Sun Dwarves
General Description
Sun dwarves, or so they are called by Men, are a rare sub-race of dwarves still found in isolated families or clans throughout the south of the Kingdom of Pompiers, the western principalities of Tannettes, and remnants along the Thousiersian coastline, and rare examples in Thoria and Tresia. They are very rarely encountered outside these regions, for the dislike the cold of more northern lands.
Sun dwarves appear much as normal dwarves, but unlike their kin much of their kin, their skin is almost always bronzed and ruddy. Their hair and beards are often a rich brown, auburn, red or rusty in color, but is never blonde nor black. The iris of the eyes of sun dwarves are uniformly a hazeled-bronze color, with flat black pupils that are more visually present than that of men or elves. They generally possess a craggy appearance, and all their kind appear to almost seemlessly blend into rock and trees.
Although at times allying with humans or halflings, sun dwarves generally keep mostly to themselves. They speak their own language, related to but quite distinct from more common dwarven tongues. Sun dwarves generally refrain from contact with other sub-races of dwarves, preferring to avoid it if possible.
Unsurprisingly sun dwarves take great pleasure in exposure to the sun. Unlike their racial kin, sun dwarves do not make homes beneath the earth, but rather above, and prefer working outdoors, or at least in rooms routinely bathed in sunlight. Inversely, sun dwarves are ill-disposed to the night. Lacking the nocturnal vision of other dwarves, sun dwarves distrust darkness, and some even seem to fear it.
Sun dwarves more than excel at fine craft with stone and the softer metals of copper, tin, bronze, silver and gold, capable of fashioning it into wondrous forms and tools. However, although certainly capable of quality work in harder metals such as iron and steel, they have no great affinity with it.
Most sun dwarves encountered in modern days are in communities of halflings or gnomes, with whom they seem to share a close bond, and for whom they often serve as wardens and guards against the incursions of hostile men and other enemies. Sun dwarves appear to largely distrust the towns and cities of men, and if encountered there are often secluded away in small homes or shops, working as specialized craftsmen. No known sun dwarf settlements are known to exist, but when encountered in the communities of others they generally gather together in one large family or even clan, but so small are their numbers now that they rarely are encountered in groups larger than two dozen. These groups are usually led by two sun dwarves, one being the chief among them who is in the prime of life, and the second, who is more senior and respected, being one of their elders, who gives forth wisdom and council to their group as a whole. Some of these clans are known to wander between settlements unfrequented by men, perhaps finding safety in not staying in one place for too long.
Sun dwarves are known to be possess keen eyes and a sharp and discerning intellect, solving most problems and dilemmas easily. They are also believed by many to possess an uncanny eye, capable of perceiving things beyond what most men, or even elves, can discern.
The history of sun dwarves is a mystery to most men, for their origins and purposes are opaque, and whatever the sun dwarves know, they generally keep it to themselves. As to their religion, sun dwarves are said to keep their own gods particular to themselves, and distinct from that of most dwarves, but whatever the case, they keep such religious attitudes to themselves. It is not unheard of however for sun dwarves to embrace Mandador, especially for those families and clans that live among men.
