gorgenmast

Valley Dwarf Clans I

I also have an IC post in the works but I don't have any free time to write it down. Look for it tomorrow evening or this weekend.

Valley Dwarf Clans I

I'm flexible as well. It's your call as far as I'm concerned.

Valley Dwarf Clans I

Apologies for the delay, I've had very little free time these past few days but I've just finished my post. I hope no one objects if I take Clan Orin's spot as fourthborn. If so, I can scoot back to fifth.

Valley Dwarf Clans I

Muin Bladeborn, fourthborn son of the fallen dwarven lord, did naught but seethe in silence as his brothers and extended kin bickered among themselves. Standing at breastheight to a human, Bladeborn stood a full head and shoulders above the average dwarven specimen. Under his contemptuous glaze, the case for Dourhorn and Agrim went on. The thought of such spineless whelps commanding the valley made Bladeborn's stomach turn. Bladeborn would sooner throw his head against his own battleaxe than answer to that pathetic milksop Dourhorn. Agrim was no better of an alternative; he likened himself a warrior, but Bladeborn knew him to be a pretender. After all, where was Agrim when Lord Muin was slain?

Bladeborn was proud to say he was present with his father during that bloody final hour. He and his companion Captain Goutfoot were there in the western pass when the goblins ambushed. Bladeborn remembered as the pines and bushes erupted with a chittering horde of the wretched beasts. Bladeborn's aptly-named battleaxe Shebalog split many goblin skulls that day. But despite the best efforts of Bladeborn and Goutfoot to send those vile savages back into the mountain crags from whence they came, the battle's aftermath was tragic indeed for the dwarves. Bladeborn and Goutfoot were among the lucky few to leave the pass with their lives, though Goutfoot's grievous hatchet wound to the thigh prevented him from joining the mourning procession. A blood-encrusted wrap covering the arrow wound on his right shoulder gave proof of Bladeborn's own participation in that battle.

So what did any of this pathetic lot know of the valley's enemies? How could Dourhorn - who was barely strong enough to walk to the privy before soiling himself - call himself the rightful heir to the valley? It was all Bladeborn could do to keep himself quiet. The entire affair was enough to make his blood boil. His fists clenched at his side, the knuckles going white as his fists quivered in anger. A mad idea crossed his mind. Bladeborn imagined himself drawing Shebalog from her straps on his back and cleaving his witless brothers in twain right at the foot of their father's sarcophagus. Mother, a mindless harpy though she may be, could not deny Bladeborn the valley's lordship if all the other heirs were dead.

A cold, clammy hand held Bladeborn's quivering fist fast. Bladeborn's macabre delusions were squelched as he felt a bony, withered palm press against his fist.
"Be calm, child," whispered the ancient dwarf standing beside him.

“Leave me be, Greyspine,” Bladeborn snarled, recognizing this dwarf as one of the late lord’s advisers. Fogrin Greyspine was old even by dwarven standards. He sported a long beard and a mane of gray hair pulled taut into a braided bun on the back of his head, and wore a simple robe of dark blue wool. “You have no business speaking with me.”

“On the contrary, I have every reason to speak with you.” Greyspine said softly, not that any of the other mourners were paying Bladeborn and Grayspine much attention what with the arguments going on amongst themselves. “I am but an old dwarf sworn in allegiance to Lord Master Muin. But now my lord has passed, and I find myself without a master to serve.”

“What matter does that make?” Bladeborn growled.

“For a young dwarf, it means little. A warrior, engineer, or mason can find service under any of the numerous lords of the dwarves. But the realms of our people are distant, and scattered far and wide. Even for able dwarves, the journey from one dwarven realm to another can be arduous. And I am an old dwarf – too old now to travel to find a new master to serve.”

“Clan Hoarfrost has not the gold nor the patience to care for an aging dwarf. You are not a warrior nor a stonecarver, and I doubt you are even strong enough to swing a pick in the mines. I have no place for you.”

“Make no mistake, Son of Muin, I am skilled in a valuable trade to be sure. My advanced age does not hinder my ability to practice my craft in the least. Just as a miner claws precious gold and silver from the Earth, I scour the realms for knowledge worth more than any jewel or nugget. Knowledge you will need in spades if you have any hope of commanding this realm.”

“I never claimed to desire the lordship of the valley.”

“Not with words,” Greyspine contested. “But the look of an ambitious dwarf is not difficult to spot. And I see not only ambition in your face, but hunger. You want this lordship more than anything, but you lack the intellect to make your desire a reality.

You need me and I need you.”

Bladeborn stood in contemplative silence for a moment, listening to his brothers and kin argue.

“What shall I do about them?” Bladeborn asked, nodding to his family gathered around the grave.

“Say nothing,” said Greyspine. “Let your siblings put daggers to their own throats. Nothing you say here will put you any closer to lordship of this valley. You will only make enemies here. And you must choose your enemies and allies very carefully. There is nothing for you here. Allow me to ride with you back to Troutglen, and I will help you plan your next moves.”

Bladeborn gave a nod of agreement. And with that, he turned away from the bickering relatives. Without a word, Bladeborn and his new spymaster crossed over the bridge and ascended from the crypt.

Valley Dwarf Clans I

@Gorgenmast

I apologize if I was rude. I agree that a sheet can be brief and telling at the same point, and I agree that it can make worldbuiding harder if it is all to direct.. However you say you have good ideas incoming, then okay, I will trust you and be welcome (that is accepted). I do not want to disencourage good ideas just for rejecting a piece of you Clan development that you though crucial, and I do not want to create an atomosphere of disharmony by being picky with a lore that myself I set to be vague. The human guy is okay, maybe send me a PM with further information. Humans in the Valley of our Father, what an offense, etc.

@Ethanjory
So far I am not considering more characters... may I send you a PM If I reconsider?

I see that Werner has possted IC, and anyway, IC is open for all.

@Famigliolabuona

thank u lub u

And certainly. I will send a PM to you later today spelling out some of my ideas. Thanks for being amenable.

Poorly Describe a Plot Backwards

300: A Persian army flees from Spartan corpses rising from the dead.

Valley Dwarf Clans I

@Gorgenmast
Orin Clan is alredy the 4th son of Muin so you should change that from your sheet. Also I think that the human character is not enough justified, unlike Sister Yulia in Clan Hornfel which is the most open to outsiders. I think that you should work deeper on the sheet, I find it too bland at this point. It shouldn't be in characters tab until accepted.

@Famigliolabuona

I have changed the birth order at your request. However, I am going to have to appeal your other requested changes.

I think that the human character is not enough justified,

I have established in the application that this human was definitely not welcome, in keeping with inherent dwarven xenophobia. To be sure, Hoarfrost is not a welcoming clan, but we can rest assured that Bloodborn must have a damn good reason for inviting him to his court. If you permit me to keep Sevrith, that reason will be elucidated through in-character posts.

I think that you should work deeper on the sheet, I find it too bland at this point.

I am of the school of thought that an application post should be as brief one can make it, giving the other players just a glimpse or a sketch of my faction before I proceed to really flesh out my characters and the surrounding world through in-character posts. An exhaustive character sheet detracts from my ability to worldbuild and characterize in the posts. I have plenty of cool ideas for this faction, and I wanted to put many of them in my application. But because of my penchant for brevity in applications, most of these wound up on the cutting-room floor to be saved for the appropriate IC post.

If you really want, we can all wait around for me to spruce my application up to your expectations. But seeing as we're all waiting around for my application be accepted anyway, I think it's best to just trust me on this application and accept it as is.

Valley Dwarf Clans I

I believe a few people were waiting around for my completed application. Reposting it here to save you a few clicks.

Clan Hoarfrost

Clan Hoarfrost

Muin Bladeborn

Muin's fourth son was so large and so heavy at birth that he had to be cut from his mother's womb. It is said that Bladeborn was as large and heavy as an ox's heart in the midwife's arms, and as such it is somewhat unsurprising that he grew to become a giant among the dwarves - in terms of both stature and renown.

From an early age, Bladeborn was large and strong enough to wrestle down boys several years older than he. Bladeborn's strength came to be his identity, and he cherished the ability to give an effortless walloping to anyone brave or foolish enough to spar with him. Under the tutelage of the Lord Master's most seasoned captain, Dolmur Goutfoot, Bladeborn came to become a mighty warrior. Though Bladeborn was well-endowed in brawn, he was found wanting in brains. Bladeborn is nearly illiterate and is rumored to have difficulty performing even simple arithmetic.

With the passing of his father, Bladeborn asserts that he is the rightful heir to the valley's lordship. Discounting Dourhorn as an "insufferable runt", Bladeborn argues that his elder brothers are too weak to rule, invalidating their claims to lordship. And though Bladeborn may indeed be better suited to protecting the valley from the likes of goblins and human poachers, his detractors make a compelling argument that the mighty dwarf is too simple-minded to handle the day-to-day governance of the valley. Bladeborn, however, believes that might supersedes logic and law. If Bladeborn cannot win his throne by legal succession, he is well prepared to back his claim with brutish force.

Clan History and Retinue

Muin Bladeborn left his father's citadel some time ago to establish his own holding in the northeast of the valley. Nestled amongst the snowcapped peaks of the Hoarfrost Range, Bladeborn and his settlers took the name of Clan Hoarfrost in homage to their new home. Bladeborn may not be the wisest of Muin's sons, but he is smart enough to surround himself with talented advisers. The Hoarfrost Court is filled with a eclectic cast of characters:

Captain Dolmur Goutfoot: Bladeborn's old instructor now serves as his primary confidant and right-hand-dwarf. Goutfoot is old even by dwarf standards, but that does little to stop him from riding out to lead the Hoarfrost dwarves against the clan's enemies. Goutfoot supports Bladeborn's claim to lordship, but after seeing his master struggle to write runes or perform simple arithmetic since he was a boy, Goutfoot secretly doubts his master's ability to rule the valley.

Velmor Cragbuckle: A successful merchant and moneylender, he joined Clan Hoarfrost in lieu of Reverent as he felt Dourhorn was more competent with money and would tax him more steeply than the comparatively-ignorant Bladeborn. Recognizing his skill, Bladeborn charged Whittlestick with serving as the clan's principle bean-counter and adviser in all things monetary.

Fogrin Greyspine: Formerly a spy in the employ of Lord Master Muin charged with gathering information from the broader dwarven world. With his master's death, Greyspine was persuaded to join Bladeborn's court. Greyspine now puts his services to work for Muin, operating a network of spies throughout the clans of the valley.

Sevrith Angule: The newest and most contentious addition to the Hoarfrost court. A human hailing from a neighboring kingdom of men, the Hoarfrost dwarves tried to turn Sevrith away, only to discover that Greyspine had invited him to the valley under direction of Bladeborn himself. At the age of 50, the former mercenary has reached the end of his effective fighting life at a young age as humans do. Though his joints are too brittle and achy to serve as a sellsword, Sevrith now sells the knowledge he accrued over years of campaigning and fighting as a consultant of sorts.

---

Location of the clan: The Hoarstrath, a rugged, wintry vale nestled among the Hoarfrost Mountains in the northeast of the valley dominated by old growth spruce and pine at the high altitudes with dense groves of aspen and maple in the bottom of the vale. The Hoary River races down from glacial meltwater in the high mountains fast and cold, tumbling over numerous waterfalls and boulder-strewn glens as furious white torrent. Eventually, the Hoary settles into the glassy waters of Lake Murthanz.
Population of the clan: 1,900 dwarves
Main settlements:

Troutglen: A narrow canyon carved out by the Hoary River falling down toward the lower elevations of the Hoarstrath serves as the main settlement of the Hoarfrost dwarves. The cold pools beneath the waterfall teem with the town's namesake rainbow trout. Stone bridges span the chasm, connecting tiers of walkways and homes dug into the sheer cliff walls. Troutglen is positioned at the farthest navigable point of the Hoary River, and boats from Lake Murthanz are often docked at jetties in the pools. Bloodborn's keep is carved into the eastern face of the canyon.

Bog Landing: Although a rudimentary road runs all the way to Troutglen, virtually all goods to and from the town pass through Bog Iron to be sailed upstream. Bog Landing is situated at the southern shore of Lake Murthanz on a reedy bog strewn with dead trees. A network of jetties run out a considerable length out to deep water, and several huts have been built on stilts over the water. On solid ground is a small trading post surrounded by a low palisade wall where the crude path to Troutglen meets the well-established roadway that runs throughout the valley.

Silver Mines: When Hoarfrost dwarves first settled the valley, prospectors scoured the Hoary's sediments for traces of gold for any sign of deposits in the Hoarfrost Mountains. The prospectors found little gold, but an abundance of silver. Following the Hoary and its tributary runs deep into the mountains, enterprising dwarves found several silver deposits, of which two were deemed worthy of constructing a mine. The Shivering Run and Heelspur Mines are both quite successful. The Lord Master's death, however, has thrown the legality of the mines' charters into question. Nearby clans are now claiming that the lucrative mines are in their territory, rather than rightful Hoarfrost land.

Military forces of the clan:
100 Shield-and-hammer dwarves
50 Axe dwarves
50 Crossbow-armed dwarves (levies)
12 Riders

How much does your clan respect the Gods and the old traditions?
Reasonably so. There is a chapel in Troutglen and a small outdoor shrine at Bog Landing. Bladeborn, however, is not known for being particularly pious. This is most likely out of ignorance than for any heretical beliefs.
What justifies your claim for the lordship of the Valley?
Bladeborn holds that he is the only dwarf strong enough to lead the valley through its tribulations.
Quote one thing that makes your clan special among the others. A martial slant; a belief that Hoarfrost is truly the strongest clan and is willing to shed blood to see this fact made apparent.

Valley Dwarf Clans I

Clan Hoarfrost

Muin Bladeborn

Muin's fifth son was so large and so heavy at birth that he had to be cut from his mother's womb. It is said that Bladeborn was as large and heavy as an ox's heart in the midwife's arms, and as such it is somewhat unsurprising that he grew to become a giant among the dwarves - in terms of both stature and renown.

From an early age, Bladeborn was large and strong enough to wrestle down boys several years older than he. Bladeborn's strength came to be his identity, and he cherished the ability to give an effortless walloping to anyone brave or foolish enough to spar with him. Under the tutelage of the Lord Master's most seasoned captain, Dolmur Goutfoot, Bladeborn came to become a mighty warrior. Though Bladeborn was well-endowed in brawn, he was found wanting in brains. Bladeborn is nearly illiterate and is rumored to have difficulty performing even simple arithmetic.

With the passing of his father, Bladeborn asserts that he is the rightful heir to the valley's lordship. Discounting Dourhorn as an "insufferable runt", Bladeborn argues that his elder brothers are too weak to rule, invalidating their claims to lordship. And though Bladeborn may indeed be better suited to protecting the valley from the likes of goblins and human poachers, his detractors make a compelling argument that the mighty dwarf is too simple-minded to handle the day-to-day governance of the valley. Bladeborn, however, believes that might supersedes logic and law. If Bladeborn cannot win his throne by legal succession, he is well prepared to back his claim with brutish force.

Clan History and Retinue

Muin Bladeborn left his father's citadel some time ago to establish his own holding in the northeast of the valley. Nestled amongst the snowcapped peaks of the Hoarfrost Range, Bladeborn and his settlers took the name of Clan Hoarfrost in homage to their new home. Bladeborn may not be the wisest of Muin's sons, but he is smart enough to surround himself with talented advisers. The Hoarfrost Court is filled with a eclectic cast of characters:

Captain Dolmur Goutfoot: Bladeborn's old instructor now serves as his primary confidant and right-hand-dwarf. Goutfoot is old even by dwarf standards, but that does little to stop him from riding out to lead the Hoarfrost dwarves against the clan's enemies. Goutfoot supports Bladeborn's claim to lordship, but after seeing his master struggle to write runes or perform simple arithmetic since he was a boy, Goutfoot secretly doubts his master's ability to rule the valley.

Velmor Cragbuckle: A successful merchant and moneylender, he joined Clan Hoarfrost in lieu of Reverent as he felt Dourhorn was more competent with money and would tax him more steeply than the comparatively-ignorant Bladeborn. Recognizing his skill, Bladeborn charged Cragbuckle with serving as the clan's principle bean-counter and adviser in all things monetary.

Fogrin Greyspine: Formerly a spy in the employ of Lord Master Muin charged with gathering information from the broader dwarven world. With his master's death, Greyspine was persuaded to join Bladeborn's court. Greyspine now puts his services to work for Muin, operating a network of spies throughout the clans of the valley.

Sevrith Angule: The newest and most contentious addition to the Hoarfrost court. A human hailing from a neighboring kingdom of men, the Hoarfrost dwarves tried to turn Sevrith away, only to discover that Greyspine had invited him to the valley under direction of Bladeborn himself. At the age of 50, the former mercenary has reached the end of his effective fighting life at a young age as humans do. Though his joints are too brittle and achy to serve as a sellsword, Sevrith now sells the knowledge he accrued over years of campaigning and fighting as a consultant of sorts.

---

Location of the clan: The Hoarstrath, a rugged, wintry vale nestled among the Hoarfrost Mountains in the northeast of the valley dominated by old growth spruce and pine at the high altitudes with dense groves of aspen and maple in the bottom of the vale. The Hoary River races down from glacial meltwater in the high mountains fast and cold, tumbling over numerous waterfalls and boulder-strewn glens as furious white torrent. Eventually, the Hoary settles into the glassy waters of Lake Murthanz.
Population of the clan: 1,582 dwarves
Main settlements:

Troutglen: A narrow canyon carved out by the Hoary River falling down toward the lower elevations of the Hoarstrath serves as the main settlement of the Hoarfrost dwarves. The cold pools beneath the waterfall teem with the town's namesake rainbow trout. Stone bridges span the chasm, connecting tiers of walkways and homes dug into the sheer cliff walls. Troutglen is positioned at the farthest navigable point of the Hoary River, and boats from Lake Murthanz are often docked at jetties in the pools. Bloodborn's keep is carved into the eastern face of the canyon.

Bog Landing: Although a rudimentary road runs all the way to Troutglen, virtually all goods to and from the town pass through Bog Iron to be sailed upstream. Bog Landing is situated at the southern shore of Lake Murthanz on a reedy bog strewn with dead trees. A network of jetties run out a considerable length out to deep water, and several huts have been built on stilts over the water. On solid ground is a small trading post surrounded by a low palisade wall where the crude path to Troutglen meets the well-established roadway that runs throughout the valley.

Silver Mines: When Hoarfrost dwarves first settled the valley, prospectors scoured the Hoary's sediments for traces of gold for any sign of deposits in the Hoarfrost Mountains. The prospectors found little gold, but an abundance of silver. Following the Hoary and its tributary runs deep into the mountains, enterprising dwarves found several silver deposits, of which two were deemed worthy of constructing a mine. The Shivering Run and Heelspur Mines are both quite successful. The Lord Master's death, however, has thrown the legality of the mines' charters into question. Nearby clans are now claiming that the lucrative mines are in their territory, rather than rightful Hoarfrost land.

Military forces of the clan:
100 Shield-and-hammer dwarves
50 Axe dwarves
50 Crossbow-armed dwarves (levies)
12 Riders

How much does your clan respect the Gods and the old traditions?
Reasonably so. There is a chapel in Troutglen and a small outdoor shrine at Bog Landing. Bladeborn, however, is not known for being particularly pious. This is most likely out of ignorance than for any heretical beliefs.
What justifies your claim for the lordship of the Valley?
Bladeborn holds that he is the only dwarf strong enough to lead the valley through its tribulations.
Quote one thing that makes your clan special among the others. A martial slant; a belief that Hoarfrost is truly the strongest clan and is willing to shed blood to see this fact made apparent.

Valley Dwarf Clans I

Also, guys, what do you all think about a collaborative IC around Muin's funeral as a sort of prelude to the IC, where the initial rivalries can be established... Unless our GM has other ideas, of course.

@BlackBishop

I think that sounds like a great idea. Set up a hard deadline where everyone's contributions to a collaborative post need to be submitted by so that we're not waiting around for a couple of lazy people to add their portions. Other than that, hell yeah.