Dwarven Holds

Dwarves have settled many of the hilly areas across the face of Casiphon at sites where water from springs or rain, rich soil, timber and mineral resources are located.  The foundation date of the hold is extremely significant, as is the list of clans who made up the original foundation - only these clans are permitted certain political and social rights.   A dwarven hold contains a central main settlement, built onto and dug into a hillside or valley and often taking advantage of natural caves.  This central settlement is typically heavily fortified against attack (some would say over-fortified), deeply entrenched behind several layers of walls and moats.  When under attack, this forms the central point of refuge for the entire hold.  The main settlement contains areas for all the clans of the original foundation, as well as central public buildings like the Clan Hall, where pronouncements are made, the Archives and Hall of Clan Law, the Hall of Marshalling and the Great Armory, and the Granaries.   Smaller surrounding settlements are often connected by a well-maintained network of paved roads, rail-tracks, canals or underground tunnels.  These smaller settlements were founded by an individual clan or, more commonly, a small group of clans working together.  These clans have the authority to run and rule these settlements according to the Laws of the Hold and their particular clan traditions.   Through wind-and water-mills, the inhabitants of dwarven holds harness the mechanical power of wind or flowing rivers for grinding grain, working mining and force equipment or moving people up and down in lifts or across in rail-cars, cable-cars or canal-barges.  Dwarves sculpt the hillsides into carefully tended and extremely productive terrace-farms, where they grow grain and vegetable crops or raise animals.