Mortal Races: Dwarves

The dwarves are the most common non-human race in Tellaia. Their past is shrouded in history, as they do not like to share their secrets with humans. According to the dwarves, they are the oldest mortal race, predating humans - though this contradicts what is said in the Storia, which states that humanity was the first ensouled mortal race. Some racists use this to say that dwarves have no souls. The official position of the (non-dwarven) learned is that dwarves were altered from humans by the Host during the earliest days of the world.

What is certain is that dwarves have the oldest religion tradition worshiping the Creative One. Certainly, they were responsible for teaching La Salvatrice, although she further developed her knowledge through communion with angels. They were also responsible for betraying her to her death. They still keep their own religion today. Dwarves tend to form their own communities, led by their priests, and dwarf neighbourhoods are common throughout the cities of Tirenia. They are industrious and hard-working, well-known for their skill as craftsmen, as doctors and as moneylenders. They tend to not join guilds either, which can lead to further tension. Of course, there are also many nontraditional dwarves who have adopted the culture of their home city to a greater or lesser degree, but they are always, to some extent, outsiders.

Related image
Art: 'The Dwarf Sebastian de Morra'. Diego Velazquez, 1645.

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