Dwarves

Dwarven society is a rigid one. This comes from many factors. Dwarves can live a VERY long time, and have a long cultural memory. Additionally, every dwarf is a representative of their house and clan before they are an individual. Actions that would reflect poorly on either are highly frowned upon. They also tend towards the methodical and inquisitive. With centuries to understand the world and improve upon it, they feel it is best to do it right. As such, while their pace of innovation is not the fastest, their creations have a level of polish unmatched. Similarly, dwarven craftsmen in general produce goods of unparalleled refinement, though they do not typically do so in a day.   Dwarves are motivated by success. They have plenty of time in this life to change the world, so not doing so is indicative of failure, and centuries wasted. They also strive to represent and elevate house and clan. The greatest punishment to a dwarf is to be stripped of clan.   There are perhaps half a dozen highly significant clans, and a dozen or so lesser clans. Each clan is composed of a number of houses, which are primarily related by blood, though adoption and marriage are also frequent. Within a Clan, the houses compete for power and control within the clan, and the clans themselves are similarly fraught with minor conflict. Align yourself with one, and you have made an enemy of others. Each clan has an associated trade. Some of these overlap, forming a source of tensions between them. For instance, if Clan IronHammer, the smiths, were to negotiate a contract with Clan MountainShaper, the tunnel makers, for MountainShaper to supply IronHammer with ores uncovered during their excavations, this might antagonize Clan StoneBreaker, the mining clan, or clan SlagBeard, the experts in refining and processing gems, metals, and other materials. Of course, not all dwarves of a clan are employed in the line of work that their clan specializes in, or even by their own clan; there are certain occupations essential to society that must simply be done. Nor does any clan have a monopoly on their line of work. Just because IronHammer's smiths are the finest under the mountains does not mean that MountainShaper does not have their own smiths for clan business; but should volume or quality be your priority, enlisting the aid of the appropriate clan is much advisable.   Each clan is solely responsible for upholding the laws and expectations of the dwarven empire within itself, though legislation applying to all dwarves can be forged through a council consisting of leaders from the most influential clans. Said council can also appoint a high king, with absolute power, though this is reserved for times of crisis. Not a single dwarf alive can remember the last time such an appointment was even considered, let alone granted, and such decisions could take many many years. Better not to act at all than to act rashly.