My Dwarves - Unusual Architecture Needed

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The Dwarves are a very clever and hard working race, known for both their work ethic and their ability to come up with inventive solutions to problems.

Physical description

Dwarves stand, on average, about 5 and a quarter feet tall, and are built along much the same lines as most other humans. They take great pride in their appearances and hygiene, being fastidious groomers and frequent bathers. They have a tendency to prefer long hair, and many males wear long beards, often braided, but this is not universal. They tend to be light skinned, with and their natural hair colors are usually shades of grey, including white or black, or metallic colors. Their irises are usually metallic colors or dark grey.

Environment

Dwarves live in two main environments: mountains and underground caves. Mountain dwarves tend to either live in burrows or cities carved out of caverns that are fairly close to the surface, while cave dwarves usually live in cities located in caverns deeper underground than mountain dwarf settlements. Cave dwarves rarely live in high elevation areas, while mountain dwarves almost always do live in such areas.

Both mountain and cave dwarves are known for working stone, metal, and wood. Mountain dwarves are also known for mining. Cave dwarves also mine, but they don't get quite as much ore out of their environment as mountain dwarves. Mountain dwarves do a lot of above ground farming, which provides the bulk of their food supply, and, while they usually live underground, they spend a lot of time above ground. They tend to locate near mountain streams for the water supply they provide.

Cave dwarves usually don't live in the mountains, preferring deep underground caverns in low altitude areas. They usually settle very close to underground lakes or rivers. They mostly live off of funguses and whatever other plants they can cultivate, whatever underground animals they can catch or raise, seafood, and the bodies of their dead. Mountain dwarves and other human races often find this practice rather repulsive, but cave dwarves view it in a positive light. To them, it is a better fate to be used to nourish one's family and friends after death than to have their remains dumped in a hole and covered up.

Society

Dwarves tend to be monarchial, but they prefer constitutional monarchies over absolute monarchies. They appreciate a leader with the power to do what needs to be done, but dislike rules who can do whatever they want without challenge. Dwarven societies have been known to descend into tyranny, which just reinforces their preference for an enforced constitution. Most Dwarven governments are large confederations of allied city-states, each with it's own monarch who answers to a confederate leader usually elected by the monarchs or their parliaments. They tend to be politically and socially conservative, seeing little reason to change what works.

Dwarven society is generally fairly lawful, and they are usually fairly appreciative of their governments, though crime is not at all unheard of and corruption is often a problem. They respond to this with strict judgment of criminals meant to dissuade others from repeating their mistakes and turn criminals into law abiding individuals, prefer a period of labor over prison sentences or fines, and tend to like the idea of punishments fitting the crime when this is practical. They aren't very fond of the death penalty (aside from the occasional tyrant), as most see having to use it as a failure of society, but they do use it when they feel it is necessary. They just don't take much pleasure in it, seeing it as something unpleasant and unfortunate, but necessary for public safety.

Dwarves have a very hard work ethic, with a love of working stone, metal, wood, and gems. When it comes to art, they favor sculpting and carving a great deal. They generally have healthy senses of humor, and enjoy music, dancing, and alcohol. They put a very large amount of importance on family and close friends, and are very loyal. They generally aren't particularly religious, putting more faith in their leaders, family, and friends than they do in the gods. Dwarves can be intolerant of those different from them and hesitant to change when necessary do to their conservative bent. They place a lot of importance on family, and can be rather unpleasant to those from families with poor reputations, born out of wedlock, or without much of a family at all.

Dwarves have an great appreciation of technology and science, and are responsible for a large number of technological and scientific innovations. They see a massive array of possibilities in the study of wizardry, and many eagerly take to it. They are also very serious about their defense, and generally have a large force of well trained soldiers available. They tend to prefer roles that require training, education, and professionalism. It is not unusual for a dwarf to leave the mountains or caves for the lands of other human races, where their skills and professionalism are prized assets. There are a very large number of dwarven mercenaries, scientists, engineers, and magicians living among other human races.

Mountain dwarves do not always live in cold, forlorn peaks. Some do, but dwarves are often found in places like this, this, this, this, this, or this.

Do you like it? Any suggestions for a couple twists on traditional dwarves I could add?