I'm hoping Toady might take a look at some of the things I've written about dwarf physiology (specifically hair, but there's other things, like surgery), since some of the new additions into the game will start to have a real impact on what I want my dwarfs to be.
It's "Dwarfs", sing. "Dwarf". Not "dwarves". And it's pronounded "Dorf". "Dwarves" is what lisping, mincing, elves refer to dwarfs as, because their beardless baby-mouths can't pronounce the dwarf language properly.
Basic physiology for DF dwarfs.
1: Dwarfs are humanoid, pretty obviously, but are constructed much differently than a very short human. A dwarf would *never* be mistaken for a short human, except at a distance.
2: Dwarf "Beards" are actually made of fine wires of nearly pure metal (iron, copper, silver, gold, lead, zinc, aluminum, cobalt, are by far the most common, and different hairs in the same beard can be of different metals), which are produced by a symbiotic fungus that grows on dwarf bodies. The metal wires are a byproduct of the fungus's digestion of rock dust. The fungus bonds with dwarf skin to create a resilient surface that protects their skin from chafing. It grows only near the mouth, where it can obtain more nutrition (from both rock dust and alchohol) as the dwarf eats. Dwarfs will *never* shave their beards, as they are a sign of status, but craftdwarfs will trim them if they must, to keep them out of the way, although braiding is preferred. Dwarfs are otherwise completely hairless/bald, except for eyebrows and ear and nostril hair, which closely resemble their human equivalents. "Natural" dwarf hair is grey and fine. The symbiot fungus produces oxygen, and helps the dwarf metabolize alchohol. Dwarfs *can* cultivate the fungus on other parts of their bodies, notably the head, and this is a common practice in some cultures-both for fashion sense, and for the additional protection it provides from falling rock, but it never grows as long as on their faces.
3: Dwarfs have two very efficient livers, as well a massive 12 chambered heart that's centered in the middle of their bodies, and a specialized organ (the 'Drinkis') that helps them metabolize alchohol directly into useful energy, with the help of the aforementioned fungus. They also have a stronger gallbladder than human beings, and a fully functional appendix. The dwarf digestion system has three parts, instead of the human two, and is more efficient. The first part, the "rock intestine", having some of the features of a second stomach, draws nutrition from heavy loads of minerals, and helps break down dwarf bread. Dwarf stomach acid is *extremely* caustic, and dwarfs use concentrations of their own bile to etch metals/stones. Dwarfs can consume lead, arsenic, aluminum, and many other minerals harmlessly (lead is actually a nutritious part of their diet), but mercury, cadmium, and asbestos remain quite toxic to them, although not to the degree that they are to humans.
Dwarfs do not get alchohol poisoning, even from "wood" alchohol, but wood alchohol will make them more hung-over than grain alchohol, and is generally considered sub-par. Humans and other susceptible beings visiting a dwarf fortress should be aware that certain-especially cheaper-varieties of dwarf booze will not only cause blindness, but can quickly lead to severe lead poisoning (lead is a common component in several varieties of dwarf booze, often added as a flavoring agent.), and death. Dwarfs are not short humans.
4: Dwarfs have eyes not unlike a cat, in both appearance and function. They can see in very low light, but not in total darkness. They can also see into the heat spectrum, but not far or well (with a range of only a few feet from their faces). Compared to a human, dwarfs are nearsighted. Dwarf ears are fully mobile, hairy, and larger than a human's. They're also slightly better than humans at echolocation. Dwarfs have very keen senses of smell and touch, but their sense of taste is sub-par to a human being's, except where mineral "flavors" are concerned. Dwarfs can detect the presence of minerals easily, by taste alone, and copper, lead, and iron are all flavors used in cooking. Due to their improved senses, Dwarfs *are* able to find their way around in even total darkness, if they're moving slowly and carefully, but this isn't by any means ideal for them. Dwarf noses continue to grow throughout their lives, and their senses of smell (and taste, to a mild degree) will actually continue to improve, over the centuries. Dwarf ears calcify, and never grow much past maturity.
5: Dwarf bones are atleast 3 times as dense and strong as a human being's. They also have over 15% more bones (245, as opposed to the 206) in their bodies, at adulthood, than a human has. This allows them greater flexibility, and a better muscle architecture.
6: Dwarf muscles are stronger than a human's, and are attached more efficiently to the dwarf's bones than ours are. A dwarf, pound for pound, is on average about 3.5 times as strong as a human being, all other things being equal. Dwarf muscles also build up fatigue toxins only 20% as quickly as a human, meaning they can work 5 times as long at the same task, before becoming exhausted. Conversely, dwarfs *do* require more sleep than a human, with a bare minimum of 6 hours a night being necessary for health, with 9-12 hours being considered "a good night's sleep". Dwarf lungs work more efficently than human lungs, and-with the help of their oxygen producing beards-dwarfs require less, and less fresh, oxygenated air than humans do.
7: Dwarf arms, by body ratio, are twice as long as a human being's. Dwarf palms (and feet) are also twice as broad, but their fingers are very long and narrow. Dwarfs have 2 thumbs and 6 fingers on each hand, and 8 toes. Their extra digits allow them to perform their incredibly intricate crafting skills. In place of fingernails, dwarfs actually have stubby claws that are made of a slightly translucent, tooth-enamel like substance that once helped primitive dwarfs burrow through soil. Leg length ratio tends to be the same as human average.
8: Dwarf skin absorbs harmless minerals, and tends to be deep orange-red, coal black, or blueish white (resembling humans with argyria). Sunlight causes their skin to leach out excess minerals quickly and efficiently, and dwarfs do tan well, turning a rich nut-brown. Long periods of time away from sunlight won't cause a dwarf harm, but sudden exposure to sunlight will cause their skin to go into overdrive, releasing large quantities of minerals into their system, causing an overload, nausea, and violent vomiting. This buildup of minerals in their skin greatly increases their skin's toughness (accounting for their damblock).
9: Dwarf brains (and skulls) are proportionately larger than humans (about 20% for the skull, 15% for the brain), but the excess material is in the memory portion of their brains. This is a necessary trait, considering their long lives. They also have considerably larger medulla oblongata, and their brain chemistry is rich and messy, even by human standards. They have one additional brain organ that humans do not possess-their hypothalamus has an extra lobe that seems to only communicate with the memory portion of their brains. This may explain the physical means by which they go into their sudden and violently creative "moods". Dwarf skulls are about twice as thick as human skulls, but only on the tops of their heads. They also have a patch of thick, leathery skin coving this area. Dwarfs have an extra bone in their noses that helps support them, as they continue to grow in length and breadth throughout their lives.
10: Dwarf teeth number 36, lacking "wisdom teeth", otherwise resemble human teeth, with the extras being additional grinding molars. Dwarf teeth will continue to fall out and replace themselves (like our baby teeth) throughout the life of the dwarf, with the "life" of an individual tooth being approximately 10 years.
11: An adult dwarf, because of their dense bones and muscles, and their stout, mineral-rich bodies, averages about 100kg in weight, but even the tallest dwarfs reach no more than roughly 1 meter in height. It's a common trait for a dwarf to be exactly the same width across the shoulders as they are high, and this is a sign of good health, proper diet, and physical beauty. Dwarfs rarely live past 175 years, but their actual theoretical lifespan is an amazing 1200 years or more. Good luck getting there.
for starters.
I'm not saying all dwarfs have to be that way, but I'd like to be able to mod them to my parameters.
Mostly, I think I should be able to, but there's areas where I won't know until things are implemented.
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Topic: Beards (Read 4281 times)