Diamond Hammer Stake
A few hours from The Rock of Bral, one of the most powerful nations of dwarves in the sphere, Diamondhammer's Stake is a premier industrial facility. Many of the common metal wares sold by dwarves on the Rock of Bral comes from this cluster of asteroids. Pots, pans, nails, tools, and fixtures are all produced by the hard working dwarves of the Stake.
Demographics
Dwarves make up the majority of the population.
Government
A leader is chosen from the 4 Dwarven clans, or passed on through heredity. Currently the government is a Kingship, with corporate interests.
Defences
Many ballistas and seige weapons dot the outer walls of both citadel ships.
Industry & Trade
Trading mainly with The Rock of Bral , they mine asteroids, and trade in raw ore, as well as manufactured goods, mostly arms and armor.
Infrastructure
There are mines and manufacturing facilities, as well as engines the operate the citadels.
Guilds and Factions
Internally, the Stake is a nation divided into four major clans. The Diamondhammers are the strongest and most numerous. They make up the majority of the craftsmen of the Stake, and are very good at what they do.
The second strongest clan is the Granitemasons, who dominate the Crucible citadel. Once, they were master stonemasons, travelling from sphere to sphere hiring out to construct buildings for a hundred cities. Wizards, lorded warriors, and rich merchants sought them out for their skill and expert craftsmanship. Their clan was large and prosperous in the years leading up to the First Unhuman War. However, they came under assault from a nasty band of goblins, and suffered grievous casualties, and their home citadel was nearly destroyed in a smoke powder explosion. The Diamondhammers swept up the remnants of this clan during the waning days of the war. Since then, they have changed profession and now separate metal from the ore (though not with the skill that they had with stone working). They support King Devin, but are starting to want to return to their old profession and rebuild their nation.
The other two clans are the Blackstones and Bronsteels, who work the mines on the three large asteroids.
The Diamondhammers have many friends on the Rock of Bral. The Smith's Coaster often buys their tools and other devices, but the Diamondhammers will trade with anyone with the cash to buy their goods. They will not deal with illithids, neogi, and beholders.
The second strongest clan is the Granitemasons, who dominate the Crucible citadel. Once, they were master stonemasons, travelling from sphere to sphere hiring out to construct buildings for a hundred cities. Wizards, lorded warriors, and rich merchants sought them out for their skill and expert craftsmanship. Their clan was large and prosperous in the years leading up to the First Unhuman War. However, they came under assault from a nasty band of goblins, and suffered grievous casualties, and their home citadel was nearly destroyed in a smoke powder explosion. The Diamondhammers swept up the remnants of this clan during the waning days of the war. Since then, they have changed profession and now separate metal from the ore (though not with the skill that they had with stone working). They support King Devin, but are starting to want to return to their old profession and rebuild their nation.
The other two clans are the Blackstones and Bronsteels, who work the mines on the three large asteroids.
The Diamondhammers have many friends on the Rock of Bral. The Smith's Coaster often buys their tools and other devices, but the Diamondhammers will trade with anyone with the cash to buy their goods. They will not deal with illithids, neogi, and beholders.
History
Devin's grandfather Brin founded the travelling Stake. Brin arrived in Bral space roughly 120 years ago with his two Citadel ships and accompanying vessels, following a rumor that the sphere was lightly populated and held several small asteroid fields. The Diamondhammers spend several years wandering the sphere before finding a particularly rich asteroid field, which they quickly claimed. Though it was only an hour's journey from a hive of pirates, the dwarves were confident that the humans would leave them alone. After the first pirate attack was repulsed with few dwarvish losses, the pirates indeed decided to leave them alone. Brin even managed a peace treaty with the pirates, who allowed the dwarves to trade their wares at the growing city.
Points of interest
Diamond Hold
As the primary citadel of the Stake, the Hold is home to the King within the mountain, Devin. All "court" functions are handled from within this citadel. The area directly behind the citadel's dwarvish "face" is reserved for the King. His family's apartments are located there, as well as the throne room and royal gallery. The treasure chamber is also reputed to be hidden somewhere near the "helmet" of the citadel, but only Devin himself knows its exact location.
The remainder of the citadel is made up of forges, living quarters, and storerooms. The rear lower half of the citadel had been virtually hollowed to accommodate the massive forges. The dwarvish populous lives above the forgeson the surface.
The Hold is a large citadel, pushing almost 675 tons. It has a population of 580 dwarves, mostly mountain dwarves of the Diamondhammer clan. Numerous catapults and ballista are hidden along the outer hull of the citadel. Any hostile ship that approaches will be under fire immediatley.
The Crucible
The secondary citadel of the Stake, the Crucible is far smaller and has fewer dwarves than the Hold. At 425 tons, the Crucible lacks the room to waste on "court" functions. The majority of the space is reserved for the powerful furnaces that smelt the ore and living quarters for the 320 dwarves living here. Constant shipments of ore are brought here for refinement, and likewise, constant shipments of refined metals are taken from here. Magical fires power the furnaces and smelters, fires that don't produce the deadly smoke that would poison the atmosphere.
The Asteroids
Because of the long peace that the dwarves have enjoyed, they have found the need to expand to these asteroids. Between the three large asteroids, over 700 dwarves work hard mining ore and preparing it for shipment to the Crucible. Old mines that run dry are filled with the waste material from the Crucible to maintain the integrity of the asteroids.
Alternative Name(s)
The Stake
Population
1700
Inhabitant Demonym
Stakeholders
Owner/Ruler
Related Reports (Primary)
Related Reports (Secondary)
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