Borderfort Burning: Dwarves

Tony DiTerlizzi

From the same project and using the same method outlined HERE.

The dwarves here were intended to be a mix of Thorin's Company, the petty dwarves of the Silmarillion, Snow White & The Seven Dwarves, Narnia, and Rumpelstiltskin, rather than the standard fantasy dwarf. Where other aspects of Borderfort Burning leaned into their Warhammer inspirations, I deliberately tried to break away from that here. They are also partly convergent evolution with, and partly inspired by Brian Yaksha's Dwarf and Gnome write-ups.

Many Dwarves (roll 1d12 three times)

1. Hoard and bury their gold
2. Consider themselves excellent dancers
3. Can never turn down a wager
4. Touch their caps and in response to good news
5. Always greet hearths, stoves, and forges with respect
6. Refuse to eat fish
7. Love milk, honey, and cheese
8. Prefer to drink from bowls
9. Are avid 1) woodcarvers, 2) shoemakers, 3) bakers, or 4) toymakers
10. Love bowling, darts, and stone-throwing games
11. Sing or recite in their own language before important tasks
12. Adopt fanciful pseudonyms for use among humans

A Few Dwarves (roll d12 once)

1. Have cow tails
2. Consider worms, sparrows, and other grubs a delicacy
3. Act lasciviously towards humans
4. Love challenging people to wrestling matches
5. Refuse to look up at people when speaking to them
6. Are fascinated by maps, locks, and secret things
7. Are extremely hirsute
8. Take care of sick and wounded animals
9. Sleep curled up in a ball as close to the ground as possible
10. Love gifts, both giving and receiving, and regard them as sacred
11. Creep about at night doing odd jobs for people
12. Carry a concealed statuette of a hearth god

Some Common Traveling Gear (roll d20 twice)

1. A hunting bow and a quiver of 20 red-feathered arrows
2. A large speckled goose egg
3. A pipe and pouch of pipe-leaf
4. An eyepatch
5. A cunning mouse
6. A beautiful lantern
7. A ring of strange old keys
8. A carved wooden flute that sounds like an owl
9. An ornate copper kettle and a set of round-bottomed toasting cups
10. A collection of interesting stones
11. An ancient book written in a strange language
12. A large ball of thread
13. An instrument: 1) drum, 2) harp, 3) viol, or 4) fiddle
14. A pair of lovingly-crafted shoes
15. A writing case with colored ink, sealing wax, stamp, and large quill
16. A large forest cat
17. An ever-burning coal in a delicate lacquered box
18. A sturdy mountain pony
19. A handcart full of pots, kettles, and pans
20. A sewn-shut bag with a seal claiming that the contents will turn into pebbles if opened by unauthorized persons

Dwarf-Caps (roll d12 twice)

Dwarves never go bareheaded. Dwarf men wear hats with long ear flaps, worn over a coif that can be tied under the chin. Dwarf women wear their hats over a patterned kerchief tied around the head.

1. Wide, floppy brim
2. Wax button on the side, stamped with a family symbol
3. Looping knotwork designs
4. Feather
5. Fur trim
6. Mounted candle
7. Tassel
8. Hat-pin of 1) iron nail, 2) acorn cluster, 3) carved troll face, or 4) gold and jewels
9. Polished wooden buttons with carved troll faces
10. Pattern of leaves or flowers
11. Pattern of crickets and beetles
12. Pattern of suns and moons

Dwarf Names

d30 Roll	Dwarf Names, Male	Dwarf Names, Female
1	Feygulf	Brundel
2	Hevved	Eidel
3	Selig	Estel
4	Veluf	Freydi
5	Balder	Gittel
6	Ollig	Golda
7	Bollig	Hava
8	Balin	Harna
9	Dolli	Selda
10	Dwalin	Almog
11	Fili	Dara
12	Kirkin	Elah
13	Helmar	Galla
14	Ori	Mirrel
15	Thorgild	Orna
16	Brand	Sif
17	Dobbin	Sigrid
18	Orm	Norn
19	Narvi	Valla
20	Gamil	Gisa
21	Mindil	Hulda
22	Mor	Aslog
23	Rahvn	Astrid
24	Pellig	Edda
25	Nainn	Frea
26	Vindulf	Líf
27	Alfir	Nella
28	Ingvi	Thestel
29	Buri	Dorna
30	Hahvin	Marda

Dwarf Traveling Names (roll d20)

1. Nobody
2. Shellycoat
3. Hoghorn
4. Perlimpin
5. Otterdog
6. Lumpin Croop
7. The Rooster
8. Old Brown Tom
9. Broumpistock
10. Tremotino
11. Yellowbones
12. Redbelly Jack
13. John o' the Woods
14. Crookshanks
15. Dandelion
16. Tin Tam Tittle
17. Sticklebrick
18. Puchinello
19. Stiltskin
20. Houndstooth