Highborn Mountain Dwarf

Mountain dwarves are the oldest dwarven race, and the highborn are the most revered of their clans. Highborn dwarves have light brown skin and ruddy cheeks, eyes of green, gray or dark brown, and hair that may be white, gray, brown or black. They wear earth-toned clothing.

Highborn soldiers are legendary. Facing intelligent enemies, they like to talk before fighting, and they treat those who surrender gracefully with dignity. They wear chain mail with shields and fight with spears, hammers, light crossbows and battle axes. A group of 100 typically holds 40 fighters of 1st-2nd level, 15 of 3rd-4th, ten of 5th-8th, five above 8th, and five priests, paladins and thieves of various levels, plus 25 noncombatant workers and children.

Highborn dwarves build splendid cities under great mountain ranges; the most famous dwarven kingdom sprawls across some 300 square miles beneath the peaks. Most mountain dwarves have never met a non-dwarf and will not get involved in others' problems unless convinced it touches them directly.

Two clans often share their cities: the brightforge dwarves, respected warriors who follow highborn leadership, and the lowclan dwarves, hill folk who serve wealthy highborn houses. Leaders are thanes, each seated on a council of thanes that resolves disputes and pursues shared interests, with seats for the highborn, brightforge, lowclan, gloomvein, darkforge, hill and gully dwarves. Dwarves honor their ancestors so deeply that the dead are counted as a member too. The council names a high king, who must then be approved by the people, and most great kings have come from the highborn.

Tensions with the other clans persist, but relations with the forest elves of a neighboring realm are fairly good. Highborn dwarves enjoy roast meat, boiled vegetables and strong beer, and they seldom trade with outsiders.