ORIGIN QUEST GROUP ARTICLE # 3

“Why Do I Love Dwarves?”

My first exposure to Dwarves was in Tolkien’s Middle Earth. To me dwarves were industrious, stoic, but with a potential to be heroes. One of the first characters I ever played in D&D was a dwarf and he was heavily influenced by Tolkien’s vision of the race. 

In March of 1983 I saw “Revolt of the Dwarves”, the Endless Quest book in a local store. My world changed. In this story the dwarves were not heroes, but the villains. As the young hero, Galen, you must find a way to rescue your parents who are captured by the dwarves and warn the kingdom of the dwarves betrayal. 

This new portrayal of dwarves washed away that child ideology, that belief that everything is black and white when in reality the world is more shades of grey. This stuck with me from that point on, becoming part of how I played my characters in AD&D and how I saw the world moving forward. Dwarves, like all races are flawed, but can overcome those flaws to do great things with the right motivation. Since that time they have become my favorite race. 

As I moved behind the screen taking on the role of DM I made sure that concept worked its way into the stories I wove, the worlds my players call home and it has made them living, breathing worlds and far more realistic. 

Thank you Rose Estes for showing me a different way of seeing the world, for opening my eyes to broader horizons and the intricacies of the heart and spirit.

*Also, big shoutout to Justin Gerard, the thumbnail is one of his many AMAZING pieces! Click below to check him out!