Duaga

The duagar are a race of humanoids living mainly in Askriga. Short of stature, they have historically been called dwarves, though the word is nowadays considered derogatory. The duagar are the closest relatives of the dao, which also are sometimes called "hellion dwarves" or "desert dwarves". A subrace of duagar are the wild duagar.

History
Duagan ancestry is said to trace back to Elolin stoneweavers who were trapped inside the surface of E2 during its construction. They lived for ages in their mythical ancestral home realm Gallanheim, until volcanic activity drove them out. The mighty World Pillar, Ask, took pity on the fleeing duagar and led them to the surface inside its root tunnels. After the Emergency of Duagar, the race settled on Askriga and lived in mutual respect with the elves (and under Theilic domination). After the Draconic War, the Teiliwaani Empire subjugated Askriga.

Appearance
Physiologically, duagar are short, muscular, and hairy, with thick greenish-grey skin and round features. Their hair color varies from frost grey to auburn to black. Males have almost always berds, as beards carry a significant meaning in duagan culture: they are a symbol of status and masculinity. fuller and more complexly decorated beards have signified a higher affluence and social status, modern duagar have begun to adopt the sleeker Imperial beard styles. The duagan word for beardless, eibairteg, may also mean anything from a homosexual to a male prostitute; regardless of cultural stigma, some duagar choose to identify as eibairteg.

Culture
Duagan culture can best be summed as economically inventive but socially traditionalist. Before Imperial colonization, Askriga had already established both a guild system and a bank system. Since then, banks have evolved to offer a range of loan and investment options. Duagar have a deep respect for magic and happily shirk the Imperial ban on unauthorized magic. However, the social situation has been traditionally poor. Aside from the strict class system, female duaga cannot enlist in duaga-run education without the approval of their closest male relative or husband.

Between the stigma on eibairteg and the ban on the worship of love god Mjeirnas, the duagan society continues to be firmly heteronormative. Additionally, apprehension towards the Empire has contributed to the growing suspicion of outsiders in Askriga.

Religion
Duagan religion is highly influenced by Theilic tradition and human pantheons. Apart from the Imperial gods, the chief god Thaugand is supported by his wife, family goddess Maggda, god of charity Aumadir, nature goddess Hjelinda, god of words Laggtri, war god Kragand, wealth god Gauldrunas, the fortune and fertility goddess Fehuna and the goddess of justice Skjada. Many duagar also share a deep personal faith in the old Stone Gods, the gods of tradition and stasis, who predate the modern pantheon.

Before Teiliwaani occupation, all duagar worshiped Hii as Hiittinen, the god of hunt and male fertility. Since the ban of any daemonic cults, the god was rebranded by its city duaga worshipers as Thinnen, a minor Valarnic god. Wild duagar refuse to accept such cultural dominance and still defiantly revere Hiittinen as their chief deity.