Dwarves

The dwarves. What more needs to be said. They sterotype for dwarves involves mountains. It involves smithing. Mostly really cool buildings. After all they are like, the best builders right? Shorter than most, hence the name. The one thing that does seem to change is their composition. That is, are they born of the earth or are they just humanoids who dwell beneath the surface of the world. Once that is answered it leaves the question as to who they should be modeled after. Civ wise. No one readily comes to mind. Thai would be interesting though. Given their history and modeling the dwarves after them. It would put them in more of the forefront of the world's eye. Bring them out of the obscurity.