miners, metal smiths,  grumpy

Dark vision, ability to communicate with minerals and the ground, incredible strength and toughness.

Not entirely magical like gnomes but they do have some natural magic in them. They express this usually through runes specific to their race and clan and through physical movements.

Dwarves have the potential to be psions or psychics. It is unknown what percentage of them are born with active abilities. 

Duarden have children once or twice during a marriage, usually around the age of 100 and then again at around 300. It is common for extended families to share a dwelling, farm, or village. These extended family groups can number in the hundreds or be a dozen or less. Many Duarden also leave home either to start new families, work abroad, or find a quest.

Duarden are a very old race originating in the mountain reaches and underground but now living across a range of environments and territories. They are generally wise, practical, brutal, and competent across many disciplines. 

The name of the race translates to "the cousins have found the way to here". Duarden revere their ancestors and kin, and the concept of "cousin" means not of the same mother and father but kin nonetheless.

They despise the moniker "dwarf" and may fight over it. The nickname "mule" does not bother most.

The latter name comes from the Duarden work ethic, which is extreme. Whether mining, cutting timber, building ships, crafting blades, or constructing keeps for human clientele a Duarden is his or her work. They will labor tirelessly for days and settle for nothing less than perfection. 

Many of the great structures and monuments of the human world were built by Duarden contractors. 

They have historically been either isolated or warlike, though now there are many Duarden societies with a range of policies and many Duarden have integrated within human society as well, living comfortable in human towns and cities.

Duarden mercenary companies are in high demand and their metallurgy and blade/weapons craft is legendary.

There are many Duarden but their numbers are declining. They are a race who has lost their collective purpose, or great work of the whole as it is called.