Homebrew Stone-Jungle Dwarf Species Details

Stone-Jungle Dwarf

Guardians of ancient temples and masters of sacred stonecraft

 Appearance

Mayan dwarves are shorter and sturdier than most races, but with distinct jungle and cultural traits:

  • Height: 4–5 feet, broad and powerful
  • Skin tones: Deep bronze to rich earth tones
  • Eyes: Jade green, obsidian black, or amber
  • Hair: Thick, dark, often braided with:
    • Stone beads
    • Jade ornaments
    • Gold rings

Facial features are strong and angular, often marked with:

  • Ritual tattoos (glyphs, gods, calendar symbols)
  • Painted markings during ceremonies

Beards (on those who grow them) are:

  • Carefully braided
  • Decorated with carved stone clasps

 Culture

Unlike underground dwarves, Mayan dwarves are:

  • Temple builders and astronomers
  • Deeply connected to:
    • The stars
    • Time 
    • The gods 

They believe:

“Stone remembers what mortals forget.”

Their cities are:

  • Hidden in jungles
  • Built as massive stepped pyramids
  • Aligned with celestial events

Beliefs

They worship gods tied to:

  •  Sun (creation and power)
  • Moon (cycles and fate)
  •  Serpents (knowledge and transformation)
  •  Earth (endurance and memory)

Time is sacred—many dwarves act as:

  • Calendar keepers
  • Prophets of cycles and endings

Skills & Craft

Mayan dwarves are legendary for:

  • Stone carving (intricate glyphs, moving mechanisms)
  • Hidden architecture (traps, secret chambers)
  • Astronomical engineering (temples aligned with solstices, eclipses)

Some temples can:

  • Channel sunlight into beams
  • Open only at certain times of year

Combat Style

  • Use heavy stone weapons:
    • Macuahuitl-style blades (obsidian-edged)
    • War hammers carved with glyphs
  • Prefer defensive fighting and ambush tactics
  • Masters of terrain control in ruins and jungle

Magic

Their magic blends stone and time:

  • Earth magic – shaping stone, raising walls
  • Light magic – solar beams, radiant bursts
  • Time magic (rare)  – glimpses of the future, slowing enemies

Stone-Jungle 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.

Ability Score Increase

Your Wisdom increase by 1

Size

Dwarves stand between 4 and 5 feet tall and average about 150 pounds. Your size is Medium.

Speed

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

Darkvision

Accustomed to life underground, 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.

Sun-Shadow Resilience

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

Dwarven Jungle Training

You have proficiency with the mace, handaxe, spear and warhammer.

Tool Proficiency

You gain proficiency with  mason’s tools.

Stonecunning

Whenever you make an Intelligence (History) check related to the origin of stonework, you are considered proficient in the History skill and add double your proficiency bonus to the check, instead of your normal proficiency bonus.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common, Dwarvish and Nahuatl
GreenThony

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