The Dwarves of Anselm

 

 

Lifespan: 120-130 years.
Minimum Costuming Racials: Orange in a raccoon pattern around the eyes, and Grey cracks in that area. Beard optional but highly recommended.

The Dwarves of the country of Anselm are nothing if not tool-focused. Preferring to define themselves by the quality of the works they can produce to make their lives better.

“The high walls of home and the clear blue skies, are always a sight for sore Dwarven eyes.”
-The Way Home by Brunli Stonesoothe

Society:
The Dwarves used to organize themselves in large walled cities and towns that anyone could call home. With the threat of the Amur they have been mostly forced out of this way of life, but there are still many who stubbornly hold on to their walls and their homes. Those that do stay organized the way they always have: with a ruling council made up of the eldest Dwarves of the most influential families in the town or city. How Dwarves organize in smaller settlements or pockets of individuals is close to a downsized version of the normal method, where the ruling council is made up of the best craftspeople in the group. Where these craftspeople represent the wishes of their respective groups.

Culture:
The Dwarven obsession with crafts came from their time in the cities learning directly from Penoriel herself. Under her tutelage, they came to appreciate tools and their use. It was after these years of learning alongside their creator that the use of tools and the making of them became the center of Dwarven culture. To the point that they consider the act of creating tools to be intrinsically Dwarven. As time went on it was not only the creation of tools themselves that was seen as good, but creation itself. Creative pursuits flourished and artistic expression was considered an integral part of Dwarven life. Every Dwarf is allowed and encouraged to follow their artistic pursuits, in any fashion, so long as it does not violate the creative process and well being of others.
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Family:
Dwarven families are very tight knit, and each generation being closely linked to the one before and after. Families as a whole pride themselves on excelling at a kind of craft, making it their familial legacy. So long as at least one child takes on the family craft the family considers their legacy upheld. Marriage is taken very seriously, as it is the joining of two families. The individuals getting married make the choice of which family to join or if they wish to split from the main family and make a new one, but once the decision is made it is final.

Religion:
The majority of the Aneselm worship Penoriel, due to their tutelage directly from her in the Race’s infancy. The Anselm themselves rarely worship other Gods, and do not have problems when others do. The knowledge of another Anselm Dwarf worshipping someone other than Penoriel is met with a mix of outward curiosity and inward disappointment.