The Hearth Stool

The Hearth Stool is carved from hardwood and reinforced with rune etched metal supports and found in the community halls of every dwarven clanhold. Commissioned by the clan elders by their most skilled artisans, the Hearth Stool serves an important cultural function.
Any dwarf desiring to raise a serious concern may sit upon the Hearth Stool during the day’s final meal, signaling a Request for Moot. All clan leaders and household heads are required to gather and hear the dwarf’s grievance. Other clan members may attend the moot but cannot speak. The petitioner speaks first and fully before the heads respond in turn.
Carved with runes of truth, resilience, and illumination, the Hearth Stool provides a sacred space for issues impacting the community to be respectfully heard and discussed. Through this tradition, open communication and collective wisdom are maintained.
A moment in history...The Stonehammer clan was shaken when Egrin, son of the clan chief, publicly sat upon the Hearth Stool during the evening meal. He brought grievance against the Master Mason Durgin for unfair distribution of mining spoils. Egrin claimed Durgin was withholding pure iron ore shipments meant for the clan's forge, instead trading them illegally for gold.
Durgin objected fervently when given chance to respond during the moot. He insisted the missing ore had been lost in mine collapses. The clan heads listened to both sides argue their case. Ultimately, a compromise was struck - the mines would be inspected for cave-ins while Durgin's records were audited.
The inspections uncovered no mine issues but the audit revealed Durgin's deceit. His trades had shorted the clan ores. Durgin was removed from his station and Egrin took up the mantle of Master Mason. Yet despite his dishonesty, Durgin was not exiled for his years of past service. Rightful balance was restored, strengthening the clan overall.
The impartial Hearth Stool had shone light upon a troubling injustice that threatened the Stonehammer clan's prosperity. Through open moot and compromise, harmony was mended. None emerged absolved, but all emerged wiser, avoiding descend into clan infighting over the grievance.