Arctic Dwarf

This is a WIP.

Note: The Arctic Dwarf subrace may only be selected by spending a Greater Award!

From Races of Faerûn

Introduction

Natives of the coldest, most northern regions of Faerûn, Arctic Dwarves (who refer to themselves as the Inugaakalikurit) are exceedingly rare to find anywhere there isn't snow, ice, and frigid temperatures. They have very little in common with other Dwarves, aside from the Wild Dwarves of Chult who share their more tribal ways and are of similar stature. The Arctic Dwarf is largely self-sufficient, her day-to-day largely consisting of hunting the beasts that roam the tundra and glaciers to feed and clothe her family, such skills result in many becoming rangers, fighters, and barbarians.

Outlook

Arctic dwarves are friendly and outgoing, little concerned with class or clan distinctions. They enjoy life to the fullest and see little reason to accumulate wealth or material possessions. They believe in hunting and gathering sufficient food to feed themselves but otherwise have little interest in labor of any sort. They strive to spend as much time as possible in leisurely pursuits, storytelling, sports such as wrestling, and games with their children.

Arctic dwarves are rarely drawn to adventuring, but those who do usually evince a curiosity about other cultures so strong that they willingly forgo the life of leisure they might otherwise pursue. Instead of waiting to chance upon evidence of other cultures in their remote glacial homes, they head out to explore the world, seeking out the exotic and the new. As such, they stumble into adventures by happenstance, happily exploring any new environment they come across.

Arctic Dwarves as Characters

Arctic dwarves typically make good rangers and barbarians, since they are well equipped to survive in extreme environments. Likewise, generations of battling frost giants and other monsters have given rise to a strong martial tradition. The self-sufficiency of these classes enables arctic dwarves to feel comfortable about their continued survival and hence engenders the relaxed attitude many feel toward life. Inugaakalikurit have no arcane spellcasting tradition, and their lack of religious faith precludes the role of cleric or paladin. Arctic dwarves often multiclass as ranger/fighters or ranger/barbarians.

Society

Arctic dwarf culture is remarkably homogeneous, the result of centuries of isolation from the other races of Faerûn. Compared to other dwarven cultures, Inugaakalikurit place almost no emphasis on bloodline or clan. While individual accomplishment does garner respect, rarely are such feats remembered for more than a generation. The pursuit of leisure is placed above hard work or skilled artisanship, and few arctic dwarves are driven to accomplish more than continued survival.

Arctic dwarves receive a great deal of individual attention in childhood, with all adult members of the community serving as parental figures to varying degrees. Little is expected of Inugaakalikurit youth, so they spend their days engaged in playful pursuits. As adults, each arctic dwarf is expected to contribute to the community’s well-being, but there is little societal reward for doing more than the minimum required. Elderly arctic dwarves are considered to have earned the right to live out the rest of their days engaging in leisurely pursuits and are simply encased beneath the ice and snow when death finally claims them.

Arctic dwarves have emigrated in such small numbers from their mountain homes that they have very little experience as minorities within other cultures. Those who do leave usually look for individuals of similar temperament, regardless of race, and attempt to recreate the easygoing lifestyle of their native villages.

Magic and Lore

Arctic dwarves take a pragmatic view toward magic: It’s useful if it helps them hunt, but otherwise spells and spellcasters — especially arcane ones—are a matter for tales told to youngsters.

Spells and Spellcasting

Arctic dwarves do not have an arcane spellcasting tradition. Since they do they not worship the dwarven deities, they lack a strong divine spellcasting tradition as well.

Most arctic dwarf spellcasters are druids, adepts, and rangers. The druids in particular have an affinity to fire magic, because many of their most common foes (such as frost giants and frost worms) fear and hate flames.

Arctic Dwarf Magic Items

Arctic dwarves rarely employ magic items, as they do not have a cultural tradition of clerics or arcane spellcasters to craft such items. Those few items that do exist are usually fashioned by druids or the rare arctic dwarf arcane spellcaster and include such items as amulets of natural armor and snowshoes of speed (identical to boots of speed).

In caves carved into the Great Glacier, arctic dwarves nurture coin-sized ice crystals of exceeding sharpness. Called kerrenderit in the Kurit tongue, these crystals can be magically enhanced to form deadly arrowheads. The kerrenderit crystals take a long time to form in their icy caves, so only the greatest hunters among the arctic dwarves carry kerrenderit arrows in their quivers.

Arctic Dwarf Equipment

Arctic dwarves commonly employ only a handful of weapons, including battleaxes, halfspears, shortbows, and shortspears. Most arctic dwarves wear hide armor, with pelts of polar bears being most highly prized. The harsh arctic environment of the Great Glacier requires the use of dogsleds (as sleds in the Player’s Handbook), snow goggles, and snowshoes.

Arctic dwarves favor riding dogs with heavy winter coats aspets and pack animals. When they hunt behind dogsleds, theyoften chase down and exhaust their prey, then finish the hunt with arctic harpoons. While the arctic harpoon can be difficult for arctic dwarves to wield, they favor it anyway, motivated by a mythic tradition of arctic dwarf harpooners who felled impossibly large polar bears and other prey.

Deities

Among the various dwarven subraces, the Inugaakalikurit are unique in that they do not venerate the Morndinsamman or, indeed, worship any gods. A few exceptions exist, including a few arctic dwarves who have turned to the worship of the human god Ulutiu. Instead, the arctic dwarves follow a druidic tradition, venerating Talos and Ulutiu.

Relations with Other Races

Isolated as they are by their environment, arctic dwarves have little experience with members of other races aside from Ulutiun humans and frost giants. They get along well with the former and hate the latter. Since most arctic dwarves are amiable and peace-loving, they treat representatives of most other races favorably unless shown reason not to. The Inugaakalikurit find other dwarves and gnomes somewhat amusing, a combination of their familiar appearance and odd (to an arctic dwarf) ways. Likewise, humans other than Ulutiuns are seen as odd since their cultures differ greatly from that known to arctic dwarves. The Inugaakalikurit regard elves and half-elves with a measure of awe, having only ever seen winged elves soaring high above their mountain homes. Halflings, half-orcs, and planetouched are exotic creatures to a typical arctic dwarf.

Creating New Character on Arelith

Base race

Shield Dwarf

Abilities

Size Category: Small

Con +2, Dex -2

Bonus Feats:

Small Stature

Weapon Proficiency (Primitive) - Club, Dart, Dire Macuahuitl, Great Club, Macuahuitl, Short Bow, Sling, and Spear

Battle Training vs. Giants

Hardiness vs. Poisons

Hardiness vs. Spells

Skill Bonus: +4 Climb

Resistances: DI 25% (Cold), DR 10/- (Cold), +2 Saves vs. Cold

Special: Cannot worship the Mordinsamman if Divine Classes are present

Appearance

(Note: life expectancy/ages matches that of dwarves in 3.5e player's handbook, add in later)

• Adulthood: years
• Middle Age: years
• Old: years
• Venerable: years

Aging

Age		Bonus
Adulthood	Years	+4d%
Middle Age	Years
Old	Years
Venerable	Years

Notes

• Starting city: Skal
• Requires Greater Award!