Relations between the major dwarf subcultures
Most dwarves are either part of the Dwarf Kingdom of Meckelorn or part of the Dwarf Kingdom of Stahlheim.
These two kingdoms are practically neighbors, with only the small Border Baronies region sep regionarating them. Less than two hundred miles apart at the widest point of the Border Baronies.
Stahlheim was originally a subordinate colony of Meckelorn in ancient times, but over the centuries, Stahlheim has now grown to be slightly more populous than Meckelorn. Meckelorn and Stahlheim have developed apart for about six hundred years with minimal contact between them. Thus they split off in separate cultural directions.
While the two dwarf nations have never gone to war, most dwarves view the other nation as frienemies. The two dwarves bicker and argue a lot. You get a dwarf from each nation meeting in a random neutral place they are probably going to engage in some subtle or not-so-subtle one-upmanship of some sort.
Humans, gnomes, and elves who have met several Meckelorners and Stahlheimers largely agree that the two dwarf cultures are not that different. It is a common joke among non-dwarves that Meckelorners and Stahlheimers dislike each other because they are so alike. If you really want to get a Meckelorn/Stahlheim pair to each throw a fit, accuse them of arguing like an old married couple.
Both Stahlheim and Meckelorn had basically no contact with the dwarves of Mondert for roughly 1000 years give or take. Mondert is many thousands of miles away from West Colassia.
Most West Colassian dwarves assumed Mondarious and his followers all died off somewhere and somewhen. Most Mondarians assumed some dwarves in West Colassia but when they left on their exodus, Meckelorn was in a rough state with many external foes and an incompetent and corrupt king, so they weren't sure. During this time of separation the dwarves of Mondert became very culturally distinct from the dwarves of West Colassia
In some ways the differences have made relations closer. When a rare Mondarian adventurer or trader makes his or her way to Stahlheim or Meckelorn, the Mondarian usually receives a very warm welcome. Same thing when a West Colassian makes the journey to Mondert for whatever reason. Such meetings between distant cousins are so rare that it's a joyous occasion.
And the fourth dwarf culture...
Penarchia has it's own native dwarf population, the Penarchian dwarves . A few dwarf historians in West Colassia are vaguely aware that there were dwarf colonies oversea but most assumed these colonies were all wiped out during the Second Unmaking. For their part, the Penarchian dwarves believed the West Colassian dwarves were wiped out during the Unmaking if they remember them at all. They don't call themselves "Penarchian dwarves," they call themselves "dwarves". For their part, Penarchian dwarves are so far removed from the other dwarves they don't have the same religious practices or legendarium. Penarchian dwarves do not believe the the Great Stone of Meckelorn marks the site of the dwarf race's genesis, if they are even aware of its existence at all. Penarchian dwarves have far different honor codes and different relations with non-dwarves than their far flung relations. A rare few Penarchian dwarves and Mondarian dwarves have met each other but as of yet, no Penarchian dwarf has met with any Meckelorner or Stahlheimer dwarf
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