Nearly extinct, this ancient race of people only lives in Dagon as the especial minions of the Shadow Maker. They are also responsible for developing many of his implements of war and torture.

Their culture is characterized by a love of black, music, and dancing to it. Despite the stereotype of dwarves as little, stumpy men, the Shadow Dwarves are tall, and powerful with skin black as ebony, and hair like fire.

They are also one of the few races in Learthaniah that still practice the Forbidden Arts.

That's really cool! I know you said that demons were a separate race in your world, but for analogy's sake... Shadow Dwarves are like "demons" to the Shadow Maker's "Devil" role?

(I'm not sure if it was me, who said demons were a seperate race. In some of my stories they are, but not in this one.)

Yes, they are fallen creations. In this world, evil cannot create, it can only twist, and warp. So yes, there ARE good dwarves, and pixies, etc...but most of them serve the Shadow Maker, who is my main evil.

You have to be kidding! I thought I was the only one who had tall, ebony black dwarves! Yours are very akin to mine in appearance, but very dissimilar in culture and morals. Mine were one of the first seven tribes created by God.

I like how you go against the originial "view" of dwarves, very creative (both Mindy & Jay). May I ask what the Forbidden Arts are, or is that forbidden as well?

YOU DO???? *goes back to reread Jay's posts on Dwarves* YOU DO! AGH! Alright. Well, now I'm going to have to change mine.

The Forbidden arts, are a lot like Black Magic, except they stem from tapping into the sin nature. Although, they result in great power, they also destroy the mind, so if you use the Forbidden arts too much, you'll eventually lose your soul, and your mind.

Very cool. In a wicked, evil, way. Do they stem into their own evil nature or into demonic power? Is it like mind control?

Both. And no, it's not like mind control, but it...distorts them, so that they're physically more powerful. And normal food ceases to satisfy them at this point. They either feed off life force or blood.

Shadow Dwarves who use the Forbidden Arts usually become vampyres. (although there is ONE case where one of them realized what was happening, stopped before he was addicted, and managed to escape.)

Wow, that's really cool. I like how well thought-out your idea is, Mindy! Very interesting stuff, especially about the Forbidden Arts.

Thank you! Now I just need to fit it all into one book.

Yay for tall dwarves!!!

I couldn't help but giggle just a little bit as I read this thread. This is why I love you guys. Tall dwarves! Talk about bucking the status quo .

You guys are so kidding me. I have tall dwarves too...not ebony-colored but definitely on the darker end of the spectrum. They're not evil, however. Mine are also very different culturally...I'll be posting a thread on them eventually in my subforum.

Status-quo-buckers...that's a good thing, right?

eruheran

Hmmm...tall dwarves. Good idea!

Actually, it appears that tall dwarves aren't so original after all! . Maybe I should change mine. Fat dwarves!

eruheran

I’ve noticed that lots of us on the Forum have similar ideas (I do not have tall dwarfs by the way), but they differ slightly from one another. I even have found that some of us have the same name for something *glaring at Willow Wenial*. But, you know the old adage, great minds think alike!

Yes, and fools seldom differ.

Which is to say that people are pretty much boring.

In all seriousness, I want to know if anyone has looked back at the old legends to see if there are black skinned (ebony type), tall people.

I wouldn't know for sure, but I would think of Ethiopia/Nubia/around there. Perhaps an Egyptian legend?

Also, I think of C.S. Lewis' Calormene...though I know they aren't real. However, I think I read somewhere he based them off of the Arabs more. Now you've got me curious...

eruheran

Perhaps Egypt. They had more really black legendary gods, not just dark brown, like arabs or blacks.

Actually the old tales of Norse/Swedish Dwarves (originally called Dvergar) are described as being human sized and both pale as a corps, or dark as ebony (referring to both hair and skin color). They were also described as being very humorous in nature, rather than the solemn grouches literature has turned them into.

Now I'm going to look up Norse/Swedish dwarves...and maybe tweak my Dark Dwarves a little bit. That's really interesting about the humor part...never would have guessed!

eruheran

That IS interesting. Thanks for sharing that, Airianna!

No problem, I read about them in a history book once. It was mind-blowing to me because the characteristics of these dwarfs didn't fit the typical category of "dwarfs". I hadn't thought about them much until I read Sir Emeth's post.

Dvergar, eh? Looks like some research is imminent. Thanks!

No problem, just thought I'd mention I had read about them in a history book.