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House Name: House Delver
House Words: "Hands of Mole, Backs of Bear, Hearts of Stag"
Coat of Arms: A golden painted mountain range, backed by stripes of verdant green and dark red

Seat: the Great Mountains, the Low Lands, the Ashen Pit (Clingmans Dome)

Titles: 
* Foremost-Man of all Diggers
* Slayer of the White Bear 
* Protector of the Great Mountains
* Favored of the Mountain Mother 
* Conqueror of the Stag Tribes 

History: House Delver has been the unflinching, stalwart leader of the Great Mountains for around 400 years, and shows no sign of stopping. It was this house who claims responsibility for the subjugation of the wicked Stag Tribes, who occupied the mountains and conducted raids on the below territories, sacking and looting, without ever bothering to work themselves. It was House Delver who unified the scattered Mountain Clans, kickstarted the mining industry, and instilled within the Appalachian people a deep sense of loyalty, honesty, and work ethic. 

Head: Foremost-Man, Amicus Delver. 

Heirloom: The Plucking Whistler, The 4 Ores Necklace, the Metal Mole

Traits: Delvers are typically quite tall and broad shouldered in stature, but perpetually hunched over slightly due to being in the mines more often than not. All are brown or black haired, with dark colored eyes ranging from dark brown to a verdant green. Delvers are quite honest and typically polite, but are not trained in matters of decorum or state craft most often. They manage to be quite brusque, and also proficient businessman as well, using uncompromising tones and supreme confidence in their wares (usually because they dug it up themselves.)

Misc:  
 
* Delvers, as a matter of tradition must always have a pair of working gloves either on, or somewhere on their person, even when dressing nobly. 
* Foreigners are generally prevented access to the actual mountain range, as a matter of principal. Little is known to even the common folk of Appalachia about the locations of fortresses, or particularly important mining locations within the dense forests and tall cliffs deep within the range. 
* Alcohol is widely available and widely traded, and known to be the best in all the kingdoms. However it is against the law to bring “Shine” into any mining site. 

Quote: 
[i]"I know that when I was a young lad, I too wondered just what the Mountain Men were hiding in those tall, misty peaks of theirs. But I’ll tell you boy, I’ve known a few who stepped to close to those wooded trails, and arrows appeared at their feet as if by magic, no archer in sight. Best to stick to the foothills anyhow, all the Shine you could barter for and besides, the ore from the mountains will end up in the lower markets come it’s time."[/i]
- A trader speaking to his apprentice

[i]"The House Delver is blessed by the Mountain Mother, you all remember that now. It was them who’s drove out the Stag Tribes, it was them’s who started digging into the ground, and sure as the Foremost-Man done Pluck the Whistler, they’ll be leadin this’un kingdom till we’re all minerals ourselves.”[/i]
- An Appalachian Learner, speaking to a bunch of Little’uns

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