Dwarf

The Dvergar, known to speakers of Reodic as Dwarves, are the stout, strong-willed people of the Old Kingdoms below the earth.

Appearance
Dwarves are generally considered somewhat short by humans, standing on average around 4.7 feet. This smaller stature gives them an advantage when moving through the tunnels of the Underworld. This does not harm their fierceness in battle, however, as dwarves are wide with muscles and almost as difficult to move as the stone that they live in.

In the dwarven tradition, the practice of cutting one's facial hair is looked down upon as a sign of weakness, and so most adult male dwarves boast long and rough beards that can hang as low as their knees. Those that are defeated in battle by other dwarves (on the rare occasion that the strong bonds of dwarven brotherhood are broken) are known to have had their beards cut off by their enemies. This practice is also used on dwarven exiles who are shamed for leaving to the surface.

It is very rare indeed for a surface-dweller to ever see a dwarf that is not donned from head to toe in fine dvergar-steel with an axe or sword on their belt. This is because dwarves believe that they must be ever-vigilant against their many foes, always ready for battle. Dwarf warriors also almost always carry their signature shields, stronger than anything made by human hands, as shields have served them well for centuries in the choke-points of their home tunnels and they have thus mastered the art of their use like none other.