Dwarven clans of Wyverndale

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Tyr and the Dwarves

The only remaining Ancient Dwarven citadel in the near realms is home to the Sky friend clan. After the war of Shades (the dark invasion in human tongues) many of the grand halls and deep mines were never recovered. The demonic presence in the mountains took root and the proud dwarves displayed their pragmatism. Instead of fighting endless wars for their ancient vaults Dwarven clans built new cities around less corrupted mines.

Many of the new mines proved prosperous and as their wealth grew so did their greed. Some clans took to mining deeper and deeper shafts while others attempted to reclaim their lost homelands. The tunnels   networks became larger and larger and this continued  for generations until they at last tapped into the lost caverns and great hordes of demi-humans came flooding into the near realms.

Sweeping up from the depths of the earth and riding the tides of the undersea, great numbers of orcs, goblins and demon spawn overran the city Thran and surrounding countryside. The hordes even threatened as far east as Wyverndale.

The only Dwarven stronghold to remain intact was the city-state Tyr, home of the Clan sky-friend. Situated on a high plateau, it survived the onslaught by sealing off its deep mines with cave-ins and massive iron blocks. The  hordes were unable to approach Tyr from below and the stronghold's above ground defenses were protected by the order of Tyr. A group of Dwarven paladins who mount giant owls patrol the skies surrounding the Dwarven citadel.

Goblin folklore calls the order the silent ones and speak of attacks with complete surprise from the skies.

As the great hordes fell victim to infighting and the rising power of the human city states the dwarves began rebuilding their empires once again. Tyr is now a home for all the clans and the undisputed capitol of the Dwarven kingdom. Though the city welcomes all dawrves, the clan hall at the heart of the city clearly shows whose ancestral home this grand stronghold is. Tyr's refugee clans still sponsor adventurers to reclaim parts of the old mines and are slowly making progress to the passageways that lead to the under-realms in hopes of regaining control of the other Dwarven strongholds.





Ten major Clans of Dwarves

Star-forger

The great smiths throughout Dwarven legend are almost invariably from this clan. Defenders of hearth and home, the star-forgers have always been the diplomats for the Dwarven lands with the surface dwellers. The star- forgers are responsible for the construction of the great forges of the lost kingdoms. Clerics of this clan are always dedicated to Moradin whom they believe founded this clan.



Graybeard

The largest of all Dwarven clans. Many of the graybeard's holds were small extended families of maybe 30 or so. These fortified villages still trade among themselves. The Graybeard clan regards the lost Halls of Fain Forge as their ancestral home. Lost to the goblin hordes some 500 years ago, the graybeards frequently pay a bounty on any goblin and every young warrior yearns to be part of the army that will one day reclaim the hallowed halls of their ancestors.



Sky-friend

The sky friend clan consist of more than just the high profile owl-knights. True the clan is the protector of the homelands of Tyr, but the sky friend are also the clan of the great Dwarven seers. The sky-friend clan is also the clan to most likely have clerics of non-Dwarven pantheons, most often of deities whose portfolio includes the sky and stars. Still, elvish deities are taboo.



Rock brother

The rune-casters of this clan are rumored to have made pacts with elemental lords long ago. Some of the clan even exhibit traits similar to the plane touched. The rock brothers however are quick to claim the purity of their Dwarven blood. The fact remains that some in this clan have unusual gifts and the clan's name is probably not a coincidence.



Hall carver

The great clan of engineers. While every clan has those who are gifted as carvers of stone this clan is renown even among dwarves for those gifts. The halls of the stone carvers were of the grandest design. The hall carvers were also responsible for the creation of the deep halls; underground highways which connected much of the ancient Dwarven empires.



Red hammer

The clan of the legendary shock troops of the dwarves. This clan of dwarves produces more paladins than all the other clans combined. The clansmen of the Red hammer often leads quests into the deep halls in search of forgotten holds or to rid the ancient kingdoms of the undead or infernal aberrations that dwell there.



Darkpool

In the regions of the under-realms where great underground seas stretch for miles, no finer an ally exists than the stout warriors of the Darkpool clan. They live in a world with enemies on all sides. Constantly fending off attacks from the drow, illithids , and other deep menaces~the darkpool dwarves have a reputation for being '”even more abrasive than other dwarves,” if that can be imagined. The Darkpool clan have become expert seamen and pilot ships throughout the underground seas. Some small halls exist on remote islands, though they seldom trade with outsiders. A small group of the Darkpool clan lives on the dragon blood river which flows through the deepest halls under Tyr.



Broadstone

A surface dwelling clan of Dwarves which some say is responsible for the creation of many of the ancient rune-carved obelisks which are found from the sea to Wyverndale and westward to the Scar.



Steel blood

Secretive and unassuming, this clan sends no representatives to council meetings. It's halls are lost in legend to all but the wisest sages. The Steel blood clan is claimed to be legend by some in the east though most dwarves know better. The Steel blood clan is rumored to have an order of warrior priests whose skill with the war-ax is without peer. While this may be idle boasting done by half drunken braggarts, the order of Claggedin is even venerated in some centuries old Elven poems.



Stone hands

The Dwarven miners of legend. While not the largest of clans nor the strongest the Stone hands are almost certainly the wealthiest. Known for their shrewdness in business dealings and their legendary greed the stone hands clan gives other races examples of the Dwarven stereotypes. Stone hands are the Clan most likely to have trade halls in foreign cities. Some animosity exists between this clan and the others. Some dwarves feel that the Clan is self-serving and has too many shady dealings. This prejudice is relatively mild though and not generally enough to cause  an argument among friends.

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A note about Dwarven society.

Dwarves are highly organized and Lawful in the extreme. Deliberate in action and typically obvious in intent even the most selfish and aberrant of their kind would honor their word (though the evil amongst them might deliberately twist the meaning of such a pledge.) They hold great stock in honor and as has been said elsewhere hold multi-generational grudges. For a feeling of Dwarven societal views it would not be far off to center your imagination around the concept of a fantasy version of "Bearded stunted Klingons."