Are elves fully responsible for their actions because they are by their nature arrogant? Are humans fully responsible for their actions because they are easily corrupted?
I think these are good questions.
My answer- and this is speculative- is that dwarves are just different from humans or elves. They seem to have a higher floor and a lower ceiling. With elves, you have a full moral spectrum ranging from the most benevolent priestess of Isha to the druchii who hunts human children for sport. Humans have the same spectrum, with selfless devotees of Shallya existing alongside brutal warlords, hired killers, and Stromfels worshippers. Both species have very high mountains, very low valleys, and everything in between.
Dwarves don't appear to have the same qualities. We don't hear much about dwarves who simply break their word for profit. However, we also don't hear about dwarves forgiving ancient blood feuds and reconciling with their hated enemies. Dwarves appear to be vastly more consistent than humans and elves, for better and for worse.
Elves are extremely arrogant, but that arrogance can take many forms, including genuine
noblesse oblige. Even if they can't choose not to be arrogant, they can choose to be benevolent in their superiority. As for human corruption, it's quite clear that humans can be utter bastards on our own. There are human warlords who sack towns and merchants who pay pirates to murder their rivals and common bandits who butcher travellers, and none of them require Chaos to be awful.
The Empire has Magnus
and Boris Goldgather, Karl Franz
and Dieter. The elves have Bel-Shanaar and Malekith. Dwarven rulers seem to be operate with a much more limited spectrum. You don't have any High Kings who are willing to set aside centuries of hatred and prejudice, as Magnus did with the Colleges. However, you also don't have any High Kings who cheerfully take bribes and ignore their duty.
Chaos Dwarves are the obvious and enormous exception to this rule, but I don't know enough to comment about them. Obviously, this is just a theory, but I was interested in the idea. Humans and elves are very clearly capable of bending and changing, while it isn't so clear for dwarves. Can they alter their ways, or are the traditions of the Ancestors a path they cannot escape save through death?
