Stonespine Kingdom

"When I were but a lad, my father, the Rune King, taught me three things: Never accept a gift or deal that seems to good, never trust gold that glistens in the darkness, never forget a grudge. On his deathbed, I swore to uphold those values to my own dying day, and Grungni willing, I will."

— Rune King Alrik Stonehammer of Karak Hirn

A Kingdom Within Talos

Argued to be one of the oldest civilizations on Talos Stonespine still stands strong deep within the mountains. The grand kingdom of the dwarves is made up of the 5 Major Houses. For countless generations, the dwarves lived solely underground exploring and expanding deeper and deeper into Talos. This constant work would lead to the most impressive underground tunnel system in history and all of this culminating in its grand capital city " ." It would not be until after all 5 Major Houses were founded that the dwarves would expand outside of the Stonespine Mountains for the first time. This expansion was the idea of a king with a vision his name was Rune King Alrik Stonehammer, he collected certain smaller and weaker families that were struggling to make a name for themselves and offered them a chance. He asked these families to explore west to go out into the frozen wilds and see what treasures the other mountains of Talos are hiding within. This would be a long and difficult expansion but in the end, it would be even more worth it than anyone could have imagined, as this led to the first-ever salt mines as well as new ales, ores, and gems. The next generation of Dwarves would know nothing but growth and prosperity and it seemed as if this was going to continue forever but many rumors have been spreading through Talos. With the lack of dwarven goods and the slowing of trade maybe these rumors are more than just that.

"We sons of Grungni may have drunk deep from the bitter waters of misfortune, but we yet survive. Whilst a single Dwarf draws breath, we will fight the evils that assail us, and we will never, ever give up." —Hengist Stonebelly, Dwarf Longbeard

First House

Standing strong in the center of the Stonespine mountain range the First house is the oldest of the Dwarven houses and made its iconic start from finding an Adamant ore vein. Within a generation the beginning stages of high-end Adamant weapons and armor were already being produced, these were later abandoned in favor of the much more powerful and perfected Adamantite. Thanks to all this heritage it is now home to perhaps some of the proudest and most boisterous dwarves around, claiming themselves to be the Strongest Dwarven House. With having the largest population, some of the best materials, and being the most determined in their military, these claims may be more than just talk. Due to the large population families here are used to living much closer than many needing only about half the living area. Very set in their ways believing strongly the ways of the past are the best, they teach to follow old teaching in turn individuality is normally discouraged.

Karak and places:

The mountain of the First house is much more hallowed out than the others in the range; it is also filled with small holes and flumes built throughout unseen by almost all. This is all set up for one purpose on top of the mountain sits a large horn, when blown the whole mountain resonates its sound. It is said this call can be heard throughout the entire tundra when used.
Dolems - An ancient dwarven monument predating even the First house. It is a crude and simplistic display of multiple different shaped rocks stacked on top of each other holding each other together. It is treated with respect seeing it as a link to the past and showing how far they have come.

Special Metals:

Adamantite, Mithral, Tungsten, Cinnabryl, and Cadrium.

Second House

Said to be home to some of the greatest problem solvers and thinkers the Dwarves have to offer. Raising up within some say one some say two generations after the First House either way no one argues they were the Second family. The rise of the Second house was slower than that of the First due to the unique properties of the metals found here introducing the Dwarfs to new forms of magic they have yet to see prior. Generations of working with some of the top magic materials found anywhere in the world and trying to uncover all the secrets lying behind it make these Dwarfs much more embracing of all magic. While it's still rare to see a magic-wielding Dwarf if you do he's probably from here. As if in hand to hand with a stronger belief in magic many find the Second house to be the most religion out of all the major houses.

Karaks and Places:

Karak Veggog - Sitting as the main city for the Second House it is said to show colors only found here. You see this is due to its special build it has all of the ceiling made up of special crystals, due to this when most of the lights are on the cave ceiling above is covered with an “ aurora borealis “ effect. Pillars or statues of the same crystal are placed around and can be lit to amplify the effects, this is normally only done during holidays or celebrations.

Special Metals

Orichalcum, Deep Crystal, Aerialite, and Ethril.

Third House

The third house to rise in the back of the mountain range far from the others. The most shut-in and silent house this is due to always diligently working going beyond the hardest worker even by Dwarven standards. It is known they started by finding Titanium and this is how they became a house but were still unhappy as they knew something greater lay beneath. After this event not much was heard from the Third House, only officials leaving and entering, and only when mandatory it stayed this way for several generations until they would bring the power of runestones to the world. Coming out of the shut-in the Third house wasted no time in introducing the rest of the houses to runestones and the metal Valhallius. They base most of what they do around runestones always working and making more, most of a child's upbringing is based around the passing down of Runic knowledge. Due to their hardworking nature, they are normally set on the goal in front of them rather than wasting time on any lofty goal/dream. Some rumors state that the Third house is the only one that may rival the First in might due to the vast power of runestones.

Karaks and Places:

Zhufbar - An ancient hold that sits at the front of many legends, for it is within these very halls that Runesmithing was first created. Not much is known about Zhufbar as no one is allowed to enter aside from the highest of Ruensmiths. One rumor that seems to spread to every corner of Talos is the library of Angkul it is said that all knowledge of runes resides inside as every runesmith since the very first has placed all their secrets and knowledge deep within.

Special Metals

Valhallius, Titanium, and Starmetal

Fourth House

One of the last houses to form, by the time they began their foundations many other of the other houses had already been working on perfecting multiple of the top-end metals still used today. Cold Iron was the material that they began with but they would fail to make anything from it for generations as every time they attempted to forge the metal it would come out as normal Iron. They would not be considered a legitimate house until much later when they found and began working with Rosantium. Using Rosantium to start the growth of the house the Chieftain of the next generation would dedicate everything to solving the mystery of Cold Iron he would invent the Cold forge technique still used today further cementing their place among the great houses. Though to many when the Forth house is spoken about it is only about the rivalry with the Fifth house.

Karaks and Places:

Karak Azul - This grand structure doubles as both the largest hold of the Fourth house and the largest aqueduct in the Stonespine Kingdom. The water that runs from here travels great distances bringing clean water to several other Houses and mountains.

Special Metals

Rosantium, Cold Iron, and Clear Steel.

Fifth House

The last House to form as the first truly rare material was much deeper down than in any other mountain forcing the Dwarves of the Fifth house to form a new way to descend the depths. The House formed at about the time the Fourth house found Rosantium ( while the Fourth house was formed earlier the problems with cold iron held them back. ) but due to the Fifth house quickly figuring out how to work the void metal they raised up at about the same rate as the earlier house. Many say the rivalry started here or maybe it is due to the similarities and differences of the goods and metals they have but it is sure the rivalry has always burned as strong as the hottest furnace. Some joke if they weren't so focused on each other and focused on themselves they wouldn't be known as the two weakest houses. Needing to go to such depths for high-end minerals provided many challenges but the main two were the ability to descend through the floors and a way to provide protection to each layer. These were solved by the central stairway and bridges, much of the mountain has a large central staircase wide enough for 10 dwarves to fit across boring through the center. The mountain is cut out around the staircase making the only way off beside the top or bottom would be by a bridge on one of the floors. On each city level drawbridges sit staying up at all times only lowering by runic magic the correct rune only known by members of that family.

Karaks and Places:

Karak Kadrin - This is the structure that is used as the large central staircase, as Karak Kadrin was built to stand against anything that might be found deep in the layer of Talos's underground many consider this a fortress more than anything else. Do to its sheer size as this central staircase Dwarves of the Fifth house argue that Karak Kadrin is technically the largest Dwarven hold.

Special Metals

Agres Obsidian, Hellstone, and Voidmetal.

Structure

Stonespine Kingdom is ruled by a Rune king who is balanced by the Hall of Chieftains. The Hall of Chieftains is a group made up of the best each house has to offer. Each house specializes in specific minerals and materials making each of them the best at their respective trade or craft. If a ruling is passed that only affects one house just that house's Chieftain and the Rune King need to come to an agreement on it, if the ruling affects multiple houses the Hall needs to be in 60% agreement along with the Rune Kings support ( This second method is how the next Rune King is chosen).

Public Agenda

Stonespine keeps mainly to itself only engaging in trade with other nations besides this they keep everything internal always trying to better themselves.

  "Revere the ancestors, obey your king, bear your arms with pride, fear no foe, hate the Greenskin, mistrust the outsiders, and you can do no wrong."

— Old Dwarf saying

Assets

With many of the world's ores and materials only found here Stonespine has always been the envy of other nations with everyone looking to begin trade for some of the best armor, weapons, and forging in the world.

Demography and Population

The Stonespine Kingdom is made up of exclusively Dwarves it has and will always be this way.

Territories

Stonespine has claim to the largest mountain rage in all of Talos the Stonespine Mountains, alongside this they own a small mountain range found in the northwest known as Frostbeard Summit.

Military

The Dwarven military guarding Stonespine is a vast and powerful one, the dwarven military stands strong on 3 pillars. The first pillar is found in the dwarven equipment, you won't find any poorly made armor or dull blades the dwarves create and dawn only the best of the best such as Adamantite shields, Cold Iron blades, or Starmetal Armor. The Second pillar is the runic magic used by the dwarves to enhance their already top-tier items this combination can create some of the most powerful items on Talos. The final pillar is the Dwarves themselves these sturdy armor-cladded warriors never run from battle and are always ready to hold strong protecting home and country.

"We fight to protect our kinfolk, we fight to defend our clans, but more importantly we fight to uphold our honour. Never forget the torment we have suffered and for each and every wrong our enemies heaped upon our ancestors, they shall repay the debt in blood. For we are sons of Grungni; alone we are rocks, united we stand with the strength of a mountain."

— Rune King Ungrim Ironfist at the defence of Karak Hirn.

Foreign Relations

Stonespine has many nations that it considers trading partners and in the past had some they would send trading parties out to but this is now a thing of the past and anyone looking to trade must come to the gates of Stonespine. This is where ties to other nations end as Stonespine has never had any military or political allies.

Infrastructure

Laws:

Embezzlement and Murder of a brother are some of the worst sins that can be committed by dwarfs and may be punished by death or exile depending on the situation. The only thing worse to Dwarves is Plagiarism; it is always met with the most strict form of exile; they are not even allowed a chance at the slayers and they aren't executed as Dwarven weapons seem too good to use on a plagiarist.

Economy/Gold:

To Dwarves gold and coin have always been important but not in the way many would believe in truth money is seen as best used for the better of the clan and that is the true purpose behind it. Over-hoarding of gold is seen as an addiction it is looked down upon and normally stopped or intervened if noticed. Even more important than gold is a House seal, Houses won't place their seal on goods to be sold, they are only used for great works or gifts.

"Manling coins are like their words: never trust them. Use your weighing scales and keep your axe handy!"

— Dwarf saying.

Marriage:

One thing that confuses some that get close to the dwarves is their use of marriage as, unlike most places, marriage is seen and treated more like a partnership than something done out of love. Marriage in Stonespine is made up of mainly arranged marriages set up by matchmakers. Once you've been arranged you and your spouse must present each other with your best work if one is seen as inferior it is brought to the matchmaker and the arrangement may be disbanded. If both gifts are accepted the marriage celebration is a week-long process for the couple as they collaborate on a great project together. The marriage event is an unveiling of the work to the families or clans. If all goes well the name of the larger family is normally taken in the marriage. The new name is used to sign the marriage contract at the end of the week-long process in an event known as the reveal when the collaborated work is shown to the public.

Food and Water:

Food is mainly made up of roots and root vegetables with hunted monsters making up a large portion. They also do eat some fish and mushrooms alongside those meals as an added delicacy certain minerals are able to be prepared to be edible for Dwarves. The Fifth House is in charge of a large portion of the food for the houses. The Forth House is in charge of a large portion of the water for the houses. Over the recent generations, some families have begun to eat traded food from other places; many traditionalist families refuse to eat anything non-dwarven.

Till the Last Clank of the Hammer

Alternative Names

Stonespine / Dwarf Kingdom

Leader

Rune King

Economic System

Traditional

Major Exports

Dwarven goods are hailed as some of the greatest in all of Talos you would never struggle it find a buyer for anything created within Stonespine. While this is true and the goods that come from the kingdom can be varied no goods bring more attention or awe than the weapons, armor, and runes that come from these mountains.  

Major Imports

Very few goods are imported into Stonespine as many Dwarves believe the mountains can provide all. Though those few goods are normally made up of some sort of outside food or some new technology.

Neighboring Nations

• Grieth's/Warchiefs Path
• The Holy Kingdom of Fuerghus

Virtues:

Smithing, Family, Architecture, Creativity, Perfectionist, Defence, Fortified, Prideful, Reputation, Lineage

Vices:

Grudges, Competitive, Bad with criticism, Very critical of others ( Normally and internally), Stubborn, Feel apologies show weakness, Very suspicious of other houses, Jealousy

"The test of a shield is in the way it withstands battle. The test of an ale is in how it ages in the barrel. The test of an arch is in how long it stands up. The test of an individual is in how long he lives."

— Dwarf proverb