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[[File:Cg ico race male dwarf.png|right|Icon for male dwarves]]
[[File:Cg ico race male dwarf.png|right|Icon for male dwarves]]
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The '''Dwarves''', or Dwarva, as the Dwarves refer to themselves
[[Stone Halls of the Dwarves]]
are one of the major humanoid races of the [[Dragon Age]] setting, and one of the three playable races in ''[[Dragon Age: Origins]]''. In the dwarven [[language]], they refer to themselves as the ''dwarva''.
[http://social.bioware.com/wiki/dragonage/index.php/The_History_of_the_Dwarves "The History of the Dwarves"]. BioWare. May 25, 2012
Strong, stocky, and short in comparison to both [[humans]] and [[elves]], the dwarves have a long tradition of courage and martial skill that has served them well in their millennia-long battle against the [[Darkspawn]] in the Deep Roads. They are a race in decline, once boasting a huge, great empire spanning across vast underground networks of twelve great [[Thaigs]] that spanned the breadth of [[Thedas]]. The [[First Blight]] caught the Dwarves off guard in the midst of a bitter civil war and only through the efforts of the great [[Paragon]] Aeducan was Orzammar saved from total devastation. However, within fifty years of Aeducan's heroic rescue of the city, every outer Thaig and all but the four greatest kingdoms--Orzammar, [[Kal-Sharok]], Hormak and Gundaar--were lost.
''Dragon Age RPG'', ''Player's Guide'', set 2, pg. 10, Green Ronin Publishing, LLC, 2011.
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The '''Dwarves''', or Dwarva, as the dwarves refer to themselves
[[Stone Halls of the Dwarves]]
are one of the major humanoid races of the [[Dragon Age]] setting, and one of the three playable races in ''[[Dragon Age: Origins]]''. In the dwarven [[language]], they refer to themselves as the ''dwarva''.
[http://social.bioware.com/wiki/dragonage/index.php/The_History_of_the_Dwarves "The History of the Dwarves"]. BioWare. May 25, 2012
Strong, stocky, and short in comparison to both [[humans]] and [[elves]], the dwarves have a long tradition of courage and martial skill that has served them well in their millennia-long battle against the [[darkspawn]] in the Deep Roads. They are a race in decline, once boasting a huge, great empire spanning across vast underground networks of twelve great [[Thaigs]] that spanned the breadth of [[Thedas]]. The [[First Blight]] caught the dwarves off guard in the midst of a bitter civil war and only through the efforts of the great [[Paragon]] Aeducan was Orzammar saved from total devastation. However, within fifty years of Aeducan's heroic rescue of the city, every outer Thaig and all but the four greatest kingdoms--Orzammar, [[Kal-Sharok]], Hormak and Gundaar--were lost.
''Dragon Age RPG'', ''Player's Guide'', set 2, pg. 10, Green Ronin Publishing, LLC, 2011.
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In addition to the loss of thaigs and the abandonment of much of the Dwarves' territory of the Deep Roads to Darkspawn incursion, Dwarves are known to be increasingly infertile
As noted in ''Dragon Age: Origins''.
, a situation which has given rise to anxiety for the future of the race, as well as the invention of [[Noble Hunter]]s to bolster the children born to noble houses.
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In addition to the loss of thaigs and the abandonment of much of the dwarves' territory of the Deep Roads to darkspawn incursion, dwarves are known to be increasingly infertile
As noted in ''Dragon Age: Origins''.
, a situation which has given rise to anxiety for the future of the race, as well as the invention of [[Noble Hunter]]s to bolster the children born to noble houses.
Unlike [[elves]] and [[humans]], dwarves do not naturally enter the [[Fade]], as they do not dream
Noted in ''Dragon Age: Origins'' and commented upon by [[Oghren]] in the Fade in the ''Awakening'' expansion.
and lack magical ability. However, they are not completely barred and may enter it in exceptional circumstances. This is reflected in their [[Dwarven Resistance|resistance]] to magic, and accounts for their high tolerance to [[lyrium]] exposure.
Gaider, David. [http://social.bioware.com/forum/1/topic/9/index/383900/4#385109 "Does Anyone else prefer Tolkien's Elves?"]. BioWare Social Network. Retrieved January 26, 2012.
Dwarves who live on the [[surface dwarves|surface]] for a long time (or who were born there) appear to gradually lose this resistance - however, there is still no recorded exception to their inability to learn spellcasting.
Searle, Mike. "Traveler's Guide: Dwarves". ''Dragon Age: Origins Collector's Edition: Prima Official Game Guide''.
Unlike [[elves]] and [[humans]], dwarves do not naturally enter the [[Fade]], as they do not dream
Noted in ''Dragon Age: Origins'' and commented upon by [[Oghren]] in the Fade in the ''Awakening'' expansion.
and lack magical ability. However, they are not completely barred and may enter it in exceptional circumstances. This is reflected in their [[Dwarven Resistance|resistance]] to magic, and accounts for their high tolerance to [[lyrium]] exposure.
Gaider, David. [http://social.bioware.com/forum/1/topic/9/index/383900/4#385109 "Does Anyone else prefer Tolkien's Elves?"]. BioWare Social Network. Retrieved January 26, 2012.
Dwarves who live on the [[surface dwarves|surface]] for a long time (or who were born there) appear to gradually lose this resistance - however, there is still no recorded exception to their inability to learn spellcasting.
Searle, Mike. "Traveler's Guide: Dwarves". ''Dragon Age: Origins Collector's Edition: Prima Official Game Guide''.
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The dwarven social hierarchy is ruled by complex, interrelated, and rigid [[castes]], akin in some ways to the Hindu caste system. The [[casteless]], commonly known as "dusters" after their ghetto of [[Dust Town]], are the lowest rung of dwarven society: outcasts in their own city, unable to take up work among the higher castes, nor to defend their honor in the Provings or fight the darkspawn to protect the city, dwarves rejected by the Stone itself. Dwarves who are exiled or born on the surface are also officially casteless - but with an increase in the number of higher-caste dwarves choosing to live on the surface, it is becoming difficult for some surface dwarves to be considered permanent exiles. The average dwarf will never see the surface, and often will have superstitious beliefs concerning surface-life (such as falling into the sky, or the sun falling to the ground).
Dwarves in Dust Town in particular harbor these superstitions, as seen in ''Dragon Age: Origins''.
Those dwarves who are most commonly seen on the surface tend to be merchants and traders, or on occasion smiths, but amongst the dwarves they might have been thieves, murderers or worse.
The dwarven social hierarchy is ruled by complex, interrelated, and rigid [[castes]], akin in some ways to the Hindu caste system. The [[casteless]], commonly known as "dusters" after their ghetto of [[Dust Town]], are the lowest rung of dwarven society: outcasts in their own city, unable to take up work among the higher castes, nor to defend their honor in the Provings or fight the darkspawn to protect the city, dwarves rejected by the Stone itself. Dwarves who are exiled or born on the surface are also officially casteless - but with an increase in the number of higher-caste dwarves choosing to live on the surface, it is becoming difficult for some surface dwarves to be considered permanent exiles. The average dwarf will never see the surface, and often will have superstitious beliefs concerning surface-life (such as falling into the sky, or the sun falling to the ground).
Dwarves in Dust Town in particular harbor these superstitions, as seen in ''Dragon Age: Origins''.
Those dwarves who are most commonly seen on the surface tend to be merchants and traders, or on occasion smiths, but amongst the dwarves they might have been thieves, murderers or worse.
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Above the casteless (in no particular order) are merchants, miners, smiths, warriors, servants (only one step above casteless),
In the Dwarf Commoner origin, it is learned that even servant caste dwarves look down upon dusters, as even menial labor is beyond their reach.
nobles, and deshyrs. Nobles are the nobility of Dwarven society, while the [[deshyr]]s are a group of dwarves who participate in the Assembly on behalf of their noble houses. While it is possible for some dwarves to better their family's station by performing great deeds and/or siring children with higher-caste dwarves, these remain rare and difficult circumstances. Lower-caste dwarves who rise in caste are generally considered "upjumped" by the highest castes. In Dwarven society, children inherit the cast of their same-sex parent; should a son be born, he would inherit his father's caste, or castelessnes, should that be the case.
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Above the casteless (in no particular order) are merchants, miners, smiths, warriors, servants (only one step above casteless),
In the Dwarf Commoner origin, it is learned that even servant caste dwarves look down upon dusters, as even menial labor is beyond their reach.
nobles, and deshyrs. Nobles are the nobility of dwarven society, while the [[deshyr]]s are a group of dwarves who participate in the Assembly on behalf of their noble houses. While it is possible for some dwarves to better their family's station by performing great deeds and/or siring children with higher-caste dwarves, these remain rare and difficult circumstances. Lower-caste dwarves who rise in caste are generally considered "upjumped" by the highest castes. In dwarven society, children inherit the cast of their same-sex parent; should a son be born, he would inherit his father's caste, or castelessnes, should that be the case.
[[File:Male noble and female casteless dwarves.png|thumb|200px|The strata of dwarven society: male noble and female casteless]]
[[File:Male noble and female casteless dwarves.png|thumb|200px|The strata of dwarven society: male noble and female casteless]]
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{{Main|Sexuality and marriage}}
{{Main|Sexuality and marriage}}
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In spite of the fundamental conservativeness of the dwarven culture, sexuality plays an important role, largely due to the low racial birth rate. As is common in surfacer society, nobles and other high-caste dwarves are expected to marry only within their caste.
This is stated explicitly by [[Gorim Saelac]] to a Dwarf Noble female who engages in flirtation with him, that they can never marry due to his lower caste.
Dwarves do not often mate with other races as such contact is limited in the isolated Orzammar. And as they naturally consider themselves superior to other races, and such mingling is looked down upon in any case.
There is a brief mention in ''Dragon Age: Origins'' that a dwarven noblewoman, possibly a Dace, may have run off with an elven man, but it is unsubstantiated. In addition, in ''Dragon Age II'', some dialogue between [[Carta]] members in the ''[[Legacy]]'' [[DLC]] implies that the dwarf Sandal is the bastard son of an [[House Aeducan|Aeducan]] noble, whose mother was either an elf or a human.
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In spite of the fundamental conservativeness of the dwarven culture, sexuality plays an important role, largely due to the low racial birth rate. As is common in surfacer society, nobles and other high-caste dwarves are expected to marry only within their caste.
This is stated explicitly by [[Gorim Saelac]] to a dwarf Noble female who engages in flirtation with him, that they can never marry due to his lower caste.
Dwarves do not often mate with other races as such contact is limited in the isolated Orzammar. And as they naturally consider themselves superior to other races, and such mingling is looked down upon in any case.
There is a brief mention in ''Dragon Age: Origins'' that a dwarven noblewoman, possibly a Dace, may have run off with an elven man, but it is unsubstantiated. In addition, in ''Dragon Age II'', some dialogue between [[Carta]] members in the ''[[Legacy]]'' [[DLC]] implies that the dwarf Sandal is the bastard son of an [[House Aeducan|Aeducan]] noble, whose mother was either an elf or a human.
Female dwarves appear to have little control over their sexuality, as seen in the [[Dwarf Noble Origin]] and [[Dwarf Commoner Origin]], as their chiefest asset, regardless of caste, is their ability to bear children. Noble females are especially pressured to marry and bear children.
A Dwarf Noble female is told by [[Trian Aeducan]] that she is "breeding flesh." Furthermore, the Proving in the origin is held in her honor--partly to find her a worthy mate.
Male nobles are expected--even encouraged--to be promiscuous, in order to sire as many children as possible, often with [[Noble Hunter]]s. Noble females must guard their virtue (or have it guarded by male relatives, as in the Dwarf Noble origin).
Gorim states to a female Noble who flirts with him that Bhelen and Trian will beat him if they catch him with her.
Female dwarves appear to have little control over their sexuality, as seen in the [[Dwarf Noble Origin]] and [[Dwarf Commoner Origin]], as their chiefest asset, regardless of caste, is their ability to bear children. Noble females are especially pressured to marry and bear children.
A Dwarf Noble female is told by [[Trian Aeducan]] that she is "breeding flesh." Furthermore, the Proving in the origin is held in her honor--partly to find her a worthy mate.
Male nobles are expected--even encouraged--to be promiscuous, in order to sire as many children as possible, often with [[Noble Hunter]]s. Noble females must guard their virtue (or have it guarded by male relatives, as in the Dwarf Noble origin).
Gorim states to a female Noble who flirts with him that Bhelen and Trian will beat him if they catch him with her.
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[[File:Orzammar.png|right|Orzammar|thumb|Orzammar|300px]]
[[File:Orzammar.png|right|Orzammar|thumb|Orzammar|300px]]
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There are currently two remaining dwarven cities where once there were twelve great kingdoms adjoining the Dwarven empire, in addition to numerous smaller thaigs. [[Orzammar]] is said to be the largest, greatest and proudest of the two. The other dwarven city is [[Kal-Sharok]]. It was thought to be lost to the darkspawn incursion after the First Blight, but during the Dragon Age it was discovered to have survived—although it had done so only at great cost, and with a great deal of resentment against the dwarves of Orzammar who had sealed off the Deep Roads and given up Kal Sharok for dead. It is unknown what the future relationship of the two cities will be, if anything.
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There are currently two remaining dwarven cities where once there were twelve great kingdoms adjoining the dwarven empire, in addition to numerous smaller thaigs. [[Orzammar]] is said to be the largest, greatest and proudest of the two. The other dwarven city is [[Kal-Sharok]]. It was thought to be lost to the darkspawn incursion after the First Blight, but during the Dragon Age it was discovered to have survived—although it had done so only at great cost, and with a great deal of resentment against the dwarves of Orzammar who had sealed off the Deep Roads and given up Kal Sharok for dead. It is unknown what the future relationship of the two cities will be, if anything.
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