====== Dwarf Communities ======

No matter where you go, Dwarf Communities, be they Mine-holds, Ex-Pats or isolated groups, you will find the same basic values and structures that reflect the Lawful Good racial outlook.  It is similar to most other Lawful Good societies.

There is a cohesive central government that encourages everyone to work together, and those who rise up the social pyramid are expected to have a strong social conscience, and contribute more to the community. People know how to behave, and that you work hard and follow the rules, you will rise up and do well.  

===== Government =====

It might be a Lord, a Mayor or some other figurehead, but each community has a recognized leader of some sort.  He (or she) is generally backed up by family members, a formal council or an informal group of elders.  However, there are few formal meetings and lots of quiet discussions that get channelled up through the hierarchy, and before long, a consensus view emerges.  It isn't always quick, but the community get a solution that everyone can get behind, to some extent or another.  The leader and council only make decisions that are needed quickly - and everyone goes along with it.  Bad decisions lead to mutterings and talk between community members, which is fed upwards.  In extreme cases, it will lead to a change in leadership.

To humans, Dwarf Community government can look slow, stuck in its ways and rarely changing -  but it works for the dwarves!

===== Community =====

Dwarf communities try to support all their members and provide good community facilities. No dwarf is every left homeless, out of work or without food -  unless they choose to be.  There will be some minor disapproval, but there is also hope and opportunity for advancement within the community.  It might be slow, but dwarves are long-lived ....

In mine-holds every dwarf is expected to contribute to building, furnishing and running ++Community facilities|(meeting places, recreational area, wells, rubbish dumps, public baths, medical facilities, alms houses, schools, Etc)++  according to their skills, abilities and wealth -  but this can be slow, and almost generational as facilities are developed and expanded.  In Ex-pat communities, community facilities might be funded by individuals or groups.  Even the smallest expat community expects to have a tavern which can serve as a social and meeting space, although it will probably be privately owned.  However, the public bath might have been 'endowed' by the //Friendly Company of Dwarf Blacksmiths// while a school might be named after its patron and founder.

===== Personal =====

Dwarves form long term relationships with their partners, and often last a life-time. Marriage be celebrated in ++a wedding overseen by a priest|(more common in a mine-hold)++, or it may be a ++personal commitment made between the partners|(More commonly seen in mixed Ex-Pat communities)++, then shared informally with the community.  Children are raised to adulthood in a secure family and community setting.  Dwarves are a long-lived race, and pregnancies are more spread out than for humans, and it can look like there are few children  -  But there are clearly enough for the race to survive and (perhaps) sustain a slow population growth.

===== Laws and Business =====

Laws, regulations and community expectations are all very traditional, well established, and understood by the community as a whole, with 'breaches' tried by the Community Leader and his advisors.  Penalties are normally designed to help the offender back to the right 'path', while compensating any victims involved, and could include community work, fines, public apologies and similar penalties.  In extremis, a serious, or repeat offender, might be exiled from the community -  although many will be welcomed back (assuming they can demonstrate the community values) later.

Business regulations deal with quality of work, fair practices, levels of competition (etc) and are designed to protect the racial 'good name' while maintaining healthy, but fair, competition within the community. In mine-holds there are quality inspections and permissions, in Ex-Pat Communities crafters (etc) are expected to operate under local rules, join local guilds and  (if they can) produce better work than their non-dwarf peers.