Dwarf, Shield
Renowned for their smithwork and craftsmanship, shield dwarves have endured a century’s long decline in the face of never-ending wars with orcs, goblins, giants and trolls.
Physical character
Build: Weighing as much as an adult human, shield dwarves are stocky and muscular.
Coloring: The skin of a shield dwarf is fair or lightly tanned, and her eyes are usually green or silvered blue. Both genders where their hair long, and males (and a very few females) have long, carefully groomed beards and mustaches. Hair color ranges from light brown to red, with all shades fading to silver or white as time progresses.
Height/Weight: Male 4’2†or Female 4’0†+2d4â€. Take the random roll from height and multiply that number by 2d6 and add (145 for males and 110 for females) to determine the character’s weight in pounds.
Lifespan: Adulthood 40 years, Middle Age 125 years
Special Abilities: Darkvision; up to 60 feet.
+20 to DB against giants (generally large size humanoids).
+25 to Awareness: Searching (Detect Traps) skill checks when the trap in question is worked in stone.
+20 to Awareness: Senses (Direction Sense) skills.
Culture
Clothing & Decoration:
Fears & Inabilities: Fear of water
Lifestyle: Shield dwarves keep to their word, whatever the cost, and are incredibly stubborn, unwilling to concede an inch unless there is absolutely no alternative. Shield dwarves love worked beauty, seeing the world as raw material to be forged and shaped into something more than the original.
Religion: Dumathoin, Moradin and Berronar primarily though other dwarven deities are seen.
Other Factors
Demeanor: dour, cynical,
Language: Starting languages: Appropriate Regional Language (S6/W6). Allowed Adolescence Development: Appropriate Regional Language (S6/W6).
Prejudices: Will attack duergar on sight typically. Deep and abiding hatred of all goblin and giant races. Squabble with elven races but can put aside differences if the situation demands it. Get along well with gnomes (both types) and humans, but find halflings unreliable. Dislike half-orcs until they are proven trustworthy and are suspicious of tieflings.
Professions: fighter, rogue, cleric, paladin, with rare sorcerers and magicians.
Alignment: LG or LN typically.
Special Skills: Everyman: Caving, Leather-crafts, Metal-crafts, Mining, Stone-crafts, and Survival (underground). Restricted: Swimming.
Standard Hobby Ranks: any Armor skills, Body Development, Brawling, Caving, any Crafts skill, Culture Lore [own], Engineering, Evaluate Armor, Evaluate Metal, Evaluate Stone, Evaluate Weapon, First Aid, Heraldry, History [Dwarven], Leadership, Locate Hidden, Metal Lore, Military Organization, Mining, Observation, Public Speaking, Region Lore [own], Stone Lore, Survival (underground), Tactics [small unit], any Weapon skill.
Outfitting Options
Weapons: Battle axes, crossbows, hand axes, heavy picks, light hammers, light picks, long swords, half spears, short swords, mauls, throwing axes and war hammers.
Armor: Breastplates, chain mail, half-plate, full plate, large and small steel shields.
Money:
Background Options
Background Options: Four.
Extra Money:
Special Items:
Talents: All available at the GM’s discretion.
Stat Bonuses:
Ag: -2
Co: +6
Me: +0
Re: +0
SD: +4
Em: -4
In: +0
Pr: -4
Qu: -2
St: +4
RR Mods:
Ess: +10
Chan: +0
Ment: +0
Poison: +30
Disease: +30
Body Dev. Progression:
0-7-5-3-1
Channeling PP Dev. Progression:
0-6-5-4-3
Essence PP Dev. Progression:
0-3-2-1-1
Mentalism PP Dev. Progression:
0-3-2-1-1