Since the dawn of civilization, dwarves have been digging in search of gold, gems, and other precious metals. While some burrowed into the tallest mountain peaks, others delved down into the bowels of the planet. Historically, dwarves and water seldom mix. When encountering flooded terrain, they simply tunneled around it or under it. Occasionally, however, these bodies of water posed impassible and infuriating barriers. One tribe of dwarves, however, found a way through. Austorian legend tells how one tribe from the Austoria Mountains (now submerged), with the aid of contraptions pilfered from conquered aboleth, decided to brave the depths of a fathomless subterranean lake. The riches located there were so vast and bountiful, that it took generations to dig it out. When the lakebed was depleted, the dwarves had become entirely aquatic and moved on to even deeper bodies of water. By the time of the Great Flood, the austorian dwarves had been tunneling under the ocean floor for a millennium, largely forgotten by their kin. They were completely unaware of the demise of the drylanders.
Physical Description: Austorian dwarves are immediately recognizable as dwarves, despite the sea-green beards of the males and prominent green head fins of both genders. They have the same body type and facial configurations, as well as skin coloration, though austorians are considerably paler and have far less body hair. Their eyes are nearly all-white, with the iris barely visible. In addition, their ears appear pointed, though close inspection will also reveal that the original rounded shape is still evident, with the point protruding from it like another fin. Females are virtually hairless, and a bit more slender than the males, though still easily identifiable as dwarves.
Society: Like all dwarves, austorians have a strong love of stonework, a passion for stone- and metal-based craftsmanship, and an overwhelming desire to accumulate gold and other precious metals. The austorians, however, are a particularly reclusive race, preferring to deal with others only when necessary. In addition, the racial hatred of goblins, giants, and orcs has gone completely extinct. They have not encountered such creatures in countless generations.
Relations: Recently, austorian populations have reached such a level that interaction with other subterranean deep sea races has become more frequent, and trade has become desirable. They have become well known to both the deep drow and the oculi, and tenuous trade has been accomplished with both. They are cautious negotiators, who seldom seem unarmed or unwary. Other races know very little of the austorians, save that they are great purveyors of rare gems and metals. This alone makes them quite desirable to deal with, and well worth the risk. The material most sought after from the austorians is azulbryn, an extremely rare luminescent metal that poisons those injured by it.
Alignment and Religion: Austorian dwarves are bound by obligation to their families and by their traditions. Centuries of isolation has left them particularly wary of strangers and they are more likely to attack than negotiate with threatening forces. However, their drives are usually self-preservation rather than a desire to do harm. Therefore, most austorians share a lawful neutral outlook, with a smattering of lawful evil individuals. Their patron deity, Torumdar, is likely an amalgamation of deities that the drylander dwarves worshiped in eons past.
Adventurers: Occasionally a particularly cantankerous austorian will split off from his kin to enjoy a life of isolation or adventure. These hardy folk will often take up the barbarian or angler class. Like other dwarven kin, austorians rarely have the knack for arcane arts. They do, however, have a scattering of talented divine spellcasters and even a few powerful psions.
Male Names: Bergin, Dohgwin, Gawshook, Gwonyar, Hawusk, Mogwim, Wentz, Woghah.
Female Names: Angwit, Egnath, Dwella, Bwogill, Gangwa, Gohdwee, Helsha, Husiga.
AUSTORIAN DWARF RACIAL TRAITS
- +2 Constitution, +2 Wisdom, –2 Charisma: Austorians are both tough and clever, but socially awkward.
- Racial Buoyancy: -190A, Depth Tolerance: Immune to pressure (see below).
- Medium: Austorian dwarves are Medium creatures and have no bonuses or penalties due to their size.
- Slow Swim Speed: Austorians have a base swim speed of 20 feet.
- Darkvision: Austorians can see in the dark up to 120 feet.
- Breathe Water: Austorians can breathe underwater indefinitely through the fin at the top of their heads. They cannot breathe air, as their lungs have evolved into swim bladders.
- Greed: Austorians receive a +2 racial bonus on Appraise skill checks made to determine the price of nonmagical goods that contain precious metals or gemstones.
- Extremophile: Austorians are enormously resilient against extreme environmental conditions. They have Steam and Cold Resistance 5, and immunity to both pressure and geopoisons.
- Hardy: Austorians receive a +2 racial bonus on saving throws against poison, spells, and spell-like abilities.
- Landwalker: Austorians can move on land at 75% of their swimming movement rate.
- Stability: Austorians receive a +4 racial bonus to their Combat Maneuver Defense when resisting a bull rush or trip attempt while in contact with a solid, unyielding, immobile surface.
- Stonecunning: Austorians receive a +2 bonus on Perception checks to potentially notice unusual stonework, such as traps and hidden doors located in stone structures. They receive a check to notice such features whenever they pass within 10 feet of them, whether or not they are actively looking.
- Weapon Familiarity: Austorians treat any weapon with the word “austorian” in its name as a martial weapon.
- Languages: Austorians begin play speaking Dagonite and Austorian. Austorians with high Intelligence scores can choose from the following: Common, Echinn, Lok’tar, Salatari, Sahu, and Terran.