Dwarf

Dwarves are renowned through all of Etheria for two things: perfect weapons and exquisite storytelling. They are passionately creative, with an insatiable longing to constantly improve their craft. They strive to create the sharpest swords, the most beautiful jewelry, the strongest chains—and then immortalize their deeds in song and story. They seek to build things that last, to make their mark on the world so future generations remember them. They are miners and jewelers, and control over natural resources is an important aspect of dwarf society. While most of them highly value their individual ability to take care of themselves and pull their own weight, they ultimately prefer strength in numbers. Dwarven society therefore takes the form of sprawling, loose-knit clans that congregate in certain mineral, ore, and precious material-rich sections of the Etherian continent with most residing in subterranean cities in the Dawn Fells, the Rudda, and the Coróin an Rí. Different dwarves clans specialize in different crafts, and though they coexist amicably enough, they also have a strong competitive streak that sometimes sets them at odds.
For dwarves, a warrior and a skilled artisan are one and the same. The art of combat and the art of creation draw from the same principles of focus, patience, and constant self-improvement, and for this reason, many dwarves revere Orodamas the Ringing Hammer foremost among all gods. Different clans of dwarves approach these processes differently, but the perfection of their craft is equally important to all. Some dwarf warrior-artisans are prone to bursts of wild inspiration and get easily absorbed in their current projects. They produce weapons of staggering raw power—hammers that split the earth where they strike, blazing-hot swords that melt armor with a swing, and javelins that trail searing bolts of lightning behind them. Other dwarf warrior-artisans are methodical and detailed. They follow disciplined processes and are capable of finer, more nuanced work than their more impulsive and explosive kin. Beautiful jewelry, armor that makes the wearer invisible, and chains forged from a wolf's tears are some examples of the handiwork of these dwarves. They are every bit as precise and meticulous in combat as they are in the forge.
Every dwarf artisan spends their youth forging a single weapon and infusing it with runic magic, preparing to carry it for their entire life. These weapons are their creators' pride and joy, and many dwarves design their clothing and armor to match their weapon. On a dwarf's 25th birthday, marking the start of adulthood after a long childhood and adolescence of training, they will reveal the weapon and their new last name, chosen based on their great creation. Goldstaff, Hammershine, and Fireshield are some examples of dwarven last names inspired by their bearers' signature weapons.
Skalds hold a special place in dwarven society as the chief poetic storytellers of their culture, the repositories of the sagas and fables that remind the dwarves of who they are. Since the dwarves keep no written history, storytellers are the bearers of an intricate oral tradition that has been passed down through countless generations. A skald is welcome in any dwarven community, always treated as an honored guest. Valorspeakers are skalds whose primary function is to remind the dwarves of the deeds of the past and inspire the dwarves of today to similarly heroic deeds. They tell tales of heroes to help shape new heroes; they tell tales of justice and community to strengthen the bonds of community and the commitment to justice. Warchanter skalds earn their title by returning home from battle to tell the story of the battle and its heroes. Their function is to collect tales of present heroism and accomplishment. They are revered across the lands for their bravery and storytelling ability, and they're often enlisted by adventurers or even Deity / Gods to bear witness to some monumental feat. A saying popular among the people of Jötnir claims, "A feat is just a lie unless a skald is there to tell the tale."
A race of short and typically stocky kith/outlanders, dwarves look very similar to their humanoid cousins Humans and Giantkin, and are typically around 4 feet in height. Similar to goblinoid cultures like those of Orcs, though, dwarves are known for the elaborate care they put into their hair. A dwarf will cut or restyle their hair at certain turning points during their life, such as (but not limited to) reaching adulthood, marriage, a major victory or loss on the battlefield, and death. Young dwarves wear their hair long, loose, and free, though ribbons are popular with kids and ponytails with older adolescents. Upon reaching adulthood, dwarves begin braiding their hair since entirely loose hair is perceived as improper when worn publicly as an adult. If they are unmarried, their hair is grown very long, and if they are exceptionally-skilled warrior-artisans, their hair is adorned with intricate beads and accessories. A newly married dwarf will cut off their hair in the back to signify commitment. Couples are disallowed from divorce or legal separation until both parties have regrown their hair to their shoulders. A married dwarf will cap their braids. Dwarves celebrating a combat victory or feat of craftsmanship will wear excessively decorated hairstyles for 2 weeks, their hair replete with beads, feathers, trinkets, and baubles. Upon experiencing a grievous battlefield or artisanal loss or the death of a loved one, dwarves will sport an entirely clipped head of hair as it's unlucky not to pay such an event due respect by giving up some of your pride. Elderly dwarves wear their hair up, if long enough, and if short, ribbons, horsehair, wool, and other materials are used to emulate longer hair. Upon death and burial, a dwarf passing over into the afterlife must have their hair covered so that no beasts or Demons and Devils on the journey may see their life experiences. They are said to only be allowed to uncover themselves when they are safely before Thanatimetra the Merciful Mother.