Clay dwarves' aetherial power allows them to craft stone and earth, know types of rock by look, and understand the voices of stones. Their command of mana is through spellcasting and other forms of mind magic. They use magic to craft works of earth and stone, mounds, and monoliths.

All dwarves are known for their steady feet, their inborn toughness, and their shrewdness.

Clay dwarves live in villages and towns near their mystic mounds, where they perform intricate ceremonies. Their villages are led by elders, usually powerful mages and scholars. Each village is home to families working on studies and crafts, and the children are sent off to special schools when they are younger to learn the basics. When they come of age, they are sent to their homes or to find a master to train them further.

Clay dwarves honor book-binders, tailors, and mound-builders in their society. These dwarves are most sought out as masters by young dwarves, but only the best are taken in. If a dwarf cannot find a master of their chosen craft, they either must learn on their own or find a new craft, though being second choice often offends potential masters. Thus, requesting to learn from a master has become a subtle practice so there is plausible deniability.

The thane of the clay dwarves is the most powerful magic user in the nation. The thane keeps with him a group of students who double as servants, and from them often the new thane comes. All craftsfolk use magic, so the role of mage is considered to be of no craft at all.