Dwarves
The Red Mountains are a desolate range of iron-streaked stone and windswept passes, where the sun barely touches the jagged peaks and the air tastes of iron and dust. The mountains hold three dwarven Holds, ancient strongholds that are both the heart of dwarven life and the bulwark against threats from within and without.
These Holds guard the secrets of dwarven craftsmanship, each one a labyrinthine fortress where only the truly trusted are allowed entry. Non-dwarves rarely set foot inside these halls, and those who do are never quite the same afterward, bearing the weight of the respect—and suspicion—that comes with it.
The dwarves here are not merchants by nature, but necessity keeps them trading with the lowland towns. Their iron is some of the finest in the region, coveted by blacksmiths, traders, and warriors alike. However, those who seek to do business with the dwarves do so on dwarven terms. Each hold has its own forge traditions and rituals, their ironwork distinct and unmistakably crafted for durability and battle.
The Three Holds
- Ironhold
The oldest and largest of the three, Ironhold is a mountain citadel and the seat of the dwarven High Chieftain, the closest thing the mountain dwarves have to a central leader. Built into the very heart of the mountain, its halls are shrouded in perpetual shadow, the walls stained with smoke from centuries-old forges that burn night and day.
Ironhold is known for its massive ironworks, producing everything from armor to wagon axles, but its true pride is in its Clan Pistols—each a beautifully engraved firearm crafted as a rite of passage. No two pistols are the same, and they are carried by every dwarf as a badge of adulthood and loyalty to Ironhold.
For an outsider to receive one of these is a rare and solemn honor, marking them as a true friend of the dwarves.
- Stonepeak
Built high on a cliffside, Stonepeak is the most isolated of the three Holds, and its people are known for their reclusiveness and skill in stonecraft.
Stonepeak dwarves are unmatched masons, their skills turning raw mountain stone into works of art and deadly fortifications. They create Clan Daggers, short, sturdy blades that are almost ritualistic in their design, with each clan crafting its own unique variant. These daggers are passed down through generations, symbolizing the bond between a dwarf and their heritage. It's said that a Stonepeak dwarf's dagger is a reflection of their soul, and gifting one to an outsider is rare -- a symbol of trust that cannot be betrayed.
Stonepeak has a long,bitter history with the orc clans of the plateau, and skirmishes between them are commonplace along the northern pass.
- Firecrest
Positioned near the volcanic vents at the mountain's southern edge, Firecrest is a rough-and-tumble hold where survival is a daily battle against the heat and the ever-present threat of magma eruptions.
Firecrest dwarves are fierce and tenacious, known for their skill in forging tools and weapons that can withstand intense conditions. Their iron is the most resilient in the Red Mountains, often traded for food and supplies with the lowland towns. The dwarves here make Clan Pistols as well, though these are often crude, rugged, and intended for close-range defense.
Firecrest dwarves are the most aggressive toward outsiders, particularly orcs, who they see as both a nuisance and a dangerous threat to their already precarious hold.