Dwarves are an ancient and proud people, whose mighty empire once crossed the length and breadth of the Old World at a time when mankind were little more than beasts. Those golden ages are long gone however. The end began with the Great Betrayal; when some of the Elven colonists that had settled in the Old World began to raid Dwarven caravans. The Dwarves attempted to keep the peace, but when their emissary to the court of Lothern was dishonoured by having his beard forcibly shaved off, no one could in good conscience continue to argue for reconciliation.

The brutal, centuries long war that ensued was disastrous for both sides. The Dwarves were victorious - the great cities of the Elves were destroyed, and in the end they were forced to abandon their colonies in the Old World, fleeing westwards across the seas. But the cost was vast. Huge expenditures had been made in manpower, and in their victory the Dwarves had destroyed their major trading partner. The Underkingdom was left weakened, poor and overstretched.

There are always those willing to take advantage of such a moment, and no sooner had the Elven fleets departed than the Dwarven realm was overrun. Orc, goblins, Skaven and other monstrosities swarmed through the weakened holds, often attacking from the underground transit routes which had once been the empire's strength, but which they no longer had the strength to defend. Hold after hold fell to the vile hordes, ancestral shrines were desecrated, and

It was only the rise of manlings under the legendary Sigmar which gave the remaining Dwarf holds the reprieve they needed to survive, but the damage was done. The Dwarf holds today are no longer a connected empire. They are scattered and separated little princedoms. The passages of the Underway which once bound them together are lost to vile beasts, too dangerous to travel. Many fabled holds of legend are now corrupted pits where gobbo scum squat. Still more are lost, their fate unknown.

Dwarves have exceptionally long memories, and enhance them by careful record-keeping. Every wrong done to a Dwarf is recorded so that righteous vengeance can be obtained, if necessary by their ancestors millenia hence. No dwarf has forgotten the grudges owed to the elves for the Great Betrayal, and the number of grudges lodged against Greenskin scum is even larger. A typical Dwarf considers it a stain on the honour of themselves and of their clan to let a grudge go unavenged.

Honour is important in Dwarven society, and the bringing of dishonour is considered a great shame. Dishonourable behaviour is considered to reflect not just on an individual Dwarf, but on his whole family and clan. In extreme cases, Dwarves will sometimes react to bringing dishonour by shaving their hair and taking an oath to Grimnir, god of vengeance. These individuals become known as Slayers, and dedicate the remainder of their lives to seeking out the enemies of Dwarfkind, doing all in their power to slaughter them until they are able to expunge their shame by dying in honourable battle.

Dwarves are free to travel as they will within the Empire, protected by law due to their old association with the Cult of Sigmar. Some Dwarves have settled among human society, often prized as artisans and, more especially as brewers. Dwarves tend to be seen by humans a prety dour and miserable, at least until they're drunk, at which time there is a risk of violence. For this reason, they are tolerated more than liked.

Dwarves typically live for well over a century, and a Dwarf only becomes a full, adult member of his clan at the age of 70. Dwarves have great respect for age, and a Dwarf that passes the age of 200 (known as a "Greatbeard") is accorded the highest honour.

'Dwarf' is, of course, a manling term. The name they use for themselves in Khazalid, language of the Dwarves, is 'Dawi'.