Endonym: Wer
The Dwarves worship the Goddess Brigantia, who they call Ruheema, “High Mother,” and her children, the Yad Ruheema, “of the hand of Ruheema.” The Dwarves were, at one time, united under the banner of Ruheema. All Dwarves venerated Ruheema above all else, with her children serving as secondary Gods and family protectors. However, long ago, a schism created the twelve tribes of Shelanu, the Dwaven Nation. Each tribe was attributed to a particular God in their pantheon, one for Ruheema, the Dwarves that remained faithful to the old ways, 10 for each of the Yad Ruheema, and one which venerated their ancestors and Sheol, the land of the dead.
Dwarves are shorter than the Humans and Elves, from which their namesake originates. Originally, all Dwarves lived within the great city of Navah Wer, Home of the Dwarves. Now, each of the tribes lives within their own stronghold, where the denizens are dedicated to their chosen Yad Ruheema. Although twelve Dwarven strongholds once existed, only 9 remain today. Chel-Khoebnu was destroyed by Rihan for showing a great amount of hubris and disdain towards her. Chel-Kohria was destroyed in a struggle between the Ohnki people and the Dwarves of the stronghold stemming from the Dwarves’ allegiance to Rihan.
The Emethheart tribe, the tribe which remained loyal to Ruheema, continued to dwell in the twelfth, and original, city of Navah Wer as was their birthright. The disappearance of Navah Wer is shrouded in mystery. Some speculate that Brigantia elevated the Dwarves that remained loyal, allowing them to live beyond death in her domain. Others tell tales of Brigantia using Navah Wer to create her domain, as she did not have one of her own yet, and avoided the work by absorbing the home of the Dwarves. Either way, the home of the Dwarves is now long lost to history, and many Dwarves hope to earn their place in the holy city after death, rather than being laid to rest in Sheol for eternity.
Chel-Kohria was destroyed later in a Human led siege after tensions between the Dwarves and Humans grew too great to ignore. This siege took longer though, years passed before the Humans finally gained an upper hand and destroyed the stronghold. Many Dwarves still hold the Ohnki people responsible. Still, bad blood exists between the people of Ohnk and Dwarves of the area, although now they live in a fragile peace manufacture by treaties drawn up by other nations.
Chel-Khoebnu was destroyed by Rihan after showing great hubris. Its destruction took over a year, the Dwarves held out as long as they could and took down thousands of Rihan’s forces before they prevailed. The rest of the Dwarven strongholds followed suit, kneeling before their new queen, and stubbornly served her as warriors, smiths, and body guards.
Due to their part in the attack on Qati, when the Goddess returned, she robbed the Dwarves of their ability to tap into her magic breath. Because of their inability to use magic, many Dwarves in turn became highly devoted to other Gods and Goddesses, who are able to grant them power. The Yad Ruheema fully accepted this restriction, as it pushed the Dwarves towards them, elevating their power and increasing their devoted followers.
A few lucky Dwarves are not born by Dwarven parents, but of the earth, of the same material that bore the Yad Ruheema. These Dwarves are called Stoneborn and are thought of as especially holy, elevated by their peers to greatness from birth. Stoneborn Dwarves are given a name by a priest or priestess of the church of the God or Goddess their stone represents. Their last name is not passed down as with other Dwarves, because they have no parents, instead their last name is taken from the God or Goddess which represents the earth from which they were born. For instance a Stoneborn Dwarf of gold would be given a first name by a priestess of Yophi, and their last name would be Bent Yophi, “Son of Yophi,” or Batht Yophi, “Daughter of Yophi.”