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{{Creature
  
{{Creature
−
| image = Gold dwarf - Ralph Horsley.jpg
 +
| image =
  +
<tabber>
−
| caption = A gold dwarf
  
  +
5e = [[File:Golddwarf.png|250px]]|-|
⚫
| name = Gold dwarf
  
  ⚫
3e = [[File:Gold dwarf - Ralph Horsley.jpg|250px]] |-|
  +
</tabber>
  +
| caption2 = Various depictions of gold dwarves.
  ⚫
| name = Gold Dwarf
  +
| othernames = Hill Dwarf
 
| size5e = Medium
  
| size5e = Medium
 
| type5e = [[Humanoid]]
  
| type5e = [[Humanoid]]
Line 20: Line 25:
 
| alignment3e = Often [[lawful good]]
  
| alignment3e = Often [[lawful good]]
 
| challenge3e = {{Frac|1|2}}
  
| challenge3e = {{Frac|1|2}}
−
| refs3e = <ref name="MMv.3.5-pp91-93">{{Cite book/Monster Manual 3.5|91-93}}</ref><ref name="MC:MoF-p47">{{Cite book/Monsters of Faerûn|47}}</ref>
 +
| refs3e = <ref name="MMv.3.5-pp91-93">{{Cite book/Monster Manual 3.5|91-93}}</ref><ref name="MC.MoF-p47">{{Cite book/Monsters of Faerûn|47}}</ref>
 
| size2e = Medium
  
| size2e = Medium
 
| alignment2e = [[Lawful good]]
  
| alignment2e = [[Lawful good]]
−
| refs2e = <ref name="MM2e-p?">{{Cite book/Monstrous Manual|??}}</ref>
 +
| refs2e = <ref name="MM2e-p94">{{Cite book/Monstrous Manual|94-95}}</ref>
 
| size1e =
 
| size1e =
 
| alignment1e =
 
| alignment1e =
 
| refs1e =
 
| refs1e =
 
| patron deity =
 
| patron deity =
  ⚫
| movement =
 
| vision = [[Darkvision]]<ref name="MMv.3.5-pp91-93" /><ref name="PHBv.3.5-p14">{{Cite book/Player's Handbook 3.5 edition|14}}</ref>
  
| vision = [[Darkvision]]<ref name="MMv.3.5-pp91-93" /><ref name="PHBv.3.5-p14">{{Cite book/Player's Handbook 3.5 edition|14}}</ref>
−
| activecycle = Any<ref name="MM2e-p?" />
 +
| activecycle = Any<ref name="MM2e-p94" />
−
| diet = Omnivore<ref name="MM2e-p?" />
 +
| diet = Omnivore<ref name="MM2e-p94" />
−
| lifespan = 250<ref name="PHBv.3.5-p109">{{Cite book/Player's Handbook 3.5 edition|109}}</ref><ref name="PGtF-p31">{{Cite book/Player's Guide to Faerûn|31}}</ref>&ndash;450 years<ref name="PHBv.3.5-p109" /><ref name="MM2e-p?" /><ref name="RoF-p11">{{Cite book/Races of Faerûn|11}}</ref><ref name="PGtF-p31" />
 +
| lifespan = 250<ref name="PHBv.3.5-p109">{{Cite book/Player's Handbook 3.5 edition|109}}</ref><ref name="PGtF-p31">{{Cite book/Player's Guide to Faerûn|31}}</ref>&ndash;450 years<ref name="PHBv.3.5-p109" /><ref name="MM2e-p94" /><ref name="RoF-p11">{{Cite book/Races of Faerûn|11}}</ref><ref name="PGtF-p31" />
 
| location = [[East Rift]], the [[Giant's Run Mountains]], the [[Smoking Mountains]] <br />{{Former}} [[Great Rift]]
  
| location = [[East Rift]], the [[Giant's Run Mountains]], the [[Smoking Mountains]] <br />{{Former}} [[Great Rift]]
 
| language = [[Common]] and [[Dwarvish]]<ref name="PHB5e-p18-20>{{Cite book/Player's Handbook 5th edition|18-20}}</ref>
  
| language = [[Common]] and [[Dwarvish]]<ref name="PHB5e-p18-20>{{Cite book/Player's Handbook 5th edition|18-20}}</ref>
 
| subraces =
 
| subraces =
−
| climate = Temperate<ref name="MMv.3.5-pp91-93" /><ref name="MM2e-p?" />
 +
| climate = Temperate<ref name="MMv.3.5-pp91-93" /><ref name="MM2e-p94" />
−
| terrain = Mountains<ref name="MMv.3.5-pp91-93" /><ref name="MM2e-p?" />
 +
| terrain = Mountains<ref name="MMv.3.5-pp91-93" /><ref name="MM2e-p94" />
  +
| genrefs =
⚫
| skincolor = Light brown, tan<ref name="RoF-p11" />
  
  +
| height =
⚫
| haircolor = Black, brown, gray; usually grays to light gray with age<ref name="RoF-p11" />
  
−
| hairstyles = Long<ref name="RoF-p11" />
 +
| length =
  +
| wingspan =
⚫
| eyecolor = Brown, hazel<ref name="RoF-p11" />
  
  +
| weight =
⚫
| build = Stocky, muscular<ref name="RoF-p11" />
  
  ⚫
| skincolor = Light brown, tan
  ⚫
| haircolor = Black, brown, gray; usually grays to light gray with age
  +
| hairstyles = Long
  +
| feathers =
  ⚫
| eyecolor = Brown, hazel
  ⚫
| build = Stocky, muscular
 
| distinctions =
 
| distinctions =
 
| form1 = Male
  
| form1 = Male
−
| appearance1 = {{Appearance|height=3'11" &ndash; 4'5"<ref name="RoF-p11" /><ref name="PGtF-p32">{{Cite book/Player's Guide to Faerûn|32}}</ref><br />(120&ndash;135 cm)|weight=135&ndash;225 lbs.<ref name="RoF-p11" /><ref name="PGtF-p32" /><br />(60&ndash;105 kg)|hairstyles=Long, groomed beards<ref name="RoF-p11" />}}
 +
| appearance1 = {{Appearance|height={{SIrange|3'11|4'5|ft-in|c}}|weight={{SIrange|135|225|lb|k}}|hairstyles=Long, groomed beards}}
 
| form2 = Female
  
| form2 = Female
−
| appearance2 = {{Appearance|height=3'9" &ndash; 4'3"<ref name="RoF-p11" /><ref name="PGtF-p32" /><br />(115&ndash;130 cm)|weight=105&ndash;175 lbs.<ref name="RoF-p11" /><ref name="PGtF-p32" /><br />(50&ndash;90 kg)|hairstyles=Long, groomed beards (rare)<ref name="RoF-p11" />}}
 +
| appearance2 = {{Appearance|height={{SIrange|3'9|4'3|ft-in}}|weight={{SIrange|105|175|lb|k}}|hairstyles=Long, groomed beards (rare)}}
  +
| appearrefs = <ref name="RoF-p11" /><ref name="PGtF-p32">{{Cite book/Player's Guide to Faerûn|32}}</ref>
⚫
| based =
 
 
| first =
 
| first =
  +
| based =
  +
| histrefs =
 
}}
  
}}
−
'''Gold dwarves''', also known as '''hill dwarves''',<ref name="DotR-p8">{{Cite book/Demihumans of the Realms|8}}</ref> are the aloof, confident and sometimes proud subrace of [[dwarves]] that predominantly come from the [[Great Rift]]. They are known to be particularly stalwart warriors and shrewd traders. Gold dwarves are often trained specifically to battle the horrendous [[aberration]]s that are known to come from the [[Underdark]].<ref name="FRCS3e-p11">{{Cite book/Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 3rd edition|11}}</ref>
 +
'''Gold dwarves''', also known as '''hill dwarves''',<ref name="DotR-p8">{{Cite book/Demihumans of the Realms|8}}</ref> were the aloof, confident and sometimes proud subrace of [[dwarves]] that predominantly came from the [[Great Rift]]. They were known to be particularly stalwart warriors and shrewd traders. Gold dwarves were often trained specifically to battle the horrendous [[aberration]]s that were known to come from the [[Underdark]].<ref name="FRCS3e-p11">{{Cite book/Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 3rd edition|11}}</ref>
   
 
==Description==
  
==Description==
−
Gold dwarves are stout, tough individuals like their shield dwarven brethren but are less off-putting and gruff in nature. Conversely, gold dwarves are often less agile than other dwarves.<ref name="FRCS3e-p11"/> The average gold dwarf is about four feet tall (1.2 meters) and as heavy as a full-grown human, making them somewhat squatter than the more common [[shield dwarf|shield dwarves]]. Gold dwarves are also distinguishable by their light brown or tanned skin, significantly darker than that of most dwarves, and their brown or hazel eyes. Gold dwarves have black, gray, or brown hair, which fade to light gray over time. Gold dwarf males and some females can grow beards, which are carefully groomed and grown to great lengths.<ref name="RoF-p11">{{Cite book/Races of Faerûn|11}}</ref>
 +
Gold dwarves were stout, tough individuals like their [[shield dwarf]] brethren but were less off-putting and gruff in nature. Conversely, gold dwarves were often less agile than other dwarves.<ref name="FRCS3e-p11" /> The average gold dwarf was about {{SI|4|ft|long=yes}} tall and as heavy as a full-grown [[human]], making them somewhat squatter than the more common shield dwarves. Gold dwarves were also distinguishable by their light brown or tanned skin, significantly darker than that of most dwarves, and their brown or hazel eyes. Gold dwarves have black, gray, or brown hair, which faded to light gray over time. Gold dwarf males and some females could grow beards, which were carefully groomed and grown to great lengths.<ref name="RoF-p11">{{Cite book/Races of Faerûn|11}}</ref>
   
−
==Ecology==
 +
==Personality==
  ⚫
Gold dwarves were both materialistic and ritualistic, valuing themselves and others by what they possessed and by the reputation of their family. Gold dwarves were deeply conservative, rooting their values and beliefs in traditions that have survived for millennia even as the world changed around them. From infancy, gold dwarves were taught that their life was determined by tradition, from what their profession should be to who they should marry. Gold dwarves who lacked faith in the old ways or who went so far as to challenge cultural taboos were seen as dangerous deviants unworthy of friendship or trust by the majority of gold dwarves, creating an enormous social pressure to conform.<ref name="RoF-p12" />
⚫
===Culture===
  
⚫
[[Human]]s who wander into the gold dwarven strongholds may be surprised to find a people far more confident and secure in their future than most dwarves. Whereas the shield dwarves suffered serious setbacks during their history, the gold dwarves have stood firm against the challenges thrown against them and so have few doubts about their place in the world. As a result, gold dwarves can come off as haughty and almost [[eladrin]]-like in their pride,<ref name="FRCS3e-p11"/> believing themselves culturally superior to all other races and lacking the fatalistic pessimism of their shield dwarven cousins.<ref name="RoF-p11"/>
  
   
  ⚫
In part because of their conservatism and staunch belief in their own cultural superiority, gold dwarves rarely ventured outside of their homelands. The [[Thunder Blessing]] was the first event in a long while to push the race out of their conformity, forcing young dwarves to seek their fortunes outside of the overcrowded [[Deep Realm]]. Other than such demographic pressures, the only motive for adventuring deemed rational to the average gold dwarf was the desire to seek out their fortune in unclaimed lands, perhaps to build a stronghold of their own.<ref name="RoF-p12" />
⚫
Gold dwarves speak a distinctive dialect of [[Dwarven language|Dwarven]] known as [[Riftspeak]], which is an archaic tongue largely unchanged since the days of [[Bhaerynden]]. However, gold dwarves, in spite of their cultural supremacism, often take the time to learn the languages of neighboring lands as well, such as [[Shaaran]], [[Durpari]], or [[Dambrathan]].<ref name="RoF-p12-13">{{Cite book/Races of Faerûn|12-13}}</ref>
  
   
  ⚫
Gold dwarves who did become [[adventurer]]s were most often [[fighter]]s, though [[cleric]]s, [[paladin]]s, [[ranger]]s, [[rogue]]s, or even [[arcane spellcaster]]s were not unheard of, particularly [[sorcerer]]s, many of whom were distantly descended from [[dragon]]s or [[elemental]]s. Experienced gold dwarf adventurers might become [[battlerager]]s, particularly those who found the tradition-bound strictures of their society oppressive. Other gold dwarves might train as [[dwarven defender]]s or [[divine champion]]s.<ref name="RoF-p12" />
−
====Art and leisure====
  
−
Gold dwarves are a deeply materialistic race who believe that the resources of the natural world exist only to serve the purpose of conscious beings. To a gold dwarf, there is no greater purpose than to fashion the minerals of the earth into things of beauty.<ref name="RoF-p11"/> Gold dwarf guilds take great care in their craftsmanship, often spending centuries to perfect their work and mark it distinctively as their own, a practice which is carried down to even the most simple tools, marking such items with detailed [[Dethek|rune]]s and carefully shaped flairs.<ref name="RoF-p14">{{Cite book/Races of Faerûn|14}}</ref>
  
   
  +
==Society==
⚫
Gold dwarf warriors employ a large number of finely crafted weapons and armor, often enchanted with runes or [[prayer]]s. Most commonly, dwarves employ weapons that can also be used as tools, such as [[axe]]s, [[pick]]s, or [[hammer]]s, alongside more specialized weapons like [[urgrosh]]es. Some unique items of note crafted by gold dwarves are mobile braces, rope climbers, or drogue wings used for riding [[hippogriff]]s.<ref name="RoF-p13-14">{{Cite book/Races of Faerûn|13-14}}</ref>
  
  ⚫
===Culture===
  +
[[File:Gold dwarf.jpg|thumb|right|''A gold dwarf warrior.'']]
  ⚫
Humans who wandered into the gold dwarven strongholds might be surprised to find a people far more confident and secure in their future than most dwarves. Whereas the shield dwarves suffered serious setbacks during their history, the gold dwarves stood firm against the challenges thrown against them and so had few doubts about their place in the world. As a result, gold dwarves could come off as haughty and prideful,<ref name="FRCS3e-p11" /> believing themselves culturally superior to all other races and lacking the fatalistic pessimism of their shield dwarven cousins.<ref name="RoF-p11" />
   
  ⚫
Gold dwarves spoke a distinctive dialect of [[Dwarven language|Dwarven]] known as [[Riftspeak]], which was an archaic tongue largely unchanged since the days of [[Bhaerynden]]. However, gold dwarves, in spite of their cultural supremacism, often took the time to learn the languages of neighboring lands as well, such as [[Shaaran]], [[Durpari]], or [[Dambrathan]].<ref name="RoF-p12-13">{{Cite book/Races of Faerûn|12-13}}</ref>
⚫
Gold dwarves enjoy the company of small lizards as pets such as the [[spitting crawler]] or [[shocker lizard]]. [[Deep rothé]] are frequently kept as livestock as well, alongside [[pack lizard]]s and [[mule]]s as beasts of burden, gold dwarf mules often bred specially from [[Lhesper]]an or [[Meth]] horses. For mounts, gold dwarves usually use riding lizards, war ponies, or, more rarely, hippogriffs.<ref name="RoF-p14"/>
  
   
−
====Magic and religion====
 +
====Art and Leisure====
−
Unlike most dwarven peoples, the gold dwarves are not particularly superstitious about magic and while still cautious in its use, are no more so than any wise [[human]] [[mage]],<ref name="FRCS3e-p11"/> and gold dwarves have even created a number of [[spell]]s unique to them. In part, gold dwarves are open to magic because of their heavy used of enchanted arms and weaponry, but primarily this tolerance comes from the age of gold dwarven civilization, which through sheer longevity has given rise to several magical traditions.<ref name="RoF-p13">{{Cite book/Races of Faerûn|13}}</ref>
 +
Gold dwarves were a deeply materialistic race who believed that the resources of the natural world existed only to serve the purpose of conscious beings. To a gold dwarf, there was no greater purpose than to fashion the minerals of the earth into things of beauty.<ref name="RoF-p11" /> Gold dwarf guilds took great care in their craftsmanship, often spending centuries to perfect their work and mark it distinctively as their own, a practice that was carried down to even the most simple tools, marking such items with detailed [[Dethek|runes]] and carefully shaped flairs.<ref name="RoF-p14">{{Cite book/Races of Faerûn|14}}</ref>
   
  ⚫
Gold dwarf warriors employed a large number of finely crafted weapons and armor, often enchanted with runes or [[prayer]]s. Most commonly, dwarves employ weapons that can also be used as tools, such as [[axe]]s, [[pick]]s, or [[hammer]]s, alongside more specialized weapons like [[urgrosh]]es. Some unique items of note crafted by gold dwarves were [[mobile brace]]s, [[rope climber]]s, and [[drogue wing]]s used for riding [[hippogriff]]s.<ref name="RoF-p13-14">{{Cite book/Races of Faerûn|13-14}}</ref>
⚫
Divine spellcasters remain more common among the gold dwarves, however,<ref name="RoF-p12">{{Cite book/Races of Faerûn|12}}</ref> though gold dwarves are less fervent in their beliefs than the openly devout shield dwarves. Gold dwarves most commonly favor the worship of [[Moradin]] and [[Berronar]], in part due once again to the age of the gold dwarf civilization, which stretches back to when many of the [[Morndinsamman]] had not yet become widely known. While the gold dwarves are not particularly devout, [[cleric]]s of Moradin and Berronar hold great prestige within gold dwarf society, the clerics of Berronar in particular for their responsibilities as genealogists and guardians of tradition.<ref name="RoF-p13-14"/>
  
   
  ⚫
Gold dwarves enjoyed the company of small [[lizard]]s as pets, such as the [[spitting crawler]] or [[shocker lizard]]. [[Deep rothé]] were frequently kept as livestock as well, alongside [[pack lizard]]s and [[mule]]s as beasts of burden; gold dwarf mules were often bred specially from [[Lhesper]]an or [[Meth]] horses. For mounts, gold dwarves usually used [[riding lizard]]s, [[pony|war ponies]], or, more rarely, hippogriffs.<ref name="RoF-p14" />
⚫
The most sacred site in gold dwarf civilization is the city of [[Thullurn]], where the regional church of Moradin is centered. There, Moradin's clerics sponsors a rich culture of manufacturing and craftsmanship as well as serving as the city's executive and judiciary branches of government.<ref name="RoF-p14"/>
  
   
  +
====Magic & Religion====
⚫
==Relationships==
  
  +
Unlike most dwarven peoples, the gold dwarves were not particularly superstitious about [[magic]] and, while still cautious in its use, were no more so than any wise [[human]] [[mage]],<ref name="FRCS3e-p11" /> and gold dwarves even created a number of [[spell]]s unique to them. In part, gold dwarves were open to magic because of their heavy use of enchanted arms and weaponry, but primarily this tolerance came from the age of gold dwarven civilization, which through sheer longevity had given rise to several magical traditions.<ref name="RoF-p13">{{Cite book/Races of Faerûn|13}}</ref>
⚫
[[File:Gold dwarf.jpg|thumb|left]]
  
⚫
The gold dwarves are a proud race confident in their race's future after millennia of stability and because of this they have earned a somewhat deserved reputation for xenophobia and supremacism. Gold dwarves believe dwarves to be the greatest of all races and themselves to be the greatest of all dwarves, placing themselves at the top of the cultural pyramid. Gold dwarves in particular look down upon the [[Tel-quessir]], whom they loathe in part due to their ancient enmity with the [[drow]].<ref name="RoF-p14"/>
  
   
  ⚫
Divine spellcasters remained more common among the gold dwarves, however,<ref name="RoF-p12">{{Cite book/Races of Faerûn|12}}</ref> though gold dwarves were less fervent in their beliefs than the openly devout shield dwarves. Gold dwarves most commonly favored the worship of [[Moradin]] and [[Berronar]], in part due once again to the age of the gold dwarf civilization, which stretched back to when many of the [[Morndinsamman]] had not yet become widely known. While the gold dwarves were not particularly devout, [[cleric]]s of Moradin and Berronar held great prestige within gold dwarf society, the clerics of Berronar in particular for their responsibilities as genealogists and guardians of tradition.<ref name="RoF-p13-14" />
⚫
Of the monstrous races, the gold dwarves' opinion is even lower.<ref name="RoF-p14"/> Among many key differences between gold dwarves and their more common kin is that the traditional enemies of the gold dwarf are not [[goblinoid]]s but [[aberration]]s and other creatures of the Underdark, against whom many gold dwarves have some defensive training.<ref name="FRCS3e-p11"/> But this does not mean gold dwarves enjoy the company of goblins or [[orc]]s, whom they lump [[half-orc]]s in with.<ref name="RoF-p14"/>
  
   
  ⚫
The most sacred site in gold dwarf civilization was the city of [[Thullurn]], where the regional church of Moradin was centered. There, Moradin's clerics sponsored a rich culture of manufacturing and craftsmanship as well as serving as the city's executive and judiciary branches of government.<ref name="RoF-p14" />
⚫
However, gold dwarves do not see all races besides themselves with enmity. For instance, gold dwarves have an atypically high value of [[human]]s and their [[planetouched]] kin for non-human races, valuing the often profitable trading arrangements they've had with human realms going back throughout history. Similarly, gold dwarves are, as a rule, rather fond of [[strongheart halfling]]s, seeing them as kindred of spirit due to the subrace's propensity for industriousness and honor.<ref name="RoF-p14"/>
  
   
−
==Psychology==
 +
===Homelands===
  ⚫
In contrast with their shield dwarf brethren, the gold dwarves largely kept their kingdom, the [[Deep Realm]], intact and held strong against the assaults of other races. Gold dwarves could also be found in the [[Smoking Mountains]] as well as the [[Giant's Run Mountains]] west of the [[Vilhon Reach]].<ref name="FRCS3e-p11" />
⚫
Gold dwarves are both materialistic and ritualistic, valuing themselves and others by what they possess and by the reputation of their family. Gold dwarves are deeply conservative, rooting their values and beliefs in traditions that have survived for millennia even as the world changed around them. From infancy, gold dwarves are taught that their life is determined by tradition, from what their profession shall be to who they shall marry. Gold dwarves who lack faith in the old ways or who go so far as to challenge cultural taboos are seen as dangerous deviants unworthy of friendship or trust by the majority of gold dwarves, creating an enormous social pressure to conform.<ref name="RoF-p12"/>
  
   
  ⚫
==Relationships==
⚫
In part because of their conservatism and staunch belief in their own cultural superiority, gold dwarves rarely venture outside of their homelands. The [[Thunder Blessing]] was the first event in a long while to push the race out of their conformity, forcing young dwarves to seek their fortunes outside of an overcrowded Deep Realm. Other than such demographic pressures, the only motive for adventuring deemed rational to the average gold dwarf is the desire to seek out their fortune in unclaimed lands, perhaps to build a stronghold of their own.<ref name="RoF-p12"/>
  
  +
[[File: FRCS3e dwarves, human, gnomes.jpg|thumb|250px|left|''A shield dwarf, gold dwarf, gray dwarf, human, [[rock gnome]], and [[deep gnome]].'']]
  ⚫
The gold dwarves were a proud race confident in their race's future after millennia of stability and because of this they had earned a somewhat deserved reputation for xenophobia and supremacism. Gold dwarves believed dwarves to be the greatest of all races and themselves to be the greatest of all dwarves, placing themselves at the top of the cultural pyramid. Gold dwarves in particular looked down upon the [[Tel-quessir]], whom they loathed in part due to their ancient enmity with the [[drow]].<ref name="RoF-p14" />
  +
  ⚫
Of the monstrous races, the gold dwarves' opinion was even lower.<ref name="RoF-p14" /> Among many key differences between gold dwarves and their more common kin was that the traditional enemies of the gold dwarves were not [[goblinoid]]s but [[aberration]]s and other creatures of the Underdark, against whom many gold dwarves had some defensive training.<ref name="FRCS3e-p11" /> But this did not mean gold dwarves enjoyed the company of goblins or [[orc]]s, whom they lumped [[half-orc]]s in with.<ref name="RoF-p14" />
   
  ⚫
However, gold dwarves did not see all races besides themselves with enmity. For instance, gold dwarves had an atypically high value of [[human]]s and their [[planetouched]] kin for non-human races, valuing the often-profitable trading arrangements they'd had with human realms throughout history. Similarly, gold dwarves were, as a rule, rather fond of [[strongheart halfling]]s, seeing them as kindred spirits for their propensity for industriousness and honor.<ref name="RoF-p14" />
⚫
Gold dwarves who do become [[adventurer]]s are most often [[fighter]]s, though [[cleric]]s, [[paladin]]s, [[ranger]]s, [[rogue]]s, or even [[arcane spellcaster]]s are not unheard of, particularly [[sorcerer]]s, many of whom are distantly descended from [[dragon]]s or [[elemental]]s. Experienced gold dwarf adventurers might become [[battlerager]]s, particularly those who find the tradition-bound strictures of their society oppressive. Other gold dwarves might train as [[dwarven defender]]s or [[divine champion]]s.<ref name="RoF-p12"/>
  
   
 
==History==
  
==History==
−
Originally, all the dwarven peoples were part of a single nation, the empire of [[Bhaerynden]]. Established sixteen thousand years ago, Bhaerynden occupied a vast cavern beneath the [[dark elf]] nation of [[Ilythiir]] and claimed for itself large swaths of the then largely unclaimed [[Underdark]]. Other than a large exodus of dwarves led by [[Taark Shanat|Taark Shanat the Crusader]] in [[-11000 DR]], the dwarves of Bhaerynden dwelt beneath the dark elves largely undisturbed for millennia. However, the transformation of the dark elves into [[drow]] at the end of the [[Crown Wars]] a millennium later would shatter the empire, as the newly displaced drow turned their rage and military might against the dwarves and within six centuries the drow had scattered the former occupants throughout the neighboring caverns and supplanted Bhaerynden with the empire of [[Telantiwar]].<ref name="RoF-p11"/>
 +
Originally, all the dwarven peoples were part of a single nation, the empire of [[Bhaerynden]]. Established sixteen thousand years ago, Bhaerynden occupied a vast cavern beneath the [[dark elf]] nation of [[Ilythiir]] and claimed for itself large swaths of the then largely unclaimed Underdark. Other than a large exodus of dwarves led by [[Taark Shanat|Taark Shanat the Crusader]] in {{Yearlink|-11000}}, the dwarves of Bhaerynden dwelt beneath the dark elves largely undisturbed for millennia. However, the transformation of the dark elves into [[drow]] at the end of the [[Crown Wars]] a millennium later would shatter the empire, as the newly displaced drow turned their rage and military might against the dwarves and within six centuries the drow had scattered the former occupants throughout the neighboring caverns and supplanted Bhaerynden with the empire of [[Telantiwar]].<ref name="RoF-p11" />
   
−
However, the drow dominance of Telantiwar was temporary. In [[-7600 DR]] the roof of the caverns that contained Telantiwar collapsed, creating what would become known as the [[Great Rift]]. Explanations for the collapse vary, with gold dwarves favoring the theory that [[Moradin]] himself brought the roof down while scholars of other races believe the drow may have weakened the foundations of the cavernous network. With their ancient enemies battered, the heirs of Bhaerynden returned to their homeland, establishing the [[Deep Realm]]. In the millennia that followed the inhabitants of the [[Deep Realm]], now known as gold dwarves, spread throughout the Underdark, reclaiming much of what had once been theirs and building glamorous cities of fabulous riches, which they trade through history with the many human empires of the surface world, from [[Jhaamdath]] to the cities of [[Chondath]].<ref name="RoF-p11-12">{{Cite book/Races of Faerûn|11-12}}</ref>
 +
However, the drow dominance of Telantiwar was temporary. In {{Yearlink|-7600}}, the roof of the caverns that contained Telantiwar collapsed, creating what would become known as the [[Great Rift]]. Explanations for the collapse vary, with gold dwarves favoring the theory that Moradin himself brought the roof down while scholars of other races believe the drow had weakened the foundations of the cavernous network. With their ancient enemies battered, the heirs of Bhaerynden returned to their homeland, establishing the Deep Realm. In the millennia that followed, the inhabitants of the Deep Realm, now known as gold dwarves, spread throughout the Underdark, reclaiming much of what had once been theirs and building glamorous cities of fabulous riches, which they traded through history with the many human empires of the surface world, from [[Jhaamdath]] to the cities of [[Chondath]].<ref name="RoF-p11-12">{{Cite book/Races of Faerûn|11-12}}</ref>
   
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Like the shield dwarves, gold dwarves were [[Thunder Blessing|blessed]] with a surge in birthrate by [[Moradin]] in the [[1306 DR|The Year of Thunder]]. While the [[Thunder Blessing]] was seen as a boon to most dwarves, among the gold dwarves its results were less appreciated, the Blessing actually causing the previously stable population to actually swell beyond the capacity of the [[Deep Kingdom]] to support. In the years that followed afterwards many displaced younger gold dwarves forsook the isolationist policies of their elders and took to exploring [[Faerûn]].<ref name="RoF-p11"/>
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Like the shield dwarves, gold dwarves were blessed with a surge in birthrate by Moradin in the {{YearlinkName|1306}}. While the [[Thunder Blessing]] was seen as a boon to most dwarves, among the gold dwarves its results were less appreciated, as the Blessing actually causing the previously stable population to swell beyond the capacity of the Deep Kingdom to support. In the years that followed, many displaced younger gold dwarves forsook the isolationist policies of their elders and took to exploring [[Faerûn]].<ref name="RoF-p11" />
   
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==Homelands==
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==Appendix==
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===Gallery===
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In contrast with their [[shield dwarf|shield dwarven]] brethren, the gold dwarves have largely kept their kingdom, [[East Rift]], intact and have held strong against the assaults of other races. Gold dwarves can also be found in the [[Smoking Mountains]] as well as the [[Giant's Run Mountains]] west of the [[Vilhon Reach]].<ref name="FRCS3e-p11"/>
  
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* [[:Category:Images of gold dwarves]]
   
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==References==
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===References===
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{{Refs}}
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===Sourcebooks===
  
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* {{Cite book/Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 3rd edition}}
  
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* {{Cite book/Races of Faerûn}}
  
   
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Revision as of 03:16, 6 June 2020

Gold dwarves, also known as hill dwarves,[11] were the aloof, confident and sometimes proud subrace of dwarves that predominantly came from the Great Rift. They were known to be particularly stalwart warriors and shrewd traders. Gold dwarves were often trained specifically to battle the horrendous aberrations that were known to come from the Underdark.[12]

Description

Gold dwarves were stout, tough individuals like their shield dwarf brethren but were less off-putting and gruff in nature. Conversely, gold dwarves were often less agile than other dwarves.[12] The average gold dwarf was about 4 feet (1.2 meters) tall and as heavy as a full-grown human, making them somewhat squatter than the more common shield dwarves. Gold dwarves were also distinguishable by their light brown or tanned skin, significantly darker than that of most dwarves, and their brown or hazel eyes. Gold dwarves have black, gray, or brown hair, which faded to light gray over time. Gold dwarf males and some females could grow beards, which were carefully groomed and grown to great lengths.[9]

Personality

Gold dwarves were both materialistic and ritualistic, valuing themselves and others by what they possessed and by the reputation of their family. Gold dwarves were deeply conservative, rooting their values and beliefs in traditions that have survived for millennia even as the world changed around them. From infancy, gold dwarves were taught that their life was determined by tradition, from what their profession should be to who they should marry. Gold dwarves who lacked faith in the old ways or who went so far as to challenge cultural taboos were seen as dangerous deviants unworthy of friendship or trust by the majority of gold dwarves, creating an enormous social pressure to conform.[13]

In part because of their conservatism and staunch belief in their own cultural superiority, gold dwarves rarely ventured outside of their homelands. The Thunder Blessing was the first event in a long while to push the race out of their conformity, forcing young dwarves to seek their fortunes outside of the overcrowded Deep Realm. Other than such demographic pressures, the only motive for adventuring deemed rational to the average gold dwarf was the desire to seek out their fortune in unclaimed lands, perhaps to build a stronghold of their own.[13]

Gold dwarves who did become adventurers were most often fighters, though clerics, paladins, rangers, rogues, or even arcane spellcasters were not unheard of, particularly sorcerers, many of whom were distantly descended from dragons or elementals. Experienced gold dwarf adventurers might become battleragers, particularly those who found the tradition-bound strictures of their society oppressive. Other gold dwarves might train as dwarven defenders or divine champions.[13]

Society

Culture

Gold dwarf

A gold dwarf warrior.

Humans who wandered into the gold dwarven strongholds might be surprised to find a people far more confident and secure in their future than most dwarves. Whereas the shield dwarves suffered serious setbacks during their history, the gold dwarves stood firm against the challenges thrown against them and so had few doubts about their place in the world. As a result, gold dwarves could come off as haughty and prideful,[12] believing themselves culturally superior to all other races and lacking the fatalistic pessimism of their shield dwarven cousins.[9]

Gold dwarves spoke a distinctive dialect of Dwarven known as Riftspeak, which was an archaic tongue largely unchanged since the days of Bhaerynden. However, gold dwarves, in spite of their cultural supremacism, often took the time to learn the languages of neighboring lands as well, such as Shaaran, Durpari, or Dambrathan.[14]

Art and Leisure

Gold dwarves were a deeply materialistic race who believed that the resources of the natural world existed only to serve the purpose of conscious beings. To a gold dwarf, there was no greater purpose than to fashion the minerals of the earth into things of beauty.[9] Gold dwarf guilds took great care in their craftsmanship, often spending centuries to perfect their work and mark it distinctively as their own, a practice that was carried down to even the most simple tools, marking such items with detailed runes and carefully shaped flairs.[15]

Gold dwarf warriors employed a large number of finely crafted weapons and armor, often enchanted with runes or prayers. Most commonly, dwarves employ weapons that can also be used as tools, such as axes, picks, or hammers, alongside more specialized weapons like urgroshes. Some unique items of note crafted by gold dwarves were mobile braces, rope climbers, and drogue wings used for riding hippogriffs.[16]

Gold dwarves enjoyed the company of small lizards as pets, such as the spitting crawler or shocker lizard. Deep rothé were frequently kept as livestock as well, alongside pack lizards and mules as beasts of burden; gold dwarf mules were often bred specially from Lhesperan or Meth horses. For mounts, gold dwarves usually used riding lizards, war ponies, or, more rarely, hippogriffs.[15]

Magic & Religion

Unlike most dwarven peoples, the gold dwarves were not particularly superstitious about magic and, while still cautious in its use, were no more so than any wise human mage,[12] and gold dwarves even created a number of spells unique to them. In part, gold dwarves were open to magic because of their heavy use of enchanted arms and weaponry, but primarily this tolerance came from the age of gold dwarven civilization, which through sheer longevity had given rise to several magical traditions.[17]

Divine spellcasters remained more common among the gold dwarves, however,[13] though gold dwarves were less fervent in their beliefs than the openly devout shield dwarves. Gold dwarves most commonly favored the worship of Moradin and Berronar, in part due once again to the age of the gold dwarf civilization, which stretched back to when many of the Morndinsamman had not yet become widely known. While the gold dwarves were not particularly devout, clerics of Moradin and Berronar held great prestige within gold dwarf society, the clerics of Berronar in particular for their responsibilities as genealogists and guardians of tradition.[16]

The most sacred site in gold dwarf civilization was the city of Thullurn, where the regional church of Moradin was centered. There, Moradin's clerics sponsored a rich culture of manufacturing and craftsmanship as well as serving as the city's executive and judiciary branches of government.[15]

Homelands

In contrast with their shield dwarf brethren, the gold dwarves largely kept their kingdom, the Deep Realm, intact and held strong against the assaults of other races. Gold dwarves could also be found in the Smoking Mountains as well as the Giant's Run Mountains west of the Vilhon Reach.[12]

Relationships

FRCS3e dwarves, human, gnomes

A shield dwarf, gold dwarf, gray dwarf, human, rock gnome, and deep gnome.

The gold dwarves were a proud race confident in their race's future after millennia of stability and because of this they had earned a somewhat deserved reputation for xenophobia and supremacism. Gold dwarves believed dwarves to be the greatest of all races and themselves to be the greatest of all dwarves, placing themselves at the top of the cultural pyramid. Gold dwarves in particular looked down upon the Tel-quessir, whom they loathed in part due to their ancient enmity with the drow.[15]

Of the monstrous races, the gold dwarves' opinion was even lower.[15] Among many key differences between gold dwarves and their more common kin was that the traditional enemies of the gold dwarves were not goblinoids but aberrations and other creatures of the Underdark, against whom many gold dwarves had some defensive training.[12] But this did not mean gold dwarves enjoyed the company of goblins or orcs, whom they lumped half-orcs in with.[15]

However, gold dwarves did not see all races besides themselves with enmity. For instance, gold dwarves had an atypically high value of humans and their planetouched kin for non-human races, valuing the often-profitable trading arrangements they'd had with human realms throughout history. Similarly, gold dwarves were, as a rule, rather fond of strongheart halflings, seeing them as kindred spirits for their propensity for industriousness and honor.[15]

History

Originally, all the dwarven peoples were part of a single nation, the empire of Bhaerynden. Established sixteen thousand years ago, Bhaerynden occupied a vast cavern beneath the dark elf nation of Ilythiir and claimed for itself large swaths of the then largely unclaimed Underdark. Other than a large exodus of dwarves led by Taark Shanat the Crusader in −11,000 DR, the dwarves of Bhaerynden dwelt beneath the dark elves largely undisturbed for millennia. However, the transformation of the dark elves into drow at the end of the Crown Wars a millennium later would shatter the empire, as the newly displaced drow turned their rage and military might against the dwarves and within six centuries the drow had scattered the former occupants throughout the neighboring caverns and supplanted Bhaerynden with the empire of Telantiwar.[9]

However, the drow dominance of Telantiwar was temporary. In −7600 DR, the roof of the caverns that contained Telantiwar collapsed, creating what would become known as the Great Rift. Explanations for the collapse vary, with gold dwarves favoring the theory that Moradin himself brought the roof down while scholars of other races believe the drow had weakened the foundations of the cavernous network. With their ancient enemies battered, the heirs of Bhaerynden returned to their homeland, establishing the Deep Realm. In the millennia that followed, the inhabitants of the Deep Realm, now known as gold dwarves, spread throughout the Underdark, reclaiming much of what had once been theirs and building glamorous cities of fabulous riches, which they traded through history with the many human empires of the surface world, from Jhaamdath to the cities of Chondath.[18]

Like the shield dwarves, gold dwarves were blessed with a surge in birthrate by Moradin in the Year of Thunder, 1306 DR. While the Thunder Blessing was seen as a boon to most dwarves, among the gold dwarves its results were less appreciated, as the Blessing actually causing the previously stable population to swell beyond the capacity of the Deep Kingdom to support. In the years that followed, many displaced younger gold dwarves forsook the isolationist policies of their elders and took to exploring Faerûn.[9]

Appendix

Gallery

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford (2014). Player's Handbook 5th edition. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 18–20. ISBN 978-0-7869-6560-1.
  2. ↑ Mike Mearls, Stephen Schubert, James Wyatt (June 2008). Monster Manual 4th edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 97. ISBN 978-0-7869-4852-9.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Skip Williams, Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook (July 2003). Monster Manual v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 91–93. ISBN 0-7869-2893-X.
  4. ↑ James Wyatt, Rob Heinsoo (February 2001). Monster Compendium: Monsters of Faerûn. Edited by Duane Maxwell. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 47. ISBN 0-7869-1832-2.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 Doug Stewart (June 1993). Monstrous Manual. (TSR, Inc), pp. 94–95. ISBN 1-5607-6619-0.
  6. ↑ Template:Cite book/Player's Handbook 3.5 edition
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Template:Cite book/Player's Handbook 3.5 edition
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Richard Baker, James Wyatt (March 2004). Player's Guide to Faerûn. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 31. ISBN 0-7869-3134-5.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 9.6 Reynolds, Forbeck, Jacobs, Boyd (March 2003). Races of Faerûn. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 11. ISBN 0-7869-2875-1.
  10. ↑ Richard Baker, James Wyatt (March 2004). Player's Guide to Faerûn. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 32. ISBN 0-7869-3134-5.
  11. ↑ Roger E. Moore (January 1999). Demihumans of the Realms. (TSR, Inc.), p. 8. ISBN 0-7869-1316-9.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 12.5 Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo (June 2001). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 11. ISBN 0-7869-1836-5.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 Reynolds, Forbeck, Jacobs, Boyd (March 2003). Races of Faerûn. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 12. ISBN 0-7869-2875-1.
  14. ↑ Reynolds, Forbeck, Jacobs, Boyd (March 2003). Races of Faerûn. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 12–13. ISBN 0-7869-2875-1.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 15.5 15.6 Reynolds, Forbeck, Jacobs, Boyd (March 2003). Races of Faerûn. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 14. ISBN 0-7869-2875-1.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Reynolds, Forbeck, Jacobs, Boyd (March 2003). Races of Faerûn. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 13–14. ISBN 0-7869-2875-1.
  17. ↑ Reynolds, Forbeck, Jacobs, Boyd (March 2003). Races of Faerûn. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 13. ISBN 0-7869-2875-1.
  18. ↑ Reynolds, Forbeck, Jacobs, Boyd (March 2003). Races of Faerûn. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 11–12. ISBN 0-7869-2875-1.

Connections

Dwarves
Arctic dwarf • Chultan dwarf • Desert dwarf • Gold dwarf • Shield dwarf • Urdunnir dwarf • Wild dwarf
Related Races
Athasian dwarf (Mul) • Azer • Derro • Duergar • Durzagon • D'tarig • Korobokuru • Maeluth • Ysgardian dwarf
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