The dwarves

For much of history the dwarves have remained isolated from the rest of the races of Rhia. Traditionally, the dwarves live deep in the mountains where they seek and hoard their treasure. They are a stocky and surly race. Males are inordinately proud of their beards and the cultivation of them is something of an art form. Only the dwarves themselves know if the females, too, possess beards as most who walk the sunlit lands of Rhia conform to the popular notion that females should not have facial hair. Many of the dwarves possess a deep-seated dislike of the elven races, apparently from cultural reasons rather than any ancient conflict. Curiously, while the dwarves are known as the paragon of grumpiness, they are also touched with a love of ale. The celebrations that accompany the brewing and consuming of the beverage are festive indeed.