The Skarrenawi, called "Skarrens" for short, literally translated as "those who live under the sky" in Khazalid, also called Hill Dwarfs by Men and disparagingly referred to by others of their kind as Elgongi ("Elf-friends" in Khazalid), were a subculture of Dwarfs that chose to leave the mountain holds of the Karaz Ankor during the Golden Age of their people and build more conventional, surface-based settlements across the trade routes of the Old World. [1a]
The Skarrenawi had their own kings, who answered to the High King of the Dwarfs in Karaz-a-Karak. Growing rich with trade with the High Elves of Ulthuan and their Old World colonies and the nations of Men beyond the Old World, their wealth had become so large that more and more Dawi abandoned the mountains, seeking to partake in these riches. [1a] The capital of the self-proclaimed High King of the Skarrenawi, Kazad Kro, was so wealthy that the streets were literally paved with gold. [1b]
The Skarrenawi, under their King Skarnag Grum, became more and more independent from the authority of the High King of the Dwarfs, with Skarnag even aping the tradition of the Throne of Power. [1b] When tensions between Dawi and Asur rose due to the machinations of the Witch King Malekith, the Skarrenawi were in favour of retaining trade relations with the High Elves, with originally only a handful supporting a military conflict to resolve the two Elder Races' differences. [1c] When the conflict became more savage and escalated into the War of Vengeance, the cities of the Skarrenawi suffered the most, since they lacked many of the natural defences of the mountain holds. [2a] Many Skarrenawi returned to seek refuge with their kin in the mountains during that conflict. [2b]
Skarrenawi had shorter beards than their relatives in the mountains and their skin was lighter and softer. [1a] They were also less stout and grew a bit larger in general than the mountain-dwelling Dwarfs. [1b]