Dwarves, Children of the Mountains

"Stubborn as oxen, tougher than my Nan's steak, and as brilliant in battle as any I've met. Dwarves are among Aetheria's most stalwart defenders. You'll never find a better axe, or a better drinking partner, in any of the other races. Of that, you can be sure." ~ Unknown
Birthed from Aetheria's very mountain stone, or so their records claim, the Dwarves are the oldest known race in Vanigraad. Great miners, builders, and craftsmen of the vast mountain halls and tunnels the plunge deep into the earth. From these great cities, the Dwarves keep a watchful eye on the comings and goings of the world at large. Keen eyes ever watchful for the return of the Matron of Chaos, and her monstrous horde.
Many of the Dwarf clans of Vanigraad reside along the Serpentspine Mountain range, though other clans have spread throughout Aetheria's other continents. Each clan carries with it their own traditions and specialties, but all are sworn to each other through the Binding of Kin. A magical contract between the clans, created by Kalbrina Goddess of the Forge, that enables them easy communication across vast distances and certain blessings in battle when the clans fight together. As such, even Dwarves that have never met one another feel close bonds of kinship and are more likely to freely share information between them.
The Dwarves learned much and more from Kalbrina during her time on the Material Plane, prior to her ascension to Godhood. One such practice, created by Kalbrina herself, is known as Runecrafting. A process which involves imbuing runes carved into weaponry, armor, and even buildings, with magic. Using this knowledge, and after a warning from Kalbrina herself, the Dwarves began to prepare the Chaos Matron's attempt at Godhood. The runes prepared by Ingorim Runecarver and his Dwarven smiths allowed the clans across Aetheria to aid in pushing back the tides of monsters during the first Planar Collapse in the First Age. Though at heavy cost to the clans. Many Dwarves fell to the tide as it swept across the land. After the terrors subsided, the diminished clans retreated back to their great mountain halls. Closing their doors to all but kin, save for those unlucky few along the dangerous paths of the Lonely Road.