Dwarves hail from the ancient kingdom of Ortalok**, a great chain of mountains running north-south thru the continent of Chalësidhea** from Ilmarond** to the Elsmyr Dale**.
While non-dwarves are restricted from entering many of Ortalok's innermost sanctums, this is more a matter of national security rather than xenophobia or outright racism. The people of Ortalok place a high value on their privacy and security and are firm believers in the adage that good fences make good neighbors.