The Åldaigh, (pronunciation: ol·DAY or all·DIE) also known as Åldalgan Dwarves, or Sea Dwarves, are a race of stout, humanoid folk who live along the north-eastern shore of Åldalga, the dark, wild continent west of Hesperia. Though physiologically similar to mountain dwarves, Åldaigh are culturally quite distinct. Their language shares a few roots with standard dwarvish, but otherwise is quite distinct-- it is thought to preserve many older constructions from the archaic dwarven mother-tongue. The Åldaigh live in tight knit communities. Unlike their cousins (but like most other humanoid races) Åldaigh distinguish between men and women dwarves, with each gender performing significantly different societal roles. Women perform most clerical roles, as well as governance and education. Male dwarves are more frequently found in vocations of manual labor, or handiwork- most importantly of this is the fishing industry, from which the majority of the diet of the Åldaigh derives. Men have their own dialect of Åldalgan-Dwarvish that they only speak among themselves. Learning to read is discouraged among men, but many do so in secret none the less.
Åldaigh maintain fluid relationships, with a single female Åldaigh typically keeping several husbands, who compete quietly for higher positions in the pecking order. Women often will trade their disagreeable husbands to other women, and may maintain monogamous, romantic relationships with other women in addition to their harem of men. The causes of the significant population imbalance between men and women in Åldalgan society is not often shared with outsiders. The Åldaigh society puts a significant amount of pressure on its women, holding them to an exceptional standard. As a result of this, women who feel they cannot meet the high expectations of their society are strongly encouraged to retreat into the many Åldalgan convents, where they spend their lives exclusively with other women, making copies of ancient manuscripts, and contemplating divinity.
Åldaigh maintain fluid relationships, with a single female Åldaigh typically keeping several husbands, who compete quietly for higher positions in the pecking order. Women often will trade their disagreeable husbands to other women, and may maintain monogamous, romantic relationships with other women in addition to their harem of men. The causes of the significant population imbalance between men and women in Åldalgan society is not often shared with outsiders. The Åldaigh society puts a significant amount of pressure on its women, holding them to an exceptional standard. As a result of this, women who feel they cannot meet the high expectations of their society are strongly encouraged to retreat into the many Åldalgan convents, where they spend their lives exclusively with other women, making copies of ancient manuscripts, and contemplating divinity.
