Dwarven Houses

Dwarven Houses
by Kraggur Kveldcharn

Background

Dwarven terminology in terms of government structure bears many words similar to those used in other lands, but the meanings are fairly different. Dwarves have experimented with many types of government over the millennia, but only the loose federation or re- public has endured. It is easy to understand why other races become confused with Dwarven government terminology. After all "knaldkarl" and its derivatives means nobleman, noblewoman, king, queen, prince, royal, emperor, empress. However, at the core of the word is both "knalde", to govern, and "knalde", to rule. These two words have been adjusted to include all the meanings and differences in rank that other lands use, but at the heart of a Dwarf, there is only "knalde".

In other histories, save those of lost Rendstaan, often one will hear word of some King or other of the Dwarves. Rarely does this mean a true King, similar to the Princes of Zoluren or Therengia, but instead a leader of a clan or house. An example of this is House Nadamian of Rathan fame. This is why I indicate that Dwarven governments are generally federations or republics. Indeed, even famed Taratochs, was a Dwarf of no exceptional importance, chosen by the Dwarves primarily because non-Dwarves held her in high regard.

Lastly, Dwarven Houses are not like the Morzindaen of Therengia, or the Great Houses of Zoluren. Instead, they are more akin to the House-clans of the Elotheans, with membership being voluntary based on individual interests. Often this has effectively created Houses with members tracing their line back to the founding years, but there is no obligation to remain in a given House. This means that the respect and authority of any House may wax or wane over the decades.

Adamantia

High Hold, centering the Adamantian Nation, was the crowning stone of the Dwarven Nations for centuries, until the continued ex- pansion into the Gemfire Mountains lessened its influence. Though it is now fallen, the gradual decline meant that many Houses were able to transplant themselves to other Nations successfully.

House Bardhstaan

Known for their tenacity, many of the knaldkarls of Adamantia came from House Bardhstaan. Since the fall of Adamantia, the House was transplanted to Kwarlog, where many members have served in the defense of many Dwarven settlements, including the rearguard of the Greystar Commune during the Dragon Priest Wars. They are closely associated with the fortress town of Raven's Point.

Symbol: A closed gate crossed with a war hammer and an axe.

House Gwaalgim

At its root, the gem singers of this house combined the finest Dwarven traditions of gem cutting and singing. The basis for the enchante known as the "Eye of Kertigen" and the Mirkik Sokis en- chantment were both created by House Gwaalgim. While the more powerful, elder versions of both forms of magic are lost with High Hold and the last members of the House, these modern magics remind all Kermoria of the power once held by this House.

Symbol: A cut gemstone surrounded by rays.

Gardul Free State and the Greystar Commune

The Gardul Free State and its successor, the Greystar Commune, were settled amongst the Siergelde Shel by settlers from Kwarlog. This diaspora allowed the establishment of several new houses. When Berdna fell, the Free State reorganized as a military alliance as the Greystar Commune. Second only in their friendliness to the Seven Star Empire to Rendstaan, the Greystar Commune still main- tained Dwarven tradition. Close ties were also established with the Gemfire Dwarves to the northwest. The close proximity to Human lands led to the establishment of many trading houses; however most were destroyed as a result of the Dragon Priest wars.

House Karaagmandisted

Utilizing the road network commissioned by the Seven Star Empire, the trade caravans of House Karaagmandisted crossed Zoluren from end to end, bringing the wealth of the Dwarven Nations to Human and other lands. Karaagmandisted's wagons then returned, laden with coin to Gardul and Faskin. During the Great Retreat, the same wa- gons were used to withdraw farther into Dwarven lands. Since then, these wagons, still bearing the symbol of the Commune, are seen traveling the Dwarven trade roads between Kwarlog and the lowlands.

Symbol: A laden wagon descending a mountain road.

House Hraagsleg

House Hraagsleg formed immediately after the fall of Berdna. The surviving tunnel fighters formed under the leadership of Ordhis Guthrrak. For eight hundred years these warriors protected the mines of Gardul and Faskin. The last of the clan fell at the Gar- dul, the legendary Forty-Eight. The handful of descendants contin- ues this tradition and now serve as part of the Raven's Point garrison.

Symbol: A towering shield blocking a tunnel mouth.

Gemfire Dwarves

The Kwarlogian Dwarves, in a second wave of expansion, claimed the Gemfire Mountains. Due to the relative wildness and inhospital- ity of the Gemfire range, small Houses compared to the other Dwarven Nations were the norm. With their policies tied closely to Kwarlog, but trade flowing through the Greystar Commune, a bifurcated Council was created. One side focused on policy, the other on trade.

House Alalskeg

Showing typical Dwarven stubbornness, one failed expedition into Velaka was no deterrent to this House. However, a second failed expedition was enough to cause the collapse of the House, and its renaming to Alalskeg or "sweat beard".

Symbol: Sand dunes before a mountain range.

House Snartskir

Lumberjacking may sound like an odd trade for a Dwarf, but the forests east of the Gemfire Mountains and north of the Arncharn Shel provided plenty of hardwoods and decorative woods for the forges, mines, and craftsmen of the Dwarven Nations. This House also in- cluded wood crafters, and often worked in conjunction with House Snarttrawg, with the latter identifying particularly valuable woods discovered in their travels.

Symbol: A stand of three trees.

House Snarttrawg

Couriers and survival experts formed House Alalskeg to connect the remote mining and crafting communities in the Gemfire. It is claimed that in order to become a full member of the House, a Dwarf had to be able to maintain a pace of four miles an hour, fully bur- dened, for twenty hours a day.

Symbol: A raven-winged cut gemstone.

The Iron Kingdom

The tale of the Iron Kingdom is sorrowful to Dwarves and best told through Bard Starastone's "Threnody on a Child's Death". The sudden betrayal by the Liitharen meant that few survivors escaped. Those that remained near the Iron Kingdom became skad Dabru and are stricken from all record and mention amongst the Dwarves. Some survivors, not the skad Dabru, were drawn to places of dark magic, such as the Zaulfung swamp and flirt with dark practices. Others were drawn to Aesry, living a normal Dwarven life, while attempting to purge the skad Dabru.

Kwarlog

Each House and important faction, such as the Synod, has a repre- sentative upon the Council. Respected Elders, regardless of their House, serve upon the Council of Elders. These two bodies then elect a representative "knaldkarl", who serves as the point of con- tact with the outside world and in the Conclave of Forfedhdar. A few Houses are described below.

A brief note about the Conclave:the Conclave is another repre- sentative body, with a member from each major group in Forfedhdar. Groups represented include Hibarnhvidar, Rose Sisters of Ain Ghazal, and the Gor'Togs of Boar Clan. The Conclave meets very rarely.

House Nadamian

Of all the Dwarven Houses, House Nadamian is perhaps the most well known. Their significant holdings in Reshalia since the times of the Seven Star Empire benefited them well. Ores, metals, and gems flow to Reshalia on House Nadamian trade ships. Additionally, their wealth and influence has ensured that a member of the House has always sat on the Council of Elders.

Symbol: A raven bearing a hammer in one talon and a globe in another.

House Harkert

House Harkert is known for their engineering works, from the mighty bridges over the Namfals, in the Elven lands, to the water- works of Hibarnhvidar. If it still stands today, House Harkert probably had an engineer on the project. However, they are a highly secretive and suspicious House.

Symbol: A stoneworker's chisel and blacksmith's hammer along side each other.

Rendstaan

Alone of all the Dwarven "Kingdoms", Rendstaan had a true mon- archy. Many strange things arose from this attempt, including King Heksoch, who had the gall to name himself "King of all Dwarves". The Kingdom utterly collapsed in bitter infighting after the death of Gwaldhar. Amongst their other crimes, the so-called Kings of Rendstaan established free trade zones, against the desire of all the other Kingdoms. Arguably, the only good thing to come from this experiment was the establishment of Staan Stok, Stone Clan.

Ultimately, Rendstaan fell to political infighting amongst various royalist factions. It also went against Dwarven customs of representative governance. As the saying goes, "Rendstaan had lord- lings;so too the lowlanders. Neither are straighter than a Faskin mile."

House Hamarhowr

Galen Hamarhowr founded a new House in Lairocott Brach when he founded Stone Clan. By Dwarven standards, House Hamarhowr is very young, being less than a millennium in age. Miners are predomi- nantly from this house, and it is the primary house of Lairocott Brach.

Symbol: A hammer.