Dwarves

Generally viewed as the greatest masons and craftsmen of any race, dwarven culture holds patience, hard work, and skill above things like the acquisition of power. Status in dwarven culture first and foremost comes from material wealth and the acclaim and respect of one's peers. Famously short in stature, dwarves typically stand between four and five feet tall. However, their broad shoulders, heavy bone structure, and powerful muscles lead them to have similar weights to the taller humans. Dwarves are hairy people, especially the men with their long, lush beards. A great deal of cultural weight is placed onto the growth and maintenance of one’s beard, and having it cut is a sign of public shame. The original dwarves of the Miridian Mountains spoke a tongue called Old Runic, derived from the language of giants, which is now lost to time save the runes they carved into solid rock. They also have slightly pointed ears, similar to halflings in that respect. Longer lived than humans, but not approaching elves, dwarves frequently live for more than a century, though rarely reach the age of 200. The other most significant piece of dwarven culture is their subterranean structures. Dwarves dig deep to carve out their homes and search for ores and gems for their crafts, building some of the greatest feats of engineering and architecture anywhere in the process.