Those schooled in the cultures of dwarves can easily differentiate the enclaves by their beards. Considered by all dwarves to be the only trait carried over from the days when they were giants, each enclave wears their beards in the style their ancient ancestors did when they ruled the North. Those from Solanos Mor carefully groom their beards and often spend as much time preening their facial hair as they do caring for their weapons.

Beldin wears a a fine, though plain breastplate crafted in Solanos Mor. It was made by the dwarven armorer Yuthgi Vordos for the Legion of the Stormlord. The enterprising young smith turned out over two hundred such breastplates while still in apprenticeship.

WEIGHT OF THE CURSE: Dwarves who die cannot be raised through the use of reincarnation, but can be brought back from the dead if the body is completely healed within 24 hours of the dwarf's death. Dwarven souls are barred from the afterlife and cannot be brought back from it. Their souls are transferred to their Soul Shar within 24 hours and after that period of time, the soul can only be returned to the body with the use of a raise dead, resurrection, or true resurrection spell.

SEARCH FOR PERFECTION: Dwarves constantly seek to overcome their curse, thus when set upon a task of creating an item, the dwarf becomes more focused as their work becomes all encompassing. When using the Craft skill or any Item Creation feat, the dwarf gains a +4 racial bonus to all related skill checks and items take one-third as long to create. The final product is almost always a masterpiece; add 100 gp per day spent on creating the item to its total worth.

GIANT KILLER: Solani Dwarves are highly trained giant hunters. Therefore, when fighting giants, they gain a +1 racial bonus to attack rolls against giants and a +4 dodge bonus to their armor class.

DEFENSIVE STANCE: When he adopts a defensive stance, a defender gains phenomenal strength and durability, but he cannot move from the spot he is defending. He gains +2 to Strength, +4 to Constitution, a +2 resistance bonus on all saves, and a +4 dodge bonus to AC. The increase in Constitution increases the defender’s hit points by 2 points per level, but these hit points go away at the end of the defensive stance when the Constitution score drops back 4 points. These extra hit points are not lost first the way temporary hit points are. While in a defensive stance, a defender cannot use skills or abilities that would require him to shift his position. A defensive stance lasts for a number of rounds equal to 3 + the character’s (newly improved) Constitution modifier. A defender may end his defensive stance voluntarily prior to this limit. At the end of the defensive stance, the defender is winded and takes a -2 penalty to Strength for the duration of that encounter. A defender can only use his defensive stance a certain number of times per day as determined by his level (see Table: The Dwarven Defender). Using the defensive stance takes no time itself, but a defender can only do so during his action.

Dwarves of Solanos Mor are heralded as the noblest and most self-sacrificing of all the dwarven enclaves. They travel throughout the lands of Man, protecting, advising and sacrificing their lives, if need be, for the preservation of humanity.

Although the artisans of Solanos Mor craft objects in hopes that Sarish's offer will be granted, the majority of the populace feels that only by redeeming themselves in the eyes of Illiir can the Curse be lifted. To accomplish this, it is felt that only by fulfilling their ancestor's obligations and protecting mankind until the Imperium is again restored will they deserve the mercy of Illiir.

After a period of 60 years, during which a young dwarf grows to adulthood and is taught a craft, he must decide whether he can better serve the enclave by continuing to perfect his artisan skills or take up arms and travel beyond the Vault.

Those dwarves that faind that their craftsmanship skills are lacking take up the mantle of the Penitents of Illiir. This order of dwarves strikes out singly or in small groups to find injustices and dangers that plague mankind and mete out the justice of Illiir. Though not necessarily schooled as intensely in the dogma of Illiir's teachings as those of the clergy, not one dwarf is unfamiliar with His tenents.

Even the name that the Penitents of Illiir choose to call humans is indicative of their devotion to the Merciful Lord: Emtazi, which means "protected or beloved one."

Relations between Solanos Mor and the other enclaves are cordial, though the Encali are held with contempt beause of their religious views. The only true enmity that exists is with the Reavers of Bealak Gempor, a feeling that is shared by all the other enclaves.

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