Penarchian dwarves
At some point before the Second Unmaking there was a major enclave of dwarves in West Colassia (at the time, just known as Colassia) and another one in Penarchia.
During and immediately after the Second Unmaking the two dwarf enclaves lost contact with each other and they assumed the other group of dwarves was wiped out, then they forgot about the other group completely.
The Penarchian dwarves took greater losses in the Second Unmaking than the ancient Meckelorn dwarves. Unlike historical Meckelorn, the Penarchian dwarves did not create any breakaway nations. For most of the Third Age, the two dwarf enclaves only knew of each other as a traveler's tall tale or distant rumor, if even that.
Currently the Penarchian dwarves are very mercenary in their dealings with their (mostly human) neighbors. There are a lot of brushfire wars in Penarchia and it is very rare for Penarchian dwarves to take the battlefield directly but they are happy to sell weapons and armor to whoever can pay, even if they end up selling equipment to both sides of a conflict. While they claim to be indifferent to what human rules what lands, they commonly give the underdog in a war better trade deals. This is believed to be mostly so they can prolong a conflict and not out of any true sympathy. Also, while they will haggle for the best deal possible, as long as they are making some profit, a deal is considered worthwhile even if the profit is very small.
Sometimes, this makes some enemies, but their enemies must be careful. If any human group turns to violence against the dwarves for selling weapons to the "wrong" side and is discovered doing so, the dwarves will ally with those humans' enemies and take the battlefield with them.
Thus, most Penarchians turn a blind eye to the dwarves shady dealings because they don't want to provoke a more violent response from them.
One thing the dwarves do to maintain their mercenary neutrality is minimize land they occupy on Scarterra. Even compared to other dwarves, Penarchian dwarves spend a majority of their time underground. This also helps their trading racket. The Penarchian dwarves have tried to set themselves as the ultimate middlemen for deals between Scarterra and Scarnoctis.
Culture
Major language groups and dialects
Penarchian dwarves speak their own unique dialect of Dwarven. Penarchian dwarves and other dwarves have no trouble understanding each other, but they think each think the other dwarf sounds strange.
Shared customary codes and values
Deals are important to Penarchian dwarves and it is taboo to break them, especially deals sealed with a hand shake. Even if circumstances change, a dwarf expected to hold to the letter of the original agreement. This is true even among non-dwarves.
Penarchian dwarves have a well-deserved reputation for being greedy misers, but they believe in fair dealing even if their view of "fair" is subjective. They won't hesitate to exploit someone in a poor situation, but they will be honest about it. It is considered a point of pride for a dwarf not to misrepresent himself. Penarchian dwarves rarely lie, and they almost never knowingly pass on inferior goods.
Being a bully and a miser is acceptable but being a liar is considered dishonorable.
Average technological level
Their metal work and alchemy is significantly above all their human neighbors in Penarchia. Otherwise, their technology is more or less the same as their human neighbors.
The dwarves produce much of their own food, but they rely heavily on trade if they want tasty food. They will trade their metal work and alchemical goods for long term agreements for delivery of foodstuffs or alcoholic beverages. Short term deals are usually for long-term stores of value such as precious metals, gemstones, and reagents.
Common Etiquette rules
Even more so than most dwarves, Penarchian dwarves are insular and private. Stoicism is considered a virtue. A nod of recognition is all a stranger or acquaintance can normally expect from a Penarchian dwarf in public setting.
They will figuratively let their hair down in private, especially around meals, but even a feast with lots of fine food and drink, Penarchian dwarves tend to be less merry and gregarious than other dwarves.
Common Dress code
Among their own kind, both male and female Penarchian dwarves often dress to impress, favoring fine cloths and jewelry to display their wealth and status to other dwarves. Gaudiness is disproved of however. A true dwarf of taste strives for casual elegance.
Penarchians often say that all dwarves look alike, and the dwarves are happy to play into stereotype to present a unified front to outsiders. There is an unspoken rule that Penarchian dwarves should strive to be indistinguishable from their kin among outsiders. When treating with outsiders, Penarchian dwarves dress practically in utilitarian clothing favoring earthy tones of brown and grey.
Common Customs, traditions and rituals
Most Penarchian dwarves worship Phidas primarily believing that Phidas created the dwarves to tame the unruly realm of Scarnoctis, but they will usually give the rest of the Nine's their due. Their worship practices tend to be highly ritualistic focusing more on orthopraxy than orthodoxy.
Penarchian dwarves take pride in their family honor and regularly venerate their ancestors, but they don't commonly keep ancestral shrines. Ancestral shrines that are seen are especially elaborate and as much a means for wealthy clans to show off than it is to honor their ancestors. In the unlikely event a family keeps a modest shrine, they probably are secretive about it.
Many families keep a book or collection of scrolls of their family's history, but whether the clan is poor or rich, they don't normally showcase their book of family history to outsiders.
Birth & Baptismal Rites
Even though in the current era, their infant morality is fairly low compared to other Scarterrans, Penarchian dwarves don't have a name day for their children until their second birthday. So for two years, babies are called "it".
Before being formally named, the infant is exposed to the element. They are typically christened in a windy tunnel, covered in dirt, held close to a fire (but not burned) and then washed clean with water.
Funerary and Memorial customs
Typically formal funerals invoke the four elements. Funerals are held in a windy location, then the body is ceremonially washed before being cremated and the ashes are released into a field.
Ideals
Gender Ideals
Penarchian dwarves are patriarchal and patrilineal. Dwarf women fully join the clan of their husbands when they marry.
It is uncommon but not forbidden for women to leave their homes on business. The majority of the Penarchian dwarves that outsiders see are male.
Like with other dwarf societies, most full time soldiers are men, but women are usually encouraged to at least undergo so basic weapons training so they are not easy targets if they are attacked while the men are away.
Courtship Ideals
Most marriages are arranged by the family of the bride and groom. Though most matchmakers will take the wishes of the couple into consideration, the strength of the clan is of foremost importance. The family of the bride typically pays a dowry, and they do this very publicly to showcase their clan's generosity, wealth, and prestige.
Penarchian dwarves are an insular and ambitious lot and to get different clans to trust each other and work together, it helps if they have matrimonial ties. It is very common for clans to arrange reciprocal arranged marriages. Since dwarf women join the clan of their husband, it is considered fair and equitable exchange if both clans give up a daughter simulatanously. No one ever accused the Penarchian dwarves of being especially romantic.
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