Dwarf

Dwarves (sometimes called the Stout Folk) are a humanoid race standing between 4' and 4'6" (122-137cm) tall. What they lack in height they make up for in bulk and dwarves are, on average, almost as heavy as humans. Male dwarves grow thick facial hair sometimes used to display social status. It is a common misconception that female dwarves also do this.

History
While some scholars believe that dwarves are not native to Abeir-Toril, most dwarves believe that their ancestors came from the planet itself, given life by Moradin and being made by the All-Father's hammer in the Soulforge.

The first dwarves to settle in Faerûn originated from the mountains of Yehimal. They settled underneath what is now Semphar and migrated to the west, spreading to all areas. The arctic dwarves settled around the peaks of Novularond, the shield dwarves in the southwest and eventually northwest (from whom the urdunnir dwarves separated to move into the Underdark), the wild dwarves in Chult and the gold dwarves the area surrounding the Great Rift.

At present (1374 DR), dwarves can be found all across Faerûn although the greatest numbers are in the Underdark, the North, the Great Rift and the Cold Lands.

Subraces
There exist several dwarven subraces:


 * Arctic dwarves : Squat and hardy dwarves from the isolated northern reaches of Faerûn.
 * Gold dwarves : Strong and muscular dwarves with tanned skin from the south, largely in the Great Rift area.
 * Grey dwarves : Wiry and lean (by comparison) dwarves with grey skin who dwell in the Underdark.
 * Shield dwarves : Tall (by comparison) dwarves who populate the northern reaches of west and central Faerûn.
 * Urdunnir dwarves : Stocky and muscular dwarves living in the Underdark.
 * Wild dwarves : Primitive dark-skinned dwarves primarily from the jungles of Chult.