The Sea Dwarf
Descendants of the Ilz’Ka’az
It's a damn tough life, full ov toil and strife,
we stormmen undergo,
And weh won't give a damn when the gales are done
how hard the winds did blow,
For we're ‘omeward bound from the Arctic grounds
with a good ship taut and free,
And we won't give a damn when we drink our rum
with the lasses back ‘ome .
CHORUS:
Rolling down to Ilzithrun, me boys,
rolling down to Ilzithrun,
We're homeward bound from the Arctic grounds,
rolling down to Ilzithrun.
Once more we sail with the northerly gales
through the ice and wind and rain,
Them roaring fires, them inviting shores,
we soon shall see again;
Six hellish months we've passed away
on the cold Krovehni sea,
But now we're bound from the Arctic grounds,
rolling down to Ilzithrun.
Once more we sail with the Northerly gales,
towards our island home,
Our whaling done, our mainmast sprung,
and we ain't got far to roam;
Our stuns'l's bones is carried away,
what care we for that sound,
A living gale is after us,
we're homeward bound.
CHORUS
How soft the breeze through the island trees,
now the ice is far astern,
Them native maids, them inviting glades,
is awaiting our return;
Even now their big brown eyes look out,
hoping some fine day to see,
Our baggy sails, running 'fore the gales,
rolling down to Ilzithrun.
CHORUS
And now we're anchored in the bay
with the krovehni all around
With chants and strong kazahar ‘OI’s,
they greet us homeward bound;
And now ashore we'll have some fun,
we'll paint them beaches red;
Awaken in the arms of an island maid
with a big fat aching head.
CHORUS
[!] A Sea-Dwarf late era sea-shanty.
History
“Pull down deh sails ye fockers! Deh storm is upon us!”
“We cannot, Captain! Dey are bein’ blown too ‘ard!”
“If ye do not take ‘em down we will be stranded, lads!”
“Captain, we canno-!” The sailor replied as the sail was torn, the rope coiling around his foot and flinging him into the sea as thunder cracked in the sky above. “Into deh ‘ull, lads! Into deh ‘ull!”
The History of the Sea-Dwarves is short in comparison to that of the main subraces of dwarven origin, but certainly not lacking in action. Hailing from the Blue Mountains, the Sea-Dwarves hail from Mountain Dwarf ancestry and have adapted from years upon sailing the seas of Vailor and Axios. Having been a large contingent Blue Mountains sailors that became lost in early Vailor, these dwarves have been forced to adapt to life at Sea, and thus have been forced to develop different social patterns and physiques than Mountain Dwarves, such that they warrant distinguishing.
Upon setting out from an Orenian trading port, the Ilz’Ka’az (Sea dwarven for their ancestors, the name literally meaning ‘Sea-Fathers’) were suddenly ambushed by a heavy storm, and swept far out to sea. The folk-tale descriptions of the severity of the storm differ, but the most common goes as follows. The worst of the storm raged for 35 days and 35 nights, causing even the most seaworthy sailors to cower in the hull after the 7th day. Some chose to fling themselves into the storm, to end their suffering, these men were labeled ‘broken brothers’. As the remaining sailors heard their ship be torn apart above their heads, they began chanting “Os thamar nazka anek ithrun” (Let we break this storm). On the 35th day, perhaps by sheer luck or will of the creator, the storm broke, though this was not initially apparent as the chant drowned out sound from outside the hull. It was only when one of the crewmen awoke, the others too accustomed to the rocking that their limbs were numb to the movement, and felt the lack of crashing waves that he asked for silence. A crew then arose from the brothers “We ‘ave done et! Weh ‘ave broken t’e storm!” The happiness was short lived however, as when the crew pushed away the debris and made their way onto the deck, they found they had no idea where they were.
With a broken mast and torn sails, shouts of disparity rang out amongst the large crew. Returning from a trade for raw agricultural goods in exchange for gems offered some solace in the sailors in the form of a fairly large food supply, but that seemed to be their only luck. It was only through the engineering prowess of a few of the sailors, that these stranded sailors were able to survive. Through days of work, the crew worked tirelessly, repairing the rudder with the debris of the former captain’s quarters, and fashioning oars from the splintered mast. They used the remnants of the sails to make covers overhead to stop the sun’s searing rays on the rowers.
They rowed and rowed, without any real course other than following what they assumed to be the East star. The journey was not an easy one, their hands became bloodied and blistered after just a few hours of rowing, and their clothes were never dry, dampened by the sea, sweat, or both. Through smaller uncharted islands the Ilz’Ka’az were able to gather and hunt, though none offered any semblance of home. Over a year of exploration and strife, the sailors sailed across the open ocean, searching for food, for water, for a familiar shoreline, for their home of Tal’Ilzithrun. Finally as the sun began to set upon the horizon, shouts came from the crow's nest above “Khor! Land!” They settled there and created the fort of Tal’Ilz’ithrun. After some time living there, the Sea Dwarves saw opportunity in the fledgling nation of Kaz’Ulrah, and decided to swear their loyalty to it. Within Kaz’Ulrah the main Sea Dwarf clan, the Stormbreakers, saw great growth and began to gain influence. Since the fall of Urguan, the Stormbreakers have became one of the most influential Dwarf clans.
Characteristics
Appearance
Sea-Dwarves appear differently than their Mountain-Dwarf kin, their skin is far paler from exposure to salty and harsh ocean winds, and the lack of sunlight due to the often cloudy skies. Sea-Dwarves are also lighter than Mountain-Dwarves as this trait has been favored over the heavier one, for it allows for more agility while sailing, and is very beneficial for swimming. Sea Dwarves have adapted to favor traits that decrease the risk of motion sickness and have a far higher resistance to seaborne diseases. The beards of Sea-Dwarves are often kept short and well groomed, as to not catch rigging or alight in case of fire. These beards often have seashells, gems, or other treasures found in their adventures woven into them. It is rare that these dwarves wear armor heavier than chain, as on the ocean, plate mail is a death sentence if a sailor falls into the sea. They often wear chainmail under thick treated leather with scarf type capes that they wrap around their neck, and sometimes use to shield the sharper of salty Sea winds. Sea Dwarves also have eye colors ranging from deep blue to turquoise, but as a Sea Dwarf ages, their eyesight worsens at a far quicker rate than their kin due to exposure to the unforgiving salty sea.
OOC Guidelines
Coastal and Sea Combat Prowess: The Sea-Dwarf is very adept at combat on the shore or at sea, from a young age they have spent a majority of their lives near or on the ocean. Being inland and far away from water is unfavorable to a Sea-Dwarf, and it is rare for them to be found there. Please do not roleplay one as some swimming god that can fly in water, they can just simply move with more agility, but are still bound by the physical combat limits of their other dwarven kin.
Age: Please see main Dwarven lore.
Eyesight: As a Sea Dwarf ages, that is they spend more and more time upon the ocean, their eyesight almost always worsens. This can be countered through remaining on the coast after they start feeling their eyesight fade, or a type of fashioned goggles. This is meant to be caused by Salt and harsh winds. Their sensitivity and keen eyesight fades over time if they spend too long at sea without eye protection. This is meant to mean that an older Sea Dwarf will not have the hawk like eyesight of one of their younger kin, so please roleplay it as such.
Pregnancy: Roll out of 15, 5-15/15 meaning pregnancy if with another Sea Dwarf or Mountain Dwarf. If with kin race, roll out of 20, with 14-20/20 meaning pregnancy. This is partially to make sure we all follow the same guidelines. ((Pregnancy Idea stolen from Snelf Lore))