The Dwarves are descendants of the "[Seven Dwarf Fathers]?", the original lords crafted from the earth by the [Vala]? [Aulë]?. He is the "[Smith of the Valar]?", the giver of mountains and master of crafts, and the Dwarves call him [Mahal]? (Khuzdûl for "Maker"). [Aulë]? defied [Eru]? ([Illuvatar]? - "God") in his desire to create, but a merciful Lord merely placed the seven into a deep slumber, to awake sometime after the [Firstborn of Eru]? (his favored children, the Elves) and Men rather than destroy them.

Following their birth, the Seven Kings formed tribes based on their lines and separated. Although these Seven Tribes have since spread across Middle-earth and Arda, they have remained close and have spawned a universal reputation for ruggedness, practicality, and unwavering loyalty. Most groups favor rocky highlands and deep caverns of the mountains, for the Dwarves, perhaps more than any other race, remember their origin and heritage intimately.

The craftsmanship of the Dwarves is proverbial, and many are the tales of heroism and villainy told by, and of, them. Their history is almost as long as that of the Elves, with as many tragedies as victories. But where the Elves never lost their otherworldly serenity, the Dwarves are a dour folk by nature.

In the north-west of Middle-Earth, during the Third Age, Dwarves are probably a more common sight than Elves, but this underlies the losses, both of people and of their homes, that they had suffered.

Dwarves average about five feet tall, and are solidly built. Although hair and eyes vary between individuals and lineages, all Khazad wear long beards, often braided. Indeed, length of beard is a reflection of age, and seen as an indicator of wisdom and prestige. Dwarves see well in extreme darkness. In the dimmest light they can see 50' perfectly and fairly well up to 100'. They have 10' Blind Sight.

Though for the most part, “Standard” Dwarves are much the same across the tribes, there are some variations on their specialized interests based on which of the “Seven Tribes” they were raised as part of their culture and upbringing. Below is a listing of each of the tribes, and the slight variations applicable to their sub-group.

The [Seven Fathers]? of the Dwarves led to the formation of seven distinct [Dwarf Houses]? or [Dwarf Tribes]?: