Dwarf

The major Dwarven kingdoms have long autonomous of each other and hold Congress at the first Dwarven city founded after the ancient cataclysm, Maerdom. There's a whole lot of democracy among the dwarves and even non-Dwarven citizens of their city-states. At least that's how it was for a few millenia.

But over the past 80 years, the new religion that has been sweeping the kingdoms and assimilated leaders and laymen by the droves has led to a far more oppressive culture.

The Triumvirate
The doctrines of the ancient Dwarven Triumvirate, Vordn, Thraig and Grimauld have come to be known amongst the dwarves again. If you're any manner of scholar or cynic, behind closed doors you would know them as the Bloodletting Brothers. They are indeed cruel idols. A majority of the kingdoms have become fraught with volatile nationalism, restrictive culture and the intuitive need to spread their messages, even... especially if by force.

Worship of The Triumvirate sprung up simultaneously in three far south eastern Dwarven cities, which all found themselves in a Helms Deep situation at the same time.

These cities were under siege from the monstrosities of Nocturne. Orcs, goblins, wyrms, aberrations, the undead in one case. And when all hope seemed lost for all of them, the voice of the brothers spoke to the kings of these cities. And through them, they enacted their will, and one way or another, the cities fought free of their entrapment. In a brutal 5 year campaign, these cities assembled and fought back this horrid army that was bred to just roll over them.

And then their religion caught on after the world saw their power. Many dwarves forgot and rejected foreign deities, and the statuses of more traditionally worshipped Dwarven Gods and Goddesses were diminished. Some have even been reduced to saints.