composing a military march

Good day!

I'm preparing to write a military march (fantasy genre: Dwarven citadel).

I was surprised to discover how much the form of the march underdetermines the sound and emotional effect in that a few seem powerful but many marches (classical and Sousa-like) sound more light and fruity, which isn't what I'm attempting here.

I will be composing the march in old style (pen and paper with piano only), as that is all I have access to.

Does anyone have any advice on how to get a Dwarven-type feel out of a piano-only march? (Aside from using lower octaves...)

Can anyone articulate for me what are the compositional elements that make Holst's Bringer of War such a strong march-like work? Or, more generally, what do I need to do (aside from march key and time sigs) to make my composition sound distinctly like a march, as opposed to something that sounds nice and inspiring but not march-like?

Thank you for your time and advice! Be well!

piper