The Dwarven Clans

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The Dwarven Clans

The Dwarven Clans is the human name for the ancestral home of the second-most common sentient race on Thirith, the aforementioned Dwarves.

Their lands vary between fertile plains, forests, rivers, and a long coastline along the Closed Waters, but are dominated by the Abbolith Mountains, Eastern Mountains, and the mysterious northern mountain range of the Giant Kingdom.

Each of the three clans inhabits a distinct portion of their collective kingdom. Rumblefish is clustered along the front-range of the Abbolith Mountains in the west. Steppen inhabits the deep forests of the interior. Falkor resides deep in the Eastern Mountains. Once the home of friendly humans, the plains and shoreline have stood mostly uninhabited for centuries.

Leadership: The Dwarven Clans consist of three distinct clans, each with their own leader. For Clans Falkor and Rumblefish, these are hereditary positions. Clan Steppen elects its leader to a lifetime appointment whenever the previous leader dies. The new leader cannot hail from the same house as the previous one.

Important Figures:

1. King Tigrim Rumblefish: King Tigrim is the sovereign of Clan Rumblefish. He rules his militant clan with a steady and benevolent, yet iron fist. Tigrim has been king for over 200 years, but even in his advancing age still leads war parties against any outside threats to his people. During his reign, relations with Clan Steppen have suffered.

2. Jarrarod Stormwelder: King Jarrarod is the 7th of his house to hold the throne of Clan Falkor. He, like those before him, lords over his people with might and fury. Under his rule, the mines of Clan Falkor have produced riches beyond comprehension.

3. Wolf-Who-Whines: W as he is affectionately called maintains a decidedly laissez-faire leadership style. He is more apt to be found smoking the ceremonial pipe than wielding any sort of tool. He expects nothing but the same from his flock.

Demographics:

The Dwarven Clans name is eponymous to its demographics. The totality of its populace consists of dwarves, nearly 3 million of them between the 3 clans. Clan Falkor is the most populated at approximately 1.5 million. Clan Rumblefish is close behind at about 1.2 million. Clan Steppen numbers no more than 50,000.

In the distant past, humans lived in harmony with the dwarves, farming the plains and fertile river-sheds. They disappeared or fled back over the Abbolith Mountains after the cataclysm.


Economy:

The economy of the Dwarven clans is surprisingly varied for such a set-in-their-ways race of people.

Clan Rumblefish mines the vast metal resources of the Abbolith Mountain range, but also is known for its skill in animal training. Their war beasts are coveted by the other clans for their great skill in work and protection.

Clan Steppen does not produce any goods in great quantity, but if pressed, lumbering is their primary industry. Their brethren look down upon laboring for wood, which they consider an inferior product to the strength of stone, metal, and gems, but require it all the same.

Clan Falkor is the proud holder of extensive gemstone mines. Their wealth of precious stones is so great that the market must be strictly controlled to keep value high. But with their never-ending lust for the gleaming gems, this means simply locking away most of their product in the clan’s massive and mysterious vault somewhere in the Eastern Mountains.

Religion:

Most dwarves worship Cromdahk of the Forge, Bringer of Fire and Bearer of Ore. As with the other gods of Thirith, his influence has waned ever since the cataclysm. Clan Steppen has completely abandoned all religious worship, but the other two clans still pay at least passing homage to their god.

Recently, Clan Rumblefish has seen a resurgence of the faith through brought on by the paladin, Cromdahk. His reestablishment of the Order of Solemns, priests committed to professing the faith, has seen the religion spread rapidly through the clan.

Flora and Fauna:

The land inhabited by the dwarves enjoys a thriving array of plant and animal life. It is also shared with semi-intelligent and intelligent creatures typically considered food or enemies by the dominant dwarves. Giants of all sorts, orcs, goblins, and gnolls are common in isolated areas of the plains and mountains. Strange creatures inhabit the rarely visited coastline.

The forests of Clan Steppen are rich with strong, tall trees of all species, especially stout pines and sturdy oaks.

The plains are wind-whipped and full of dangerous creatures, but in the past provided fertile ground for the humans who lived in harmony with the dwarves. Corn, wheat, tomatoes, various fruits, and of course livestock, thrived off of the grasses and dark earth.

In the mountains, much more dangerous beasts are encountered. The Giant Kingdom of the northern range is almost completely shut off from the dwarves. Very few venture there and return to the tell the tale.