Svartlfaheim

Realm of the Dwarves

“The deep compression of stone from the heart of the mountain, shaped it with ore, alloys, and precious metals. Villi gave the inhabitants intelligence and taught them craftsmanship, made them covetous and warned it to fear outsiders.”

Sfartlfaheim, sometimes called Nithavallir (Nidavallir), is the realm of the dwarves, created by Villi. It is one of the primal realms and is often a difficult place of humanity to grasp or experience. The simple ways that most realms work, the laws of space and time, do not operate in the same way. One tunnel through a mountain can lead on for a year’s journey into darkness, but take only an hour’s walk to double-back through. A mountain that has stood for a million ages might also only be a few decades old; both states being perfectly true.

The dwarves themselves resemble what mankind has always thought of them, shorter and studier stock than humanity. Nearly immortal beings who count their years as humans count millennia, yet they seem pressured by the seconds of the clock just the same as any other. The dwarves are masters of all mechanical, technical, and traded crafts. Their artistry aims to create the most minimalistic and simple item that has the most magnificent and unworldly effects.

The dwarves are often considered to be cousins of the Alfkin, and indeed are often called dark elves. This title is based more on their love of deep tunnels and shadowed halls than anything else, though, like the elves, they have assorted hair, eye, and skin colours.

The dwarves are wary of outsiders, and humanity most of all. They distrust humans as thieves and burglars of their goods.

  • No. Few humans have ever been to the realm and those that have either succumbed to madness in the empty halls or needed to be rescued by their patron god.

  • In the old traditions some would leave offerings for the dwarves. The hope was that the dwarves, in turn, would create items and wealth for the petitioner.

    Since the roads to Svartlfaheim are now mostly shut, this tradition has waned and is no longer seen as useful.

    Still, there are some who leave a coin in dark, forgotten corners, hoping that if they ever find themselves in Svartlfaheim, their gesture will be remembered.

  • The craft and technology of the dwarves is such that it appears as magic to our understandings.

    The dwarves love simplicity and abhor the bright lights and garish glow of electricity. It is potentially true that they have computer-like technology, but they would never give it the appearance of a computer, they dislike the trappings of what we consider advanced or modern machinery.

  • No one can say. But likely it is aesthetic choices, and the availability of better mechanical methods.

    We have the ability to make steam and locomotive powered personal vehicles, but this is less efficient and comfortable than what we currently make. It may be that what we consider high-technology is less efficient or aesthetically pleasing than what the Dwarves can craft.