In the time following the fall of the elven province of Meridian, the alliance between humanity and the dwarves strengthened greatly. The dwarves in this region migrated to the surface for a period of three centuries. Thereafter they returned with the crusade of King Rothar against the vile duegar infesting the underhalls. It is hardly surprising, given the proximity and mutual goals of these two races during the surface period, that they sometimes wed and produced offspring.
Personality: Half-dwarves have the pride and confidence of their dwarven forefathers mixed with the ambition and momentum of humanity.
Physical Description: Half-dwarven offspring are a sturdy breed, slightly shorter than humans but lacking the full broad frame of a full-blooded dwarf, Their features tend to be rugged, like both their human and dwarven parents dwarven males are capable of growing considerable beards. Their hair and skin tends to be dark.
Relations: Many half-dwarves are born in large cities such as Meridian. Many urban half-dwarves have made great places for themselves as merchants or artisans. Alternately many find themselves in the ranks of the military. Rural half-dwarves, while not unheard of are much rarer that their cosmopolitan brethren. In the countryside the strong sense of dwarven community which lingers in major urban centers is absent and thus many half-dwarves of rural background are much more human in their disposition. In either case unlike half-elves who are usually raised in only one culture, half-dwarves typically bear the mark of a union between human and dwarven society.
Alignment: Half dwarves have a strong sense of duty and order and tend to gravitate towards lawful alignments.
Half-dwarven Lands: Being a cross-breed race half-dwarves have no lands of their own. Most are welcomed anywhere in civilized lands particularly in the nation of Meridian.
Religion: Religion is often an issue in the life of a half-dwarf as both the churches of both their parent races, despite warm political alliances, remain somewhat distant theologically. Many half-dwarves gravitate to the order of the earthbrethren, a sect of Angelique closely affiliated with dwarves and Moradin.
Language: Half-dwarves have no language of their own but can typically speak both dwarven and common very fluently.
Names: Half-dwarven names are either of human or dwarven origin, seldom however do they reflect both cultures.
Racial Abilities
+2 to One Ability Score: Half-dwarf characters get a +2 bonus to one ability score of their choice at creation to represent their varied nature, though the benefit is often in Con or Wisdom, and seldom Charisma.
Medium Sized: As medium sized creatures, half-dwarves have no special bonuses or penalties due to their size.
Steady: Half-dwarven base speed is 25 feet, they treat medium armor as light, and light armor as medium for the purposes of movement and run speed.
Darkvision: Half-dwarves can see in the dark up to 40 feet.
Stonecunning: Half-dwarves receive receive a +1 on perception and appraise checks regarding stonework, metalwork, and gems.
Hatred: Half-dwarves receive a +1 bonus on attack rolls against humanoid creatures of the orc and goblinoid subtypes due to special training against these hated foes.
Hardy: Half-dwarves receive a +1 racial bonus on saving throws against poison, spells, and spell-like abilities.
Defensive Training: Half-Dwarves get a +2 dodge bonus to AC against monsters of the giant subtype.
StableHalf-Dwarves receive a +2 racial bonus to their Combat Maneuver Defense when resisting a bull rush or trip attempt while standing on the ground.
Skilled: Half-dwarves are always talented, they recieve one bonus skill point per level, they may not take skill points as a favored class bonus.
** Languages:** Half-Dwarves begin play speaking Common and Dwarven. Dwarves with high Intelligence scores can choose from the following: Giant, Gnome, Goblin, Orc, Terran, and Undercommon.
Favored Class: Half-dwarves can chose any favored class they desire, they receive +1 hit point any time they take a level in their favored class regardless of what is is.
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