Dwarves are the chosen species of Onathar. Dwarves were forged deep in the Steele Mountains in northwestern Lamaris, and have expanded to settle much of Lamaris and parts of Xersia. They generally have a preference for cooler climates.
Early dwarves had a deep-rooted connection to the metallic veins flowing through Mezia and developed mines at strategic locations along them. The most productive of these mines grew into cities, and the greatest dwarven city of the Ancient Era was Hammarholm. Though many dwarven cities have been reduced to ruins through the Behemoth Era, Hammarholm remains standing as a masterwork of stalwart and practical design. Dwarven civilization remains centered around the mining and refining of metals, but unlike the old days they are more often used for weapons and fortifications than art.
Many other species regard dwarves as gruff and hard-working, and are happy to fight alongside them. Elves fondly remember the artisans dwarves once were, and take great care of the fine dwarven jewelry they posses. The best smiths in the world have always been dwarves.
Dwarven physiology is similar in many aspects to humans. The dwarven body consists of a head, neck, and torso, with two arms and two legs. Dwarves have two types of skin; a tough metallic skin (deri) which covers the majority of their bodies, and a softer, more flexible skin (derma) on their face, chest, abdomen, and hands. The derma is mostly covered with thick, dark hair. Dwarves are sexually dimorphic: males generally have greater body strength while females have enhanced senses (hearing, sight, smell, taste, and touch). Most adult dwarves are between 137-162 cm (4'6"-5'3") tall, with females typically being slightly taller than males. Dwarves reach sexual maturity at around 26 years old and have an average lifespan of 122 years.
Dwarves are omnivorous, capable of eating a wide variety of plant and animal material with their molars and a few short canine teeth, and can survive for up to nine weeks without food and six days without water. Dwarves are generally vespertine, meaning they are most active around dusk. For most dwarves the ideal sleep pattern begins in the middle of the night and ends well past sunrise, usually lasting around seven to nine hours. Childbirth is dangerous, with a high risk of complications and death. Child rearing in dwarven society is usually communal and divided by gender; a daughter will typically be raised mostly by her mother, aunts, grandmothers, and other women close to the family, while a son would be raised primarily by his father, uncles, grandfathers, and other men close to the family.
Like all creatures, genes and the environment influence dwarven biological variation in visible characteristics, physiology, disease susceptibility, mental abilities, body size, and life span. Though dwarves vary in many traits, any two dwarves are at least 99% genetically similar.