Klastenmeadow Dwarves
In and around Klastenmeadow, in the Dwarfmarch of Acrad, dwell dwarves—sometimes called field dwarves or field gnomes—which are peculiar to the area. Though they resemble other dwarves physically and behaviorally, their unmistakable and vibrant fashion and unique aesthetics at once set them apart.
Distinguishing Features
Due to living in communities that are populated primarily by dwarves and halflings, the Klastenmeadow Dwarves live mainly above ground or in semi-subterranean lodges with turf roofs in the halfling style. As a consequence of their surface dwellings and long exposure to halflings and imperial styles, these dwarves are notorious for their distinct fashion, different from any other found among the stoutfolk.Most dwarves have little use for fanciful dying in their lowlit halls, preferring instead to decorate with interesting patterns, weaving and stitching techniques, metallic cloth and plates, and layered textures. The Klastenmeadow dwarves blend traditional dwarven textile techniques with the vibrant dyes for which they gained an appreciation from the halflings.
To many, the styles of dress of the Klastenmeadow folk are gawdy with their layers, textures, stitching, and vibrant colors. To more traditionalist dwarves, they're not only gaudy, but positively gnomish, a far more grave insult. Of course, most who regard the dwarves' fashion as so outlandish or tasteless as to be worthy of mockery save their comments for when the field dwarves are out of earshot. Most traditionalist dwarves, however, don't bother sparing feelings. For their part, the halflings have adopted some of the dwarves' values as well and the two halves of the local communities have come to closely resemble one another.
Origins
Before the arrival of the Ost-Corsovs, much of the land which is now the Dwarfmarch was heavily forested with old growth great oaks. Dwarves from Vor Daruhl's Clan Axthand made their name lumbering the forests and selling the wood for use in barrel-aging various goods as well as for real wood furniture and other luxury goods in the dwarf-holds. After the Ost-Corsovs arrived, and as they kept expanding their kingdom of Acrad, soon dwarves from Stonehome were given Ostwild to hold in the name of the Ost-Corsov kings. Because of the imperial presence, and the demand among dwarvenkind and the vintners across the empire, it was not long before some clans from among these dwarves received contracts to also go into the Old Forest and harvest the great oaks there. The demand grew so immense that the region was almost entirely deforested, and though the Quarrels of Acrad and subsequent Wars of Seven Emperors dampened the demand somewhat, the great oaks never recovered. An accident at a sawmill caused the Great Eastern Fires of 620 SA 5 which is thought to have wiped out the last of the great oaks. Though the fires would eventually be quelled, what remained was a small and pale shadow of the ancient magnificence that once had been. Finally, on the 15th of Dragonslumber 637 SA5, Stelmo the King of Acrad, signed the Charter of the Old Forest, registering it under the formal protection and management of the Crown for the purposes of game hunts, and ending for good the lumber industry within its bounds. However, the lost grandeur of the Old Forest would never return.Dwarves and Halflings
With the logging industry gone, King Stelmo, perhaps seeking to maintain the industrious spirit of the dwarves within his borders, invited the stoutfolk to remain and settle the land, becoming subjects of Acrad and ultimately the Empire. Taking inspiration from the settling of hobgoblin mercenaries in the Kazkh'krajina, Stelmo offered several incentives. First and second generation dwarven immigrants would be exempt from military service and enjoy reduced tax rates. Additionally, the dwarves were free to govern locally in accordance with their own customs, so long as they acknowledged the King of Acrad as their liege. This did entice many dwarves, most of whom had a certain pioneering spirit evident from their involvement in the logging industry, and the foundations were laid for dwarven settlement throughout the northern parts of the borderlands that would come to be known as the Dwarfmarch.Around the same time, halflings from the Dorish Heathlands, stricken by increased instability in the region due to political strife dating back to the reign of Ota II and increasingly bold giant and orcish raids were driven to migrate away from the lands they had for so long called home. They found welcome in Acrad, and though some settled in the hills of Seamoor and the Grey Downs, many more resettled in droves in the Dwarfmarch at the insistence of the King Stelmo. This period of migration from was eased by the fact that the king sent the halflings to live in an area that as yet had not been thoroughly settled by dwarves, and then further incentivized dwarves to come and build up infrastructure and housing for the new-come halflings. Over time, Klastenmeadow became the largest of these settlements, and the halflings and dwarves forged lasting bonds of kinship.
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