>The protection from Red one drop. Based on an even older design called "Apocalyptic Cult".
<Most dwarves live pastoral lives in the last century of The Realm. After the near extinction of Dwarves to a virus several hundred years earlier, the surviving dwarves sold their ancient claims to human kings, joined the realm, and became merchants, eventually establishing The Merchant's Guild, which they are a major part of.
>There's been a youth movement of Dwarves to regain their "Warrior" honor. Though this movement is a minority among dwarves, it hasn't gone without notice from The Lords of the Realm at large. Some take jobs being bouncers, guards, and mercenaries, far below their standings in life. Other's have foresworn their family names, and attempted to join Kaldheim, the last independant dwarven city, far east in the wildlands.
>I wanted a plainswalking red creature. Was originally designed "Dwarven Caravan", but I couldn't find appropriate art for it. Flavorful, but borderline unplayable drawback.
<Being a major part of the Merchant guild, Dwarves are viewed with suspicion, especially since The Merchant Guild became the 12th Kingdom. However, they do follow the laws to a T.
>Earthquake, but better, and more expensive. Has a Hurricane counterpart.
>In a time before EDH, you could splash a plains are two, or a dual, for the odd off effect. Fencing shows my love for adding this, though it's hardly the only card in the set.
<Fencing is a relatively new form of swordsman ship, developed by the Twin Kingdoms. The two sides can't agree on how it should be conducted though, sabre, a curved blade from the desert lands, or rapier, a thin steardy piece of metal designed to take advantage of weak points in armor.
<Rapier fighting has become, in its short time, a major sport on the peninsula. Strict rules of conduct keep it from devolving into blood baths like the Pits of Remus, and the free form of it keeps it from being stiff and formal like the traditional jousting tournaments.
>Red use to also be a color of combat tricks and tactics. While banding never really belonged to red, the idea of doubling around someone and tag teaming them does feel very red, and it stayed.