Dvergr

Dvergr are one of the five mortal peoples and bear the burden of Pressure. They are a broad, physically strong people associated with underground engineering, ordered routine and the earliest systematic study of Lodestone. The outsider word dwarf is derogatory and misleading: Dvergr are only moderately shorter than humans.

Biology

Dvergr usually live between one hundred and one hundred twenty years and average about 172 centimetres in height. They have dull grey skin, white, grey or black hair and usually grey eyes. Amber eyes occur in some families and are associated with old nobility. Muted blue colour may appear in the lips, palms or fingertips.

Pressure and social order

Dvergr tend toward intense tunnel vision. An absorbed individual may neglect food, sleep, hygiene or bodily pain for dangerous periods. Dverg societies therefore treat meals, schedules, interruption and duty rotation as safeguards rather than petty discipline.

This trait supports extraordinary engineering concentration but becomes dangerous under burden overload, when ordinary stress, weight or even air pressure may become intolerable.

Halls and disappearance

Before the Fall, Dvergr live in states such as Valkrun, Metrilburg and old Montaxi. When the Forever War begins, many halls seal or withdraw deeper. Public human history later treats them as extinct.

The Lower Gate tradition indicates that a large stream instead moves south through ancient tunnels and helps found the Dawn Dominion. Dvergr become its largest preserved population, retaining habits of counting, rationing and practical balance.

Knowledge and technology

Dvergr understand the engineering behaviour of Lodestone and refine it into Uclidium. Their smiths shape resonant metal through pressure, vibration and controlled heat. Pre-Fall underground steam railways connected old Montaxi to @Mattrozhia across extraordinary distances, although the surviving routes and their chronology remain uncertain.