Dwarven Holds

Beneath the mountain ranges of Galania are the three great dwarven clans of Gleamrock, Alderstone and Dunhammer. The dwarves are an insular, untrusting people concerned with their own affairs and making a point not to interfere in the affairs of outsiders. However, those surfacers who prove themselves as dwarf friends will find no heartier or more sincere welcome anywhere in the world, for the friendship of the dwarves is a bond stronger than the deepest bones of the world.
Many overlook that the dwarven holds are also home to large numbers of gnomes, though they share little interest in the clan politics or pride of the dwarves. Gnomes are generally more content tinkering in their workshops or studying strange magicks from deep, long forgotten places. Their coexistence with the dwarves is mutually beneficial, with the dwarves offering protection and materials and the gnomes creating useful potions and advanced technologies to the benefit of all.

Gleamrock

The caves of Gleamrock are named for their unimaginable wealth in jewels and precious metals. King Banron Fireshine is undoubtedly the wealthiest ruler in Galania, and the valuables he deigns to trade with Rexandor or the Esterland Republic are mere baubles compared to the humblest pickings from his hoard.
The gnomes of Gleamrock are renowned for their skills in enchanting, imbuing fine jewels and crystals with powerful magic to rival the finest wizards from the surface. The Master Enchantress Zanna Beren is married to King Banron - a match which raised many eyebrows and began rumours that Zanna had enchanted a great ruby with magic to bewitch the King, though no credible evidence of this has ever surfaced.

Alderstone

The Alderstone clan claims to be the first of their kind, descendants of the first dwarves who were carved from the stone by Eormus and blessed with life by Joliath. Their gnomish brethren insist that the stone found there often has curious magical properties, especially the revered Throne of Foundation, said to have been hewn from the very rock from which dwarvenkind emerged. Queen Kessa Stouthall sits the Throne, last of a proud line that can be traced back thousands of years to the first dwarven king, Hrotor Stouthall. In her advancing years with no living heir, Kessa looks to how the line might continue unbroken, oblivious to the stagnation her clan faces from her isolationist doctrine that severed many ties with the surface realms.
Many now look instead to the gnome elder Vithwick Wispittle for guidance and leadership, as despite his scatterbrained eccentricities, he is regarded as one of the sharpest minds around. Vithwick has sent out secret negotiators to all the major surface rulers to arrange new terms for trading their valuable (and plentiful) stone. While this does not strictly contravene any of Kessa's commands, it was done without her knowledge and approval and would surely bring her wrath should she find out.

Dunhammer

Deep beneath the western peaks of the Tempest Spine, smoke billows from great forges and gears grind ceaselessly from the unrivalled industry of Dunhammer. Their machines and contraptions are little understood by outsiders and the other dwarven clans disapprove of how the Old Ways have been lost. Few love the dwarves and gnomes of Dunhammer for their ingenuity, though many seek to procure their inventions. Queen Frelka Jernholt, known as the Iron Queen, is a cold and pragmatic ruler who values the fires of industry over the welfare of her people. The gnomes in particular are considered lower class citizens, unlike in the other dwarven holds, and they are put to work for long hours ensuring the forges keep running and the wheels keep turning.

Type

Geopolitical, Clan