Dwarves are probably the most misunderstood race of Geoza (with the exception of the Drushae, but few claim to understand them). They are sometimes described as dour, sober workers who are reserved in behavior and wanting only to be left alone. Others say they are really a fun-loving, social people, who are great drinkers and stout fighters, and who can be very loud and obnoxious. All of these descriptions might apply, but only superficially.  Dwarves value hard work and serious effort, but when they relax from their labor, they are very exuberant in their celebrations.
	Dwarves do like strong drink. They are renowned for their brewing, wine making, and distilling skills. No other people has developed the art of distilling liqueurs to the same degree. On the other hand, they have an immense metabolic tolerance for alcohol that other species do not, and are thus rarely incapacitated by alcohol. For them, an all-night drinking feast does not end with the revelers lying comatose on the floor, but often continues until dawn, with many songs and stories told, all sensible and understandable.
	While they do enjoy life, Dwarves do not possess "passions" in the sense that many other species do.  Dwarves do not have a "spirit" inherent in them, as almost every other sentient species does.   Dwarven consciousness is a mystery to those of other species, and the Dwarves themselves seem not to have the concept in the same sense at all.  Nevertheless, an observer would likely ascribe a consciousness to any Dwarf he met.
	Dwarves are often considered by others to be warlike and violent.  This is probably due more to their history than to any inherent characteristic of the species, however.  Dwarves consider themselves to be a peaceful people. They are slow to anger (that emotion, or whatever passes for such an emotion in a species without a spirit) but once roused, they are fierce. They are not the greatest warriors, but they are the most stubborn. They are stout fighters, and hardy soldiers. They train from an early age to use their hammers and picks as both tools and weapons.
	The Dwarven tenacity which makes them such stubborn fighters springs from the earth which is their essence. More than any other species, Dwarves are claimed by and cling to earth. Specifically, they are most at home in the rocky hills and mountains of Geoza, or deep underground in caverns and grottos. This affinity with earth is why many believe them to be shy and retiring. But they seek out these remote areas not to avoid other peoples, but because they are drawn to the living rock.
	Earth is not the only element to which Dwarves are drawn - they possess various affinities for the other elemental forces as well.   Dwarves do regard themselves as the children of Earth, however, and it is most often regarded as pre-eminent among the elements.
	There is one aspect of Dwarven society that many outsiders do understand: they are renowned craftsmen. Anything that a Human craftsman can create, a Dwarven master can craft better. They possess a keen insight into the essence of things, and can bring out that essence in items of great beauty and function. Dwarven crafts are always aesthetically pleasing, whether it is a result of clean simplicity or intricate construction and design.