Dwarves

Solid as the stone they work, Dwarves are intelligent humanoid creatures known for their stout physique and brusque demeanors. Created by the minor god Velor in around 26,000 BE. they rule the islands of Maldur & Turuhem.
Dwarves are stronger and more stocky than humans on average. They have an acute awareness of their surroundings, and can see perfectly in the dark. Some dwarves live in underground fortresses, carved from the mountains. Others live in above-ground hill settlements. They are talented miners, smiths, and masons. Almost all dwarves value hard work, truth, mastery of craft, and strong drink. Most dwarves dream of mastering a skill, creating a masterly-crafted work, or raising a family.
Dwarves average about four and a half feet in height and weigh as much as a human. Dwarves have the same skin, eye, and hair colors as humans, although red hair is more common among them. Some dwarves that have lived in the deep realms for many generations have a pale, lavender skin and black or dark blue hair. Dwarves typically grow their hair long, and braid their hair to show clan and ancestry. Dwarven attire and equipment is often decorated with geometric designs, but the finest equipment will have elaborate work depicting an important event or historical figure. Although they reach physical maturity at roughly the same age as humans, dwarves age more slowly. They remain vigorous well past 100 years of age, often living to see 170.
== Major factions ==
unlike most of the other factions, the dwarves never formed multi-city kingdoms and instead each of their many city has their own king, with one or multiple high Kings being crowned during times of crisis
noteworthy city-states:
Nogria: the ancient Nogria is one of the few dwarven port cities as for the most part the islands are surronded by sheer cliffs that make landing ships harder, and Nogria controls the trade along the current from Kedun making it one of the wealthiest city-states in the twin isles, and make House Goldshore, the controlling house of the city-state one of the wealthiest houses in the isles of the dwarves.
Kurn Badur: the ancient Kurn Badur is one of the oldest strongholds known to exist in Turuhem and is located within what was once a mountain, but over centuries the various houses that have ruled the mountain has hollowed it out and made it into a large fortress slash city, however after the losses House Deephammer who currently rule the mountain suffered during the first and second Lver wars, large chunks of the fort have been abandoned and left to be claimed by various monsters and bandits, with only the core of the fortress still be used by the retainers of House Deephammer as they try to rebuild, however dwarfs, even in desperation, breed slowly so it will be centuries before they can return to their old holdings within the mountain,