Dwarf
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{{two other uses|the mythical creature|the medical condition|Dwarfism||Dwarf (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox Paranormalcreatures
|Creature_Name = Dwarves
|Image_Name = Men hur kommer man in i berget, frågade tomtepojken.jpg
|Image_Caption = ''Men hur kommer man in i berget,<br> frågade tomtepojken''<br> ("But how do I get into the mountain?"<br> the young dwarf asked.) by [[John Bauer]].
|Grouping = [[Mythological creature]]<br>[[Fairy]]
|Possibilities = [[Hominid]]
|AKA =
|Country = [[Northern Europe]]
|Region =
|Habitat =
|First_Reported = In folklore
|Last_Sighted =
|Status = Unconfirmed
}}
A '''dwarf''' is a creature from [[Continental Germanic mythology|Germanic mythologies]], [[fairy tale]]s, [[fantasy fiction]], and [[role-playing game]]s. It usually has magical talents, often involving metallurgy.
The original concept of dwarves is very difficult to determine. The sources closest to the original Germanic mythology come from Norse Mythology, but even these are scarce and very varied. Sources have gradually given dwarves more comical and superstitious roles.<ref name="zwerge">'Zwerge' in Rudolf Simek, ''Lexikon der germanischen Mythologie'', (Stuttgart, 1984)</ref> Dwarves were certainly humanoid, but sources differ over [[Norse dwarves|their height]], their lifestyles, and their [[Dark elves|similarity to elves]]. Considering early sources, and considering the dwarves' nature, original dwarves seem fully human height. They had strong associations with death<ref name="guidetogods100">[http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=KlT7tv3eMSwC&printsec=frontcover&dq=norse+mythology&sig=B73_Oay121S0H0QNeXVkM__U4pA#PPA100,M1|Norse Mythology: A Guide to the Gods, Heroes, Rituals, and Beliefs, p.100]</ref><ref name="poeticedda">[http://books.google.com/books?id=j4bufbA_UpQC&pg=PA213&lpg=PA213&dq=pale+norse+dwarf&source=web&ots=1unNcgnnge&sig=OtqjZmbKRSCoIy3-yxSA3rFPf5A#PPA213,M1|The Poetic Edda: Essays on Old Norse Mythology, p.213]</ref>: paled skin; dark hair; connections with the earth; their role in mythology. They followed [[animism|animistic]] traditions, showing similarities to [[Ancestor worship|such concepts of the dead]]. They were similar to others from the '[[Vættir]]' family, such as [[Elf|elves]].<ref name="guidetogods100" />
As their mythology evolved, the most notable changes have had them become more comical and more mysterious. They adopted the modern image of short height and ugliness. Their associations with the underground became more predominant. Dwarves were magical creatures with huge skill at metallurgy, taking fame for making great artifacts of legend. Late Norse concepts of dwarves were becoming quite different from the early ones. The [[Legendary saga]] shows the new trend. The remnants of the original dwarf formed later [[fairy tales]] and [[folklore]] (see [[German folklore]], and [[Dutch folklore]]). They had become unseen magical creatures like fairies; users of charms, curses, and deceit.
Modern fantasy and literature has formed an intriguing weave of concepts, from the original dwarf, later Norse mythology, the dwarf of folk-tales, and other mythology. The modern stereotypical dwarf has distinctive features, such as short stature, excessive hair, and skill at mining and metallurgy. However, modern literature draws from a wide range, and dwarves vary their proximity to each of their historical counterparts. Many fantasists devise new powers or images for dwarves. Modern dwarves have no strict definition.
The concept of short dwarves is probably the most tenacious, and the term '[[dwarfism|dwarf]]' can now describe short humans, regardless of its mythical origins. The universal modern description of a dwarf is something short, usually associated with magic, fantasy, and fairy tales.
==Etymology==
The plural form '''dwarfs''' has been traced to the 17th century. The alternative plural '''dwarves''' has been recorded in the early 18th century, but was not generally accepted until used by [[Philology|philologist]] [[J. R. R. Tolkien]] in his fantasy novel ''[[The Hobbit]]''. Neither spelling represents the regular phonetic development of the Old English plural ''dweorgas'', namely ''dwarrows''; rather, they descend from a new plural formed in [[Middle English]] from the singular stem. Similarly, the old inherited plural ''dwarrows'' acquired a singular ''dwarrow''.<ref>Carpenter, Humphrey (ed.), 1981, ''The Letters of J. R. R. Tolkien,'' p. 23</ref> Although ''dwarrow'' has passed from the language, both ''dwarfs'' and ''dwarves'' are in current use. Many grammarians prefer ''dwarfs,'' many fantasist prefer ''dwarves.'' The form ''dwarfs'' is generally used for real people affected by [[dwarfism]]; the form ''dwarves'' is used for the mythical people described by Tolkien and others.
==Dwarves of Germanic Paganism==
{{further|[[Norse dwarves]]; [[Continental Germanic mythology]]; [[Animism]]}}
===Early Dwarves===
[[Image:Sigurd Portal (Sigurd kills Regin).png|thumb|right|'''Both the Norse dwarf (right) and the human (left) are same height.''' <BR> Figure of a scene from 12th-century Norway, on the Sigurd Portal.]]
Sources for the earliest concepts of dwarves are essentially non-existent. Norse dwarves (dvergar) are the earliest source for our understanding of original dwarves. However, the concept of Dvergar mutates rapidly, even during our records of Norse Mythology. This makes it hard to draw a uniform concept of early dwarves, and questionable whether there actually was one.
For most of Norse mythology, the skin color of Dvergar was 'pale' (fölr), like a corpse. The hair color is 'black' (svartr). The Norse depiction of the deathly complexion of Dvergar resembles the modern depiction of vampires, with early dwarves fatally susceptible to sunlight<ref name="poeticedda" />. Dvergar are skilled craftsmen, and most of their magic involves labour, craftsmanship, and metallurgy. They are a family of [[Vættir]], or nature spirits. From the later information on dwarves, from similar mythical creatures, and from the nature of Germanic mythology and its roots, we can get a good idea of early dwarves. Elves are a race with very close associations to dwarves.<ref name="guidetogods100" /> 'Alf' often appears as part of dwarf names (eg.: Álfr, Gandálfr, and Vindálfr), and [[dark elves]] have deep parallels with dwarves. Elves are often described as humans elevated after death, and descriptions of them often have them passing through physical objects. Other Norse creatures and [[Vættir]] have similar connotations of death. [[Trolls]] are deathly creatures who rise from beneath the earth and often require to be put back to rest. [[Tomte|Nisse]] have the same labourer image as dwarves, and they lived in burial mounds. Death is a recurring motif in Norse Mythology, and [[ancestor worship]] is a prevalent practice in animistic religions. 'Dvergr' is very similar to '[[draugr]]' (a spirit of the dead in Norse Mythology). Norse mythology has images such as the dwarves growing from maggots from Ymir's flesh and the inevitable murder that comes from a dwarf weapon.<ref>[http://web.cn.edu/kwheeler/monster_list.html List of Medieval and Ancient Monsters<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> All of this suggests dwarves were a form of spirits of the dead.
Dwarves seem to be associated with age and wisdom.<ref name="guidetogods100" /> They are consistently pictured with beards, and have great knowledge, particularly of craftsmanship (a major occupation in Norse society). The connection between the elderly and death helps strengthen the link between dwarves and spirits of the dead.
It's worth noting that nothing points to early dwarves' short height.<ref>'Dwarves' in ''Cassell Dictionary of Norse Myth and Legend'', ed. (Andy Orchard 1997, ISBN 0-30434-520-2).</ref> Short dwarves only appeared around the 13th century, in sources such as the [[legendary saga]], and it became a trend for mythical creatures (see: [[fairies]]; [[elves]]; [[gnomes]]) to be small, such that they gained a mischievous and comical nature. Given the dwarf's association with dead humans, it seems unlikely for them to have been anything but human height, and any shortness they have would be a characteristic of old age. With the oldest sources depicting dwarves as human height (see [[Norse dwarves]]), early dwarves most likely were.
===Late Norse Dwarves===
[[Norse Dwarves]] vary throughout our sources of them. The differences between early and late Norse Dwarves are surprisingly large; outside influences, such as the onset of [[Christianity]], acted as a catalyst for these changes.
Late Norse Dwarves (around the 13th to 15th centuries) became more comical. Various old concepts were exaggerated, and dwarves became stunted, small, and ugly. Along with being physically deformed, they became excellent craftsmen, whose ability is partially god-like (they can create humans<ref>[http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/poe/poe03.htm Voluspo<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>); this has parallels with stunted and ugly craftsmen and wise people (witch and oracles) from other mythologies. Dvergar are famous for having created [[Skíðblaðnir]], [[Gungnir]], [[Draupnir]], [[Mjolnir]], etc.
These dwarves of later Norse Mythology have left a heavy influence on modern fantasy. Concepts such as dwarven short height, ugly features, and exceptional craftsmanship are commonplace in modern literature.
== Dwarves in later mythology and folklore ==
Later dwarves took on a more comical nature.<ref name="zwerge" /> They adopted the modern image of short height and ugliness. Their associations with the underground strengthened. Dwarves were magical creatures with huge skill at metallurgy, taking fame for making great artifacts of legend. Late Norse concepts of dwarves were becoming quite different from the early ones.<ref>[http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=KlT7tv3eMSwC&printsec=frontcover&dq=norse+mythology&sig=B73_Oay121S0H0QNeXVkM__U4pA#PPA101,M1|Norse Mythology: A Guide to the Gods, Heroes, Rituals, and Beliefs, p.101]</ref> The [[Legendary saga]] shows the new trend. The remnants of the original dwarf formed later fairy tales and folklore (see English folklore, German folklore, and Dutch folklore). They had become unseen magical creatures like fairies; users of charms, curses, and deceit. This trend is partly explained by their smaller place in common beliefs: God and [[Christianity]] were the main focuses of worship.
Dwarf concepts also appeared in creatures such as [[Trolls]] (association with death and the earth), and [[Tomte|Nisse]].
===Dwarves in folklore, fairy tales, and romances===
Dwarves are generally described as being about 3 to 4 feet tall, big-headed, and bearded. [[Nidavellir]] is the land of the dwarves in Norse mythology. Some dwarves of mythology and fairy tales include: [[Rumpelstiltskin]], the dwarves from ''[[Snow White]]'', [[Dvalin]], Lit, [[Fjalar and Galar]], [[Alvíss|Alvis]], [[Eitri]], [[Brokkr]], [[Hreidmar]], [[Alfrik]], Berling, Grer, [[Fafnir]], [[Ótr|Otr]], [[Regin]] (rarely given as [[Mimir]]), [[Andvari]] (or [[Alberich]]).
Though most dwarves in the Arthurian romances of [[Chrétien de Troyes]] seem to be short humans, there is a reference to a kingdom or kingdoms of dwarves (suggesting a non-human race) in [[Erec and Enide|"Erec and Enide."]] The following passage is from Carleton W. Carroll's translation.
:"The lord of the dwarves came next, Bilis, king of the Antipodes. The man of whom I'm speaking was indeed a dwarf and full brother of Bliant. Bilis was the smallest of all the dwarves, and Bliant his brother the largest of all the knights in the kingdom by half a foot or a full hands'-breadth. To display his power and authority Bilis brought in his company two kings who were dwarves, who held their land by his consent, Gribalo and Glodoalan, people looked at them with wonder. When they arrived at court, they were very cordially welcomed; at court all three were honoured and served like kings, for they were very noble men."
More ambiguous are the dwarfs found in attendance on ladies in [[Romance (genre)|romances]]. Although these might be humans afflicted with dwarfism, who were often kept as curiosities by courts and nobles of the era, the ladies are often of uncertain origin themselves; many enchantresses were in original stories [[fairy|fairies]], and their attendants might likewise be nonhuman.<ref>Katharine Briggs, "Dwarfs", ''An Encyclopedia of Fairies, Hobgoblins, Brownies, Boogies, and Other Supernatural Creatures'' (Pantheon Books, 1976), p. 115. ISBN 0-394-73467-X</ref>
Folktales featuring dwarves include:
The Adventures of Billy McDaniel, Aid & Punishment, Bottile Hill, Chamois-Hunter, The Cobbler and the Dwarfs, Curiosity Punished, Dwarf in Search of Lodging, Dwarf-Husband, Dwarf's Banquet, Dwarves Borrowing Bread, Dwarf's Feast, Dwarves on the Tree, Dwarves Stealing Corn, Dwarf-Sword [[Tirfing]], The Field of Ragwort, Fir Cones, Freddy and his Fiddle, Friendly Dwarves, Gertrude and Rosy, The Girl Who Picked Strawberries, [[The Hazel-nut Child]], The Hill-Man at the Dance, History of Dwarf Long Nose, Journey of Dwarves Over the Mountain, Knurremurre, Laird O' Co', Little Mukra, Loki & the Dwarf, Lost Bell, Nihancan & Dwarf's Arrow, Nutcracker Dwarf, Rejected Gift, [[Snow-White and Rose-Red]], [[Rumpelstiltskin]], The Silver Bell, Sir Thynnè, The Skipper and the Dwarfs, Smith Riechert, [[Snow White]], The Story of Maia, Thorston & the Dwarf, [[The Three Little Men in the Wood]], Thumbkin, Timimoto, Wonderful Little Pouch, [[The Yellow Dwarf]]
[[Chamorro]] people believe in tales of taotaomonas, duendes and other spirits. Duende (mythology), according to the "''Chamorro-English Dictionary''" by Donald Topping, Pedro Ogo and Bernadita Dungca, is a [[goblin]], [[elf]], [[ghost]] or spook in the form of a dwarf, a mischievous spirit which hide or take small kids. Taotaomona are spirits of the ancient Chamorro that act as guardians to [[banyan trees]].<ref>[http://www.guampdn.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071028/LIFESTYLE/710280325/1024/CUSTOMERSERVICE02 Guampdn.com, Ghost stories: Taotaomona, duendes and other spirits inhabit Guam]</ref>
Places connected with dwarves include:
*The Dwarves' Cavern (in [[Hasel]], [[Germany]]) was supposedly once home to many dwarves. This legend gives the cavern its name.
*Harz Mountains (in [[Germany]]): On the north and south sides of the Harz mountains, and in areas of the Hohenstein region, there once lived many thousands of dwarves according to local tradition. In the clefts of the cliffs, the dwarf caves still exist.
*In Northumbria, dwarves are often called Duergar or Dwergar. The most famous example of these Northumbrian dwarves are the [[Simonside Hills|The Dwarves of Simonside]] (see [http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/user/4033/misc]), which cause the deaths of hikers. The word 'Duergar is similar to the Norse word [[Norse Dwarves|Dvergar]], meaning dwarves.
*Tyre (in [[Lebanon]]): In ancient Jewish scriptures, dwarves were numerous in the towers of the fortresses of [[Tyre (Lebanon)|Tyre]].
=== Other mythological beings characterised by shortness ===
Other creatures followed the same process of becoming short and mysterious. These include:
* underground or secluded: mine [[kobold]]s (German), [[Hiisi]] (Finnish), [[gnome]]s (alchemy), [[Kallikantzaroi]] (Modern Greek), knockers (Cornish—see [[Pasty]]), [[huldufólk]] (Icelandic)
* house spirits: [[vetter]] (Scandinavian, including the [[tomte]]), [[Brownie (elf)|Brownie]]s (British), [[Domovoi]] (Slavic), [[Krasnoludek]] and [[Krasnal]] (Polish)
* others: [[pygmies]] (Classical Greek), [[Hacker (folklore)|Hackers]] (Sweden), [[leprechaun]]s (Irish), [[menehune]] (Polynesian), [[Ebu Gogo]] (Indonesian), [[basajaun]] (Basque), [[Bes]] (an ancient Egyptian god).
== Dwarves in modern fantasy fiction ==
[[Image:Dwarf.jpg|thumb|A modern depiction of a dwarf]]
Modern fantasy and literature has formed an intriguing weave of concepts, from the original dwarf, later Norse mythology, the dwarf of folk-tales, and other mythology. The modern stereotypical dwarf has distinctive features, such as short stature, excessive hair, and skill at mining and metallurgy. After Tolkien, the standard dwarf has become similar to those of later Norse Mythology. It has none of the associations with death and the afterlife, and the late association with shortness has stuck. It continues the image of old-age (through appearance), if not explicitly. Other characteristics of dwarves include long (but mortal) life, antipathy to elves and distrust to other races. Many but not all are portrayed as having Scottish accents. However, many fantasists devise new powers or images for dwarves, and modern dwarves have no strict definition. The ''[[Elder Scrolls]]'' series explicitly shows the similarity between elves and dwarves, with the latter a sub-race of the former. The dwarves of the ''[[Artemis Fowl]]'' series act as a sort of earthworm: they tunnel through soil and loose rocks and get nutrition thereby, and they excrete the earth as fast as they eat it.
Raymond E. Feist, the bestselling fantasy and science fiction author of '''The Riftwar Saga''', shows the similarities between dwarves and humans. Though their appearances are relatively rare, the dwarves are especially gifted in warfare. They have a hearty appetite for ale and feasting as with Tolkein's depictions.
=== Tolkien's dwarves ===
{{dablink|See [[Dwarf (Middle-earth)]]}}
Traditionally, the plural of dwarf was ''"dwarfs"'', especially when referring to actual humans with [[dwarfism]], but ever since [[J. R. R. Tolkien]] used ''dwarves'' in his fantasy novel ''The Hobbit'', the subsequent ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'' (often published in three volumes), and the posthumously published ''[[The Silmarillion]]'', the plural forms ''"dwarfs"'' has been replaced by ''"dwarves"''. (When discussing Tolkien's universe, though, only the latter should be used.) Tolkien, who was fond of low [[Philology|philological]] jests, also suggested two other plural forms, '''dwarrows''' and '''dwerrows'''; but he never used them in his writings, apart from the name 'Dwarrowdelf', the Western name for Khazad-dûm or [[Moria (Middle-earth)|Moria]], which was, inside his fiction, a [[calque]] of the [[Westron]] name Phurunargian. His Dwarves' name for themselves was ''Khazâd'', singular probably ''Khuzd''. 'Dwarrows' is the [[Middle English]] plural of 'Dwerg' or 'Dwerf' ('Dwarf'), and derives from the [[Old English]] 'Dweorgas', plural of 'Dweorh' or 'Dweorg'.
The Dwarves were created by [[Aulë]], one of the [[Vala (Middle-earth)|Valar]], when he grew impatient waiting for the coming of [[Children of Ilúvatar]]. [[Ilúvatar]] gave them life after rebuking Aulë for what he had done and seeing that he was both humble and repentant.
Dwarves in Tolkien are long-lived, living nearly four times the age of man (about 250 years), but are not prolific breeders, having children rarely and spaced far apart, and having few women among them. Dwarvish children are cherished by their parents, and are defended at all costs from their traditional enemies, such as [[Orc (Middle-earth)|Orcs]]. A longstanding enmity between normal Dwarves and [[Elf (Middle-earth)|Elves]] is also a staple of the racial conception.
Tolkien's immense popularity led to numerous imitators, and rewrites and reworkings of his plots were extremely common, as a bit of reading through the advertisements in the back of paperback fantasy books printed in around 1960–1980 will show. The Dwarves from the book ''The Hobbit'' became the fathers to hordes of dwarves that would follow, with their surly, somewhat suspicious demeanour passing to an entire race. Still, re-envisionings and creative reuses of the concept exist.
=== Female dwarves ===
A long standing source of interest (and humour) comes from the allusion of Tolkien to female dwarves having [[bearded woman#In fiction|beards]], which was borrowed by other writers. Essentially, Tolkien developed a rational explanation for why female Dwarves are never encountered in the story, by elaborating that female Dwarves never travel abroad, and look so much like Dwarf men that visitors to Dwarf cities cannot immediately spot them. In addition to being rare creatures they are perhaps not often featured in many fantasy milieu for this reason. A more cynical, and perhaps more realistic, suspicion is that female dwarves (unlike, say, female humans or [[elves]]) lack [[sex appeal]] and consequently are of little interest to fantasy fans.
Tolkien writes his Dwarf-women are "in voice and appearance, and in garb if they must go on a journey, so like to dwarf-men that the eyes and ears of the other peoples cannot tell them apart." This, he writes, leads to the belief that dwarves grow out of stone.<ref>{{ME-ref|rotk|Appendix A, "Part III: Durin's Folk"}}</ref> In ''[[The Chronicles of Narnia]]'', in fact, [[C. S. Lewis]], who was a friend of Tolkien, describes his Dwarfs [sic] as doing just this, and it is possible that Tolkien was ribbing Lewis in making this point. Interestingly, though, Lewis' all-male Dwarfs are capable of mixing with humans to make half-Dwarfs, such as Doctor Cornelius, the tutor of [[Prince Caspian]] (In the 2008 adaption of [[The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian|Prince Caspian]], female dwarfs are shown as archer along with the males, though these female dwarfs are shown to be beardless.). (In later writings, Tolkien directly states that his female Dwarves have beards "from the beginning of their lives", as do the males.<ref>{{ME-ref|wotj|The Later Quenta Silmarillion, "Of the Naugrim and the Edain"}}</ref>)
In the [[MMORPG]] ''[[RuneScape]]'', female dwarves are as present in the game as the females of other races. Also another notable MMORPG, the once popular ''[[Dark Age of Camelot]]'' featured female dwarves as a selectable race.
In Dungeons & Dragons the status of beards on dwarven women varies by setting and editions: In [[Greyhawk]], dwarven women grow beards but generally shave; in [[Forgotten Realms]] they grow [[sideburns]] but not beards or [[mustache]]s in AD&D, but full beards in 3rd edition; and in [[Eberron]] they do not grow beards at all. However in 4th edition no female dwarves have beards, and in fact have been changed to look "sexier" than their previous incarnations.
In the ''[[Discworld]]'' novels, [[Terry Pratchett]] notes that bearded dwarven females pose a major problem for their race, and states that the point of dwarven courtships is to 'tactfully find out which sex the other one is'.
[[Arcanum (role-playing game)| Arcanum: Of Steamworks & Magick Obscura]] features only male dwarves, and asking one about dwarven women is taboo, tantamount to insulting him. The game's manual hints that the reason for this is that the birth of a female dwarf is a rare event, with dwarven men outnumbering the women 2-to-1, and dwarven women are pregnant with their children for up to ten years, during which time their health is greatly at risk. Dwarven culture, therefore, requires that female dwarves spend almost all of their lives concealed from the outside world, for their own safety.
In the RPG [[Castle Falkenstein (role-playing game)|Castle Falkenstein]], all dwarves are male. They marry with women from other Faerie races, such as Naiads or Selkies; their daughters are all members of their mother's race, and their sons are all dwarves. Given that the Naiads and Selkies are all female, this would appear to suggest that this is simply a marked example of [[sexual dimorphism]].
In a notable departure from convention, dwarven females in the Korea-produced [[Lineage II]] [[massively multiplayer online role-playing game|MMORPG]] are very comely, young-looking women (almost girls, actually), a shocking contrast to the grizzled, old look of male dwarves. Female dwarves, however, are taller than males, and look more like young human girls, with larger heads and stomachs.
In the [[Warhammer]] world, dwarfs are depicted as having female members of the race. Female members are rarely seen, however, as most dwarven warriors are male. From what evidence can be gathered, female dwarfs of the Warhammer kind look like female equivalents of their male counterparts, possessing long, platted hair instead of beards.
===Modern fantasy with major roles for Dwarves===
====Books====
*[[The Weirdstone of Brisingamen]] by [[Alan Garner]]
*The ''[[Artemis Fowl]]'' series
*''[[The Chronicles of Narnia]]'' by [[C. S. Lewis]]
*The ''[[Discworld]]'' series
*''[[The Hobbit]]'' and ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'' by [[J. R. R. Tolkien]]
*The ''[[Shannara]]'' novels by [[Terry Brooks]]
*The ''[[Inheritance Cycle]]'' by Christopher Paolini
*[[Gotrek and Felix]] by [[William King (author)|William King]]
*[[The Spiderwick Chronicles]] by Holly Black and Tony Diterlizzi
====Video and Role-Playing games====
*''[[Dwarf (Dungeons & Dragons)|Dungeons and Dragons]]''
*''[[Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay]]''
*''[[Warcraft (series)#Races in Warcraft|Warcraft]]''
*''[[World of Warcraft#Races in World of Warcraft|World of Warcraft]]''
*''[[RuneScape]]''
*''[[Sacred (computer game)]]''
*''[[Dark Age of Camelot]]''
*''[[Earthdawn]]''
*''[[Arcanis]]''
*''[[Palladium Fantasy Role-Playing Game]]''
*''[[Guild Wars]]''
*''[[Shadowrun]]''
*''[[The Witcher (computer game)]]''
*''[[Dwarf Fortress]]''
*''[[Lord of the Rings Online]]''
*''[[EverQuest]]''
==See also==
*[[Jumbee#Backoo|Backoo]]
*''[[A Book of Dwarfs]]'' by [[Ruth Manning-Sanders]]
*[[Dark elf]]
*[[Dwarfs (Discworld)]]
*[[Dwarf (Dungeons & Dragons)]]
*[[Dwarf (Middle-earth)]]
*[[Dwarf (Warhammer)]]
*[[Dwemer]]
*[[Gnome]]
*[[Nain Rouge]], Detroit's harbinger of doom
*[[Norse dwarves]]
*[[Pointy hat]]
*[[Sprite (creature)]]
*[[Svartálfar]]
*[[J. R. R. Tolkien]]
*[[Troll]]
*[[The Dwarves]] (band)
==Bibliography==
* Carleton W. Carroll, trans. "Erec and Enide," in Chrétien de Troyes. ''Arthurian Romances.'' William W. Kibler, trans. London: Penguin Books, 1991.
* Vandebrake, Mark, ''[[Children of the Mist: Dwarfs in German Mythology, Fairy Tales, and Folk Legends]]'' 135 pages. A work that interprets dwarf depictions throughout German history as shadow symbols.
*[[Konungsbók]]
*[[Prose Edda]]
*[[Poetic Edda]]
*[[Hauksbók]]
*[[Hervarar saga]]
*[[Ynglingatal]]
==References==
{{reflist|2}}
==External links==
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