The Oathsworn Wanderers

The oathsworn wanderers are the honor-bound dwarrow that know there is no real home left for them. Their oaths are incomplete...they must reclaim their honor before they return to their ancient homeland. They have overcome many adversaries, but they are finally breaking under the weight of their own oaths. The day is coming where they will be faced with dishonor or death.

Culture

Homes

The heaths of the east bordering the northwest of Vesca are home to the oathsworn wanderers. It is there that their clans have settled, building stone monuments they call their home.

Henges

In some human stories, the dwarrow live inside monoliths, only to appear at a later time. This is, of course, false. They have many secret doors into the mounds that dot the region. A grouping of these barrows is known as a henge, and is often more obvious than the rest, with a magical circle of monoliths surrounding it.
Each hill, often known as a howe, is home to a whole family of dwarves. Though the howes look small above ground, underneath they are revealed as much larger, with the actual mount making up the "roof" of the howe. When you step into a howe, you are met with candlelit rooms lined with rectangular stones that make the walls of the chambers. The room directly under the mound, called the hearthroom, is perfectly circular and acts as the eating space and where visitors are welcomed. Hospitality is everything to the oathsworn.
In a henge, one will find many amenities, such as monoliths where oaths are etched, wells, podiums for council meetings, and a few above-ground houses. The cyclopian runestones are one of the most important places in the henge, where oaths are etched one at a time, until it is covered from top to bottom. The dwarrow pride themselves in placing their oaths higher than the rest, because a common belief is that the higher the oath is set, the closer it will be to the gods.

Holds

The mountains bordering the northwest border of The Heath is the only place the dwarrow can find room to make a hold. It is here that the kings of the oathsworn clans dwell. They are extravagant compared to the humble henges, but they are nothing compared to the glories of Dwarrowdeep. The architects of these holds model their skill off how much it reminds them of their old home. Of course, nobody there can live to remember it, so it is mainly speculation. Each hold is set into the mountain, and at its foothills lies a great henge.
Inside each hold, you will find great stone corridors reaching high into the torchlit halls. These are often busy with bustling dwarrow, all of great importance. The dwarrow come to the holds only to meet with the clan leaders and the king. This is where criminals will be tried, where oaths will be fulfilled, and where grievances will be settled.

Oaths

When a dwarrow swears, he is expected to fulfill it. The punishment is great for those who break oaths...many times there have been dwarrow that were banished for being untrustworthy. So why do dwarrow still swear oaths? It has become part of their life to swear oaths to those who have helped them, but it does not happen lightly. Oftentimes if a dwarf's family or his own life is saved, a dwarf will immediately offer oaths to their savior. To not offer an oath would be looked down upon. These oaths usually are to protect their savior, but whoever they swear to can always decline the oath. There will be no penalty to the swearer if their master releases them of their oath.

Runes

Another important part of dwarven life is runes. Oaths are always written in Old Deargh, the rune language. These runic oaths can be used in life or in battle. In battle, there are defensive and offensive runes. Each one has a possibility of working, but it depends on how sincere the oath was. One can always pray for an oath to start working where it previously failed, and often that will activate it. The only magic dwarves know is bound in these runes. They have no real spellcasters. The rune priests mark most runes out, but other dwarrow that known Old Deargh often attempt to etch their own runes. Unlike normal magic, runes cannot backfire, so there is no harm in making your own runes.

The Heath

The moorlands bordering the Broken Peaks and County Leer are known as The Heath. It is a simple name for a place with such a complicated history. The heath is made up of moors, fells, crags, and mountains. The dwarrow dwell in makeshift mounds all across the land, and they delve deep into the mountains. But it is no secret that goblyns creep these lands. The northern tribes of the Cold Tongue and Frostbiters hunt in the southern regions, closer to the mountains and to the Goblands. Kobolds live in the mountains of the west, but the dwarrow have tolerated them...for now. The land is devoid of much animal life, other than the occasional elk or goat. There are not many riches in the hills, which would shock many who know of the greed of dwarrow. The truth is, the oathsworn have become quite content in wandering and feeling shameful. Their humility has become their pride.

Oaths are Everything

Founding Date

389

Type

Geopolitical, Clan

Alternative Names

The Hill Dwarrow, The Oathsworn, The Wanderers

Leader

Delling Ironfaith

Manufactured Items

• The Silver Oaths

Related Items

• The Silver Oaths

Notable Members

• Delling Ironfaith