Dwarves are generally slow to laugh or jest and are most often suspicious of
strangers but generous to those few who earn their trust. They value gold,
gems, jewelry, and art objects made with these precious materials and have
been known to succumb to greed. They fight neither recklessly nor timidly,
but with careful courage and tenacity. Their sense of justice is strong, but
at its worst it can turn into a thirst for vengeance. Indeed, a gnomish oath
runs, "If I'm lying, may I cross a dwarf."
A dwarven adventurer may be motivated by crusading zeal, a love of
excitement, or simple greed. As long as his accomplishments bring honor to
his clan, his deeds earn him respect and status. Defeating giants and
claiming powerful magic weapons are sure ways for a dwarf to earn the respect
of other dwarves.
Dwarves have a general disdain of some races, but fairly good relations with
others. They tend to get along well with gnomes and passably with humans,
halfelves and halflings. However, as a dwarven saying goes, "The difference
between an acquaintance and a friend is about a hundred years." Thus, humans
and other short-lived races have a hard time forging truly strong bonds with
dwarves because of their limited lifespans. Therefore, the best
dwarf/shorter- lived race relationships are normally between a shorter-lived
being and a dwarf who liked the other's parents and grandparents.
Dwarves often regard elves as unpredictable, fickle, and flighty, though
elves have earned the grudging respect of many dwarves over the ages as the
two races battled against common enemies such as orcs, goblinoids, and gnolls
(all of whom dwarves hate passionately). As for races with mixed parentage,
such as half-orcs, dwarves will normally entertain a feeling of mistrust of
such creatures, but may grant individuals the opportunity to prove
themselves.