Originally from the Granitehome system, dwarves have spread far and wide and are considered the unequaled masters of smithy and mining. The dwarves are divided into seven clans. These clans have multiple settlements, but are connected by some sense of kinship, cultural tradition, and shared governance. Each dwarven stronghold operates independently. When necessary, clan moots are held in the local system or, for very serious matters, on Granitehome itself.

Dwarves on Oerth

Because of their skill in mining, many dwarves were drawn to Oerth by the rich dresium veins before the Twin Cataclysms. To this day, the dwarves lobby the Arcane to allow them to reunite with the Lost Ones - the dwarves who were left behind on Oerth in the aftermath of the Twin Cataclysms.

Dwarves are the pre-eminent miners on Oerth and often have access to the richest veins of dresium. Dwarvish control of the best dresium mines has sometimes led to conflict with humans, but a fairly peaceful division of labor has formed over time. Dwarves mine the dresium but detest the overland voyage to bring it to the Citadel of the Arcane and so they happily trade it with human groups who undertake the voyage. Large settlements have grown up near dwarven citadels with the explicit purpose of negotiating this trade.

Dwarvish Clans

Clan Brighthelm

Mountain Dwarves who tend toward blond and reddish hair and lighter complexions. Brighthelm dwarves are more adventurous than most and are the most likely to be seen in human settlements. On Oerth, most Brighhelm settlements are in the far south.

Clan Ironhammer

Mountain Dwarves who tend to be swarthy with dark hair. Ironhammer dwarves are infamous for their hot tempers and short fuses. On Oerth, most Ironhammer settlements are located in the far northwest.

Clan Goldspear

Hill Dwarves who tend to have bronzed skin and blond hair. The Dwarves of Clan Goldspear do very little dresium mining but are the most renowned smiths in the Known Systems. On Oerth most Goldspear settlements are located in the northwest.

Clan Oakenshield

Mountain Dwarves who tend toward brown and black hair and a variety of complexions. They consider themselves to be the leading clan of dwarves as a result of their vast wealth. On Oerth, Oakenshield dwarves have some of the richest dresium veins in settlements throughout the southern part of the spine of the world.

Clan Frostbeard

Mountain Dwarves who tend toward a dark chocolate complexion while their hair is stark white.. They are the most isolated of clans and typically interact very little with other groups and are quite suspicious of outsiders. On Oerth, their settlements are located in the Valley of Ice in the very far north.

Clan Highfield

Hill Dwarves who tend to have bronze skin and darker hair. They consider themselves the most civilized and refined of all the dwarven clans, while other dwarves grumble that they have adopted “foreign habits.” On Oerth, they live primarily in the foothills of the eastern mountains near the Xin empire.

Clan Elderbeard

Hill Dwarves who tend to be of a swarthy complexion with dark curly hair. Unlike all of the other clans, the Elderbeards have a strong mystical connection and their shamans are much respected by outsiders. On Oerth, they live primarily near a small mountain range in central Kush.