Astaria has two types of dwarves; although, biologically, there are no real differences between them. The easiest way to divide them comes, as it so often does, through old families with land ownership and therefore, control of the wealth of natural resources that implies. The earliest working artisans ply their trades with resources drawn from the hills and mountains around them. These brave or foolhardy souls would risk everything to go off and stake a claim of gold, iron, copper, clay, sand, gems, or some other raw material. The rest of their kind stayed behind, plying their trades while growing crops or tending herds on the hills and fields. In centuries past, those working families who controlled access to mines and deposits became known as mountain dwarves (Kanen), stronger and meaner, plus more skilled with arms and armor from their time fighting off subterranean beasts. Those who stayed behind are hill dwarves (Edin), wiser and healthier from their community-centered life in the open air, and better known and liked by outsiders.
All of the most powerful trade guilds are dominated by mountain dwarves, with the exception of those focused on agricultural products such as weaving and brewing. Any given mountain dwarf is much more likely to hold a position of authority, even though there are twice as many hill dwarves overall. The vast majority of merchants are hill dwarves, though more and more gnomes are working for the great merchant houses. Most guardsmen, police, militiamen, and infantrymen are hill dwarves, while mountain dwarves are often elite soldiers and military officers. Religious life is dominated by hill dwarves, in part to give their larger families a respectable alternative profession. Both types of dwarves understand that they depend on the other, and they respect each other. They don't always like each other though, with common complaints being that mountain dwarves think they're superior (which they do), or that hill dwarves cheat in business (which they do). Each clan uses affectionate but derogatory terms for each other, such as rock heads and dirt merchants.
By and large, each dwarven city is a nation-state to itself. There is no level of government or law above the city state; no great dwarven empire or honored dwarven king. However, all dwarves rely on each other economically, and the various cities may ally for mutual defense. The cities all contribute to a common standing army, which in times of peace is kept relatively small and is commanded by the most senior officer in service. All the cities are ruled by their craft guilds, with a single, powerful guild ruling each city. The most powerful master of that guild acts as the de facto monarch. While most cities are ruled by mountain dwarf guilds, a few are dominated by a hill dwarf specialty. Mountain dwarves still hold enormous political and economic power, even in these hill dwarf strongholds.
RPGlink
Use the "Dwarf" species from Dungeons & Dragons 5.24.