World of Warcraft/Races/Dwarves

Major cleanup needs to be done to this page, especially with reference to linking to the correct sub-pages. --DrBob (Talk) 19:36, 6 August 2006 (CDT)

Introduction and History
The stoic Dwarves of Ironforge are an ancient race of robust humanoids who live beneath the snow-capped mountains of Khaz Modan. The Dwarves have always been fast allies to the Humans and they revel in the prospects of battle and storytelling alike.

In past ages, the Dwarves rarely left the safety of their mountain fortresses. However, when the call to battle sounded they rose up to defend their friends and allies with unmatched courage and valor.

Due to a recent discovery that uncovered fragments of their ancient origins, the Dwarves have undergone a remarkable transformation. The discovery convinced the Dwarves that the mighty Titans created them from stone when the world was young. They feel that their destiny is now to search the world for more signs and proof of their enchanted heritage and to rediscover the Titans' hidden legacies. To this end, the Dwarves have sent out archaeological teams to all ends of the world in the hopes of discovering new insights into their shrouded past. These journeys have led to Dwarven excavation sites all over the known world, some of which serve as outposts and some of which serve as potential hunting grounds for the enemies of the Dwarven race.

The Dwarves were stout allies of the Humans during the Second War, joining the Alliance of Lordaeron after their homeland of Khaz Modan was invaded. Holed deep in their mountainside city-fortress of Ironforge, the Dwarves have managed to weather both the Horde invasion and the plague. Still, they are long-lived, slow and careful folk, and children are a rare blessing to them. The Dwarves of Ironforge number a mere 60,000.

Still, their tendency to explore is impressive. If about two thirds of the surviving humans now live in the capital city of Stormwind, less then a third of the Dwarves are in Ironforge. In fact, there are more Dwarves in the Dwarven section of Stormwind then Ironforge itself! Now Ironforge is home to the Gnomish population as well, after they fled from their devastated city of Gnomeregan.

Racial Traits
Language Dwarvish, Common

Classes
Dwarf characters may play as a Hunter, Paladin, Priest, Rogue or Warrior.

Starting Area
Coldridge Valley

[ Khaz Modan / Dun Morogh / Coldridge Valley ] Location: (-6240, 165, 425)

Factions and Clans
There are three historical factions of the Dwarven race as a result of the War of the Three Hammers.


 * Bronzebeard Clan; a playable Dwarf-race, their capital is Ironforge.
 * Wildhammer Clan; a neutral non-playable faction.
 * Dark Iron Clan; an aggressive non-playable faction.

Trivial Information
The Dwarven race of World of Warcraft is similar to that of the Dwarven race as depicted by author J.R.R. Tolkien. Tolkien, in his archetypal description of Dwarves, depicts them as the creation of Aulë, a member of the race of Valar, and defacto lord of the physical matter of Arda and the crafts that shape it. Aulë, so the story goes, desired beings to teach his crafts too, and, weary of awaiting the arrival of the children of Ilúvatar (Men and Elves), designed to create beings in his own likeness in the same fashion.

This undertaking disturbed Ilúvatar; in creating beings of his own, Aulë had encroached on Ilúvatar's domain, which could potentially lead Aulë along the same path as Melkor. Aulë, ashamed and weeping when Ilúvatar spoke to him, took up his hammer to smite the dwarves, who withdrew in fear. Ilúvatar, seeing the sincerity in Aulë's confession, stayed Aulë's hammer and accepted the Dwarves as his adopted children, though he would not abide them to awaken before his own firstborn, the Elves. Thus, the Dwarves were forced to sleep in several underground fortresses.

Tolkien's dwarves are master craftsmen and miners, with an affinity for rock and gems and metal. In smithing they are second only to the elves for blades, though in maileknitting they are unchallenged, and in stonework they are surpassed only by the creations of forces more powerful then those of men and elves and dwarves. They are a proud and to some extent distrusting race, but less prone to corruption for power then men; instead, their principle character weakness is materialism, a fault seen in all of Tolkien's books.

The race itself in WoW, however, derives many its characteristic from the Dwarves of Warhammer FRPG and Battle Game. In it, Dwarves are famous for their affinity with all things mechanical, especially engines of war, as well as extensive use of gunpowder. While borrowing much from Tolkien's archetype of fantasy dwarves (further popularized by D&D franchise), Warhammer and WoW dwarves are made distinct from other depiction of that race through this affinity.

The Dwarves in WoW, for some reason, speak with scottish accent, and in some cases use irish riverdance as their dance action.