INTRODUCTION

This file be a mix o' stuff from letters ta new members o' tha Clan. Tha parts that be talkin' bout dwarves in general were put 'ere fer our kin. They be a right proud lot, eager ta ken more bout tha great dwarven legacy.

DWARVEN BATTLE GEAR

A handheld weapon is a must. Battle axes and awl pikes are two dwarven favorites. The occasional broad or short sword can also be found, and some of the more avant garde have adopted the trident. Most dwarves frown on long swords and scimitars, and only the strongest dwarves can wield a bastard sword effectively. Two handed swords are just too darned big for any dwarf to use in combat.For missile weapons, dwarves traditionally prefer the crossbow. While it does less damage and has a lesser rate of fire than traditional bows, its straightforward nature appeals to the dwarven psyche.   Dwarves will always wear the finest armor available. They do not put their trust in magical protection, such as cloaks, rings, and bracers. While these items are fine when used to supplement traditional armor, they are not used as the sole basis of protection. Plate mail is preferred, and always chosen when available. The exception is thieves and fighter/thieves, who will occasionally choose leather for its greater maneuverability. The same standards apply to magical armor.   ((Note: The above restrictions are not coded into the game, but are presented purely for role playing purposes. It is left to the  individual player to decide whether or not to follow them.))

DWARVES AND ROLEPLAY

Dwarves are among the most enjoyable races to roleplay, for several reasons. Dwarves are the least human of the major races (with the possible exception of gnomes), and many players have a difficult time relating to them at first. Fortunately, once you get to know them, dwarves a very straightforward people and defining a character is not too difficult.   Dwarves, as a general rule, are a race of extremes. A dwarf does nothing without throwing himself into body and soul, wether it be fighting, singing, drinking, or mining. The dwarven way is, if you're going to do something, do it not only right, but better than every other race in The Realms. This single mindedness is one of their finest, and at times one of their worst, qualities.   Dwarves tend to think of themselves as superior to the other races in The Realms. While they don't deny that humans, elves, and the other races have achieved power and a level of civilization, they are convinced that these races would eventually would make a muck of it all were not dwarves around to keep them out of trouble. Many a party has gagged a belligerant dwarf who was berating the other races in the group.   On the brighter side, dwarves are likely the most fiercely loyal companions to be had. It is not an easy thing to befriend a dwarf, but it is definitely worth the effort. A dwarf will stand by a companion through the worst. A dwarf that turns his back on a friend is lower than a kobold in the eyes of his kindred. When you make a dwarven friend, you make a friend, and an ally, for life.

DWARVES AND OTHER RACES
HUMANS	Humans tend to be too focused on immediate gain, rarely looking at the long run. They are impatient, and often rude, by dwarven standards. There are few things a dwarf enjoys as much as taunting humans. However, they recognize that humans are probably the single most powerful force for good in The Realms, so consider them important allies.
HALFLINGS	While halflings can sometime grate on a dwarf's nerves with their constant chattering and generally lazy attitude, they have gained the grudging respect of dwarves. They admire their sturdiness and their ability to maintain a positive outlook in a bad situation. Still, they tend not to be serious enough for dwarven tastes, and they are not a dwarf's first choice for a companion.
GNOMES	Of all the races, dwarves feel the most kindred to gnomes. Both races feel at home in the caves beneath The Realms, and are fierce enemies of the evil races that lurk there. Still, dwarves are bemused the the gnomes' facination with machinery and gadgets, and gnomish practical jokes have been known to send dwarves into rages that lasted for days.
DROW	Dwarves hate the drow with passion, but the hatred is tinged with fear. Drow are the most powerful of the races of the Underdark, and more than one dwarven clan has been made slaves by this evil race. It is almost impossible for a drow, even a renegade drow that has forsaken his kindred, to gain the trust of a dwarf.
DUERGAR	Saying that dwarves hate duergar is an understatement. They want them all dead. Period. A dwarf will attack a duergar to the exclusion of all other enemies and won't stop until either he or all of the duergar are dead.

DWARVES AND ELVES

The relationship between dwarves and elves is almost legendary. As such, it deserves its own section.   Much has been made about the hostility between dwarves and elves. While there is certainly mistrust there, it is not the open hatred that many think it to be. Dwarves do not at all agree with the elven philosophy of life, and this leads to friction in most dwarf-elf encounters. Elves are not nearly practical enough for dwarven tastes, and their relaxed care-free approach to life tends to grate on dwarven nerves. Still, they recognize that elves are allies in the war against evil (which dwarves take very seriously), and will usually not seek an armed conflict with them. This is even more unlikely considering that elven homelands do not at all infringe on dwarven homelands. Without a territorial dispute, the conflict is highly unlikely to erupt into open war.   What is highly possible is for some minor slight, or what might seem minor to any non-dwarf, to fester in a dwarf for years, or even decades. A mere slip of an elven tongue could be taken as a monumental insult by a dwarf, souring relations for ages to come. While the elf will likely forget the incident relatively quickly, the dwarf in question will turn it over and over in his mind until it becomes a terrible insult aimed at him, his clan, and the dwarven race in general.   On the brighter side, some of the greatest friendships in history were made between dwarf and elf. Once each gets beyond the issue of race, they find a personality that compliments their own, and a bond is formed that may last for centuries. The Elf will come to appreciate the single minded thoroughness of his dwarven companion, while the dwarf appreciates the lightening of spirit that his elven friend inevitably brings. Together, there is little that an elf and a dwarf could not face.   In terms of the world of Neverwinter Nights, both elves and dwarves are in the minority, and it would be a foolish dwarf that would not recognize that. Being a thoroughly practical race, dwarves are not about to take any action that would hand the world over to the humans, and any extended dwarf-elf conflict would do just that. While elves are not perfect by any means, they're better than the short-sighted rude humans that are swarming everywhere thinking they own everything.

WHAT DWARVES DON'T LIKE
There are many things in the world that dwarves find distasteful, or even downright horrific. Here is a short list so you know what to frown at in The Realms.
MAGIC	Dwarves have a strong distaste for, not to mention mistrust of, magic. While they have been able to overcome this aversion to a small degree (enough to use the occasional scroll or wand to save their lives), they still prefer the straightforward method of cutting something's legs off.
WATER	Dwarves are leery of the sea, it being much more unpredictable than the living rock they make their homes in. Hence, boat rides are an uncomfortable experience for most dwarves. It is perhaps because of this that dwarves bathe somewhat less frequently than most races. Water, of course, is never considered an acceptable substitute for ale.
WINE	No real dwarf will ever drink wine. They consider it no better than sour grape juice, which is actually preferable in most cases.
FORESTS	Wooded areas tend to confuse a dwarf's sense of direction. They have tremendous difficulty telling one tree from another, and hence get lost easily in such places.
BEING CALLED SHORT	Dwarves aren't short. Everyone else is gangly, and don't you forget it.

                       

DWARVEN RELIGION
Dwarves are very dedicated to their pantheon of gods, but don't feel the need to worship them in elaborate ceremonies. The way they see it, gods don't need all manner of flags and fluff to point out worship. Being gods, they can figure these things out for themselves. Following is a list of the most popular dwarven deities and pertinent information about each.   SYMBOL describes that god's holy symbol. WEAPON tells the preferred weapon of that god's worshippers.
MORADIN The Soul Forger	Moradin is the creator of the dwarven race, forging them from iron and mithral in the fires at the center of the world. He is the most powerful god in the dwarven pantheon.	SYMBOL : Hammer and anvil
		WEAPON : Hammer
CLANGGEDIN SILVERBEARD The Father of Battle	Clangeddin is the dwarven god of battle. It is he that taught them how best to battle giants and their kin. His most hated rival is Grolantor, the god of Hill Giants.	SYMBOL : Two crossed battle axes
		WEAPON : Battle Axe
VERGADAIN God of Wealth and Luck	Vergadain is the patron god of dwarven merchants and non-evil thieves. He enjoys tricking non-dwarves out of treasure, and encourages his worshippers to do the same.	SYMBOL : Gold piece
		WEAPON : Short Sword
ABBATHOR Great Master of Greed	Abbathor is an evil god, but will on occasion aid other dwarven deities. He is untrustworthy, however, and will always think of his own benefit first. He especially hates Dumathoin, who Moradin chose as protector of the mountain dwarves instead of him.	SYMBOL : Jeweled dagger
		WEAPON : Dagger
BERRONAR Mother of Safety, Truth, and Home	The greatest of all the dwarven goddesses, Berronar is the defender of dwarven hearths. She is also the goddess of marriage and love. She is also a fierce warrior, and is the patron goddess of dwarven Hearthguards.	SYMBOL : Two silver rings
		WEAPON : Mace

DWARVEN WEDDINGS

Dwarven weddings are centered on the worship of Berronar. The two dwarves to be wed stand before an anvil, each with a ceremonial bronze hammer and two halves of a ring, one half of silver, the other of gold. Gathered are the dwarves' closest family and friends.   First the priest presiding over the ceremony asks if there are any challenges to this bonding. The male dwarf raises his hammer and looks to each of the other males present as if threatening them. The female does the same to the other females present. Assuming there are no challanges, the ceremony may continue.   The couple then joins their silver half ring with their intended's golden half ring, forging two complete rings of silver and gold. The silver half is in honor of Berronar, the golden half symbolizes the future prosperity of the couple.   At this point the priest declares the joining complete, and every dwarf present consumes absurd quantities of ale.

TALKING LIKE A DWARF

The link above can be of help to those interested in the traditional dwarf speech. It should be noted that not all dwarves will talk in this particular speech pattern ~ there are exceptions to every rule.

A FINAL NOTE

Please keep in mind that the information in this file is meant as a guideline only. Feel free to disregard some or all of its advice. The range of dwarven personalities is wide. Very few dwarves exhibit all of the characteritics given here, and some don't exhibit any at all. The only true guideline is to create a dwarven character that is believable and enjoyable to play. However, if you deviate too far from the dwarven norm it is advisable to explain why your dwarf is so different from all of the rest. This will add to the depth of your character, and will hopefully add to your enjoyment as you play him. Most of all, have fun and never forget your keg.

REFERENCES
While this file is certainly chock full of all kinds of useful information, it is far from being a comprehensive guide to Forgotten Realms Dwarves. The following books are good places to look if you want more information on dwarves.
The Complete Dwarf	TSR	A general AD&D referance guide to dwarves. Includes information on dwarven culture, professions, names, and other useful tidbits. Look in the Games or Role Playing section of your local bookstore.
The Dark Elf Trilogy, The Cleric Quintet & The Icewind Dale Trilogy	R.A. Salvatore	All of these novels include a dwarf as a central character in a Forgotten Realms setting. (Only the last book of The Dark Elf Trilogy actually has a dwarf in it, but its well worth the read!) These books are good for getting tips on dwarven attitudes and personalities. The Cleric Quintet includes one non-traditional dwarf in case you are considering taking that route.
The Hobbit & The Lord of The Rings	J.R.R. Tolkien	The books that _defined_ dwarves as they are presently portrayed in modern fantasy. While not actually set in any official AD&D world, the dwarves in these novels are almost indistinguishable from AD&D dwarves. This is due, of course, to the heavy Tolkien influences found in AD&D. The novels are a great help in coming up with dwarven names and personalities.
The Dwarven Nations Trilogy	Dan Parkinson	A trilogy revolving around dwarves, this is an immensely useful resource for anyone wishing to play a dwarf. The books are set in Krynn, not The Forgotten Realms, but there are more than enough similarities to make it the most useful of the references listed here.