It has been noted that human and dwarven cultures are similar enough that many humans have adapted to dwarven living and made homes among the clans, finding themselves at home among the proud people of stone.ĭwarves are known for their short stature, typically standing no taller than four feet. This tradition was established when poisoning was rampant among the clans and is especially prominent when hosting foreign dignitaries, such as Dragon Riders or envoys from the elves. When dining with guests, the head of the household with eat first in a show of good faith to show that the food is not poisoned. Entire families had been driven extinct by them, and as such, one had not been invoked since the last of the clan wars until Az Sweldn rak Anhûin did so against Eragon. To declare one is the ultimate challenge and it was not uncommon for the feuds to last for generations. By declaring someone to be your blood enemy, you oppose them with all your resources and in every matter. īy twining hairs onto an iron ring and throwing it at someone, a dwarf could declare a blood feud. Their bows tend to be made of Feldûnost horns through a complex construction process, resulting in bows for their stature that are much stronger and more durable than wood that can stand up to the strength of their race's dense and compact musculature.įor mounts, dwarves favor donkeys, mules, or Feldûnost, as horses are far too large for dwarves to ride upon and Feldûnost are far better suited to the mountainous lifestyle and environment in which they dwell. ĭwarven warfare favors weapons made for hacking and slashing, such as axes, single-edged swords, hammers, and occasionally double-edged swords. Therefore, many dwarves are reluctant to have the procedure done. The procedure is very dangerous though and if done wrong, can cost the dwarf the use of his/her hands. ĭwarves have thicker bones then humans and elves, allowing them to drill through their knuckles and insert a metal piece that allows the dwarf to place spikes on their knuckles, known as Ascûdgamln. The dwarven throne room was lined with statues of the kings of the past. The dwarves elected their new leaders in an amphitheater, as did the Varden. Some dwarves, the deep dwellers, abhor the surface world and spend all their time below ground. Unlike Ajihad, however, Eragon may choose to be buried with the dwarves and "sealed in stone", as Eragon is a part of Dûrgrimst Ingeitum. They consider this chamber a sacred grotto and a special alcove there was set aside for Ajihad after his death. Under Farthen Dûr is a chamber for all the dwarves who have died while in the city. They take great lengths to ensure burial in this way, for they believe that shame falls on the family or clan that does not bury their dead in this fashion. They refuse to say more than that to outsiders. The dwarves believed that when a dwarf dies they must be sealed in stone so that they can join their ancestors in the afterlife. Another of the dwarves' treasures was the Isidar Mithrim. One of the most treasured possessions of the dwarves was the contents of the library at Tronjheim, which contained many books and scrolls written in the same runes that humans used. Orik, as Hrothgar's heir, was made clan chief of the Ingeitum and subsequently elected as the next king.ĭuring the Rider War, the dwarves supported the Varden, allowing them to stay at Tronjheim in Farthen Dûr, as well as fighting alongside them at the Battle under Farthen Dûr. Unfortunately, he did not live to see the end of the war as he was killed at the Battle of The Burning Plains by Murtagh.
The forty-second dwarf king, Hrothgar, was in authority at the time of the Rider War. The thirteen clan chiefs were responsible for electing a monarch: the monarch was the final authority over all the clans. Each clan had its own clan chief, who was a member of the Council. The dwarves were split into thirteen distinct, miniature societies called clans. During Galbatorix's uprising, however, this proved to be something of a blessing, because the dwarves escaped the downfall of the Riders and the subsequent havoc wreaked by the new king and his minions.
As a result, it was impossible for a dwarf to become a Dragon Rider. The dwarves were not a part of the blood-oath pact between elves, men, and dragons.
Though never escalating into a full-scale war, these battles nevertheless left the two races with a rivalry. Before elves and humans came into Alagaësia, the dwarves and dragons fought in many battles against each other.