task to be considered a focus.

Work with your DM to come up with a focus that your character begins with, and with a new one every time you finish yours. It shouldn’t be an easy or mundane task and it should take at least one week to complete. It could also be linked to your adventures or be something different altogether.

At your DM’s permission, you may be bound to earn inspiration whenever you successfully complete your focus.

 

Dark Sun, Dwarf Traits

Your dwarf character has an assortment of inborn abilities, part and parcel of dwarven nature.

Ability Score Increase

Your Constitution score increases by 2 and your Strength and Wisdom score increases by 1.

Age

Dwarves mature at the same rate as humans, but they’re considered young until they reach the age of 35. On average, they live about 200 years.

Size

Dwarves stand between 4 and 5 feet tall and average about 200 pounds. Your size is Medium.

 

Speed

Your base walking speed is 25 feet. Your speed is not reduced by wearing heavy armor.

Darkvision

You have superior vision in 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 Focus

Once per a short rest whenever you make an ability check or a saving throw, you may choose to roll a d4 and add it to the total.

You can choose to add the d4 after you make the ability check or saving throw, but before the outcome is determined.

Dwarven Resilience

You have advantage on saving throws against poison, and you have resistance against poison damage (explained in the “Combat” section).

Tool Proficiency

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

Dwarven Toughness

Your hit points maximum increases by 1, and it increases by one everytime you gain a level.

Languages

You can speak Common and Dwarvish. Dwarvish is deep and throaty, composed of many guttural sounds and harsh exclamations. Dwarves value their language and rarely teach it to outsiders.