Dwarves

Dwarves are a race of tough, stocky, and warlike beings who live in Middle-earth, loving stone, craftsmanship, and mining. They are inspired by Norse mythology dwarfs and also influenced by medieval Jewish history and language, which shaped their cultural traits such as dispossession. Created by the Valar Aulë before the awakening of Elves, they had to sleep until the Elves awoke, and upon awakening they revered Aulë as their creator.

Physically, Tolkien's Dwarves are short and stocky, similar in stature to Hobbits but shorter than Men, often with long beards. Female Dwarves look similar to males and could be mistaken for them because of similar garb, voice, and appearance. They are long-lived (up to about 250 years) but breed slowly, with relatively few daughters.

Culturally, Dwarves speak their secret language Khuzdul, derived from Semitic languages, and maintain a private identity while sharing a common tongue with other races. They have a calendar and traditions reflecting their heritage and craftsmanship.