Clan Durhark, the Stonewrought
Type: Founding Dwarven Clan
Material Origin: Stone
Virtue: Endurance and Duty
Emblem: A chiseled mountain with an unbroken line across its peak
"Stone does not move fast. It simply does not break."
Clan Durhark, known as the Stonewrought, are the unmoving foundation upon which much of Dwarven civilization is built. Forged by the Stonefather from the most enduring stone in the Crucible, they represent the Dwarves' unyielding nature, and have long served as guardians, builders, and lawmakers.
Clan Durhark are the immovable wall, the ancient foundation, and the memory that holds when others forget. To walk beside a Stonewrought is to know your steps are guarded—but also measured.
Physical Characteristics
Stonewrought Dwarves are broad and stocky, often with gray-hued skin and coarse, blocky features. Many wear layered braids in square patterns and tattoos depicting geometric mountain ranges or foundation lines.
Culture
Cultural Traits & Values
- Endurance: Stonewrought do not tire easily, physically or morally. They value perseverance, tradition, and the wisdom of time.
- Duty to Hold and Clan: They believe that Dwarves are born to serve the Hold, and all roles— from shieldbearer to sewage-tender— are noble if done with integrity.
- Truth in Form: Architecture, speech, and even facial hair are often maintained in geometric, disciplined styles. To curve or fray is to invite weakness.
Public Agenda
Notable Occupations
- Lawkeepers: Guardians and interpreters of the Stone Laws.
- Wallwrights: Master masons responsible for city defenses, vaults, and ancient bastions.
- Wardens of the March: Elite rangers and defenders stationed in the deep perimeter tunnels.
- Runebinders: Crafters of runestones and ward-scripts that bolster walls or protect against intrusion.
History
Role in Early Dwarven History
Durhark masons were the first to carve the great halls and defensive bastions of early Dwarven settlements. Their builders laid the foundation stones of Kaldur Hollow and Heartdeep Broyoto, while their law-speakers and sentinels crafted the first watch-pacts and communal oaths.
The 29 Stone Laws were first proposed by a Durhark Lawkeeper, and many of the first Stonebound Thinkers came from this Clan.
Notable Figures
- Bronthar Durhark, High Warden of Broyoto during the Bloom's first emergence, known for sealing the Ember Drop.
- Maedra Steelsoul, a Lawkeeper who reinterpreted the Stone Laws to protect the rights of adopted kin.
- Gral Thornshield, famed for holding a gate against 600 surface raiders with only 12 Ironshaped and 1 Clayborn baker.
Modern Presence
Durhark still make up the core of the city guard, judicial courts, and stone engineering guilds within Broyoto. They maintain the oldest legal archives and watch-tunnels. Their ranks have taken heavy losses defending against Bloom incursions but never wavered.
They are most likely to be found patrolling tunnel junctions, inspecting keystones, or quietly meditating on the Stonefather's words while sharpening an axe.
Foreign Relations
Relations with Other Clans
- Tharnûl (Clayborn): Durhark rely on their flexibility but sometimes find them too soft-hearted.
- Beldrun (Ironshaped): A strong alliance built on mutual respect for duty, though the Ironshaped's love of innovation can rankle Durhark sensibilities.
- Varkûz (Gemcut): Cordial but strained; Gemcut philosophers question some of Durhark's more rigid traditions.
Sayings and Proverbs
- “Measure twice, carve once.”
- “What breaks must first crack.”
- “Stone does not lie.”
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