The Eight Clans of Sjöberg

Divided we Fall, United we Survive

The Khöndil Dal, a cold valley made white by the gentle cover of snow, with its icy peaks and glistening lake, is home to the jewel of all dwarven cities, Sjöberg the Radiant. It spreads out through the valley in a network of districts and roads, with feats of architecture and engineering that dazzle all who lay eyes on them.

But whilst Sjöberg stands tall, filled with promises of glory and wealth, life there is far from the idyllic idea one might have. In the alleys and crossroads, under the covers of the night, wars are waged between clans. Plotting, spying and crime are the town's second language, and there are almost as many secrets as there are taverns in the city.

Many long for the good old days, where wars were fought in the open, and no quarrel was kept secret- but when the Eight Clans put a ban on open conflicts, the dwarves had to adapt and find new ways to keep their disputes alive.

The Politics of Sjöberg

To understand the necessity of the Alliance between the Eight Clans, it is vital to know about the city's organisation. Sjöberg is a self contained country, organised in a complex feudal system of allegiances between clans. Among them, only eight have remained vassals of none, and they are the clans who control the city.

The clans who control the city are few in number, and it is important to know their names. The Hviteik and Skjegghardts, as we all know, are bitter enemies. The Khajrtem hold the gates of our city, the Jedenherts made their home on the lake, the Blomkel and Blåoma live under the mountains that keep us safe. The Haren Gwaed live by the lake, and the Altankahk rise up at the center of our proud city, powerful and strong.

— Altankahk History Teacher to her Students

The town is divded in 8 districts, as well as additional neighbourhoods. Each of the Eight has control over a district, within which live the members of their clans as well as clans who are loyal to them. These districts are often protected by walls, and were initially built away from one another. As time passed the population grew, slowly filling the gaps between each district- today, the city is almost unified, the last remaining spaces only present for the sake of traditions.

The complex ecosystem of allegiances meant that whenever two clans came to arms, no matter how small they were or how significant the reason of their quarrel, war often ended up overtaking the city. Whilst everyone enjoyed a good battle, these yearly wars would slow down affairs and businesses, bringing the whole city to a halt.

The City of Sjöberg

The Alliance

In the year 198 I.A, the Eight of Sjöberg came together in the Hall of Stone to put an end to the needless fighting. The Clans agreed to put their pride aside for the good of the city, and each pledge fealty to the others, creating a loop of allegiances making it impossible for them to fight against one another- and by consequence, making all clans allied to one another in some capacity.

I won't lie, I'm not too keen on forming an alliance of any kind. Especially with those Skjegghardt dogs. Fighting is in our blood, it feels wrong to put an end to it. But the chief said to shut up or be banned, so not much we can do eh...

— drunk Hviteik clansman

Listen lads, an alliance's not gonna solve anything. We'll still get to fight those Hviteik bastards- it'll just be different, more subtle. We were made to endure and survive, and that ain't gonna just because we sign some paper!

— Skjegghardt leader

The results were immediate: five years went by without any war taking place, and the economic boom resulting from this was almost instant. As the city no longer had to waste resources rebuilding itself, they were put to usage to expand the districts, and whatever the dwarves didn't use was outsourced and sold to the Danatelians.

However, not all consequences were positive. Just because wars were banned didn't mean the clans' rancor was a thing of the past, and the citizens of Sjöberg had to get creative with their tactics. Spying, bribing, poisoning and sabotaging replaced the hammers and armours of old, as conflicts became more deceitful.

The Day of Blood-Red Snow

The hatred the Hviteiks and the Skjegghardt harbour for one another is no secret in Sjöberg. Their disputes go back to the very foundation of the city, where they fought over ownership of the city after the death of their common ancestor, Tila Bear-Heart. The clans never healed from the blows of that age, and instead accumulated more wounds and grievances.

In the year 290 I.A, as the Hviteik were gathered around the ancestral White Oak for an annual gathering to celebrate the creation of their clan, a massive explosion was set off. The attack was orchestrated by the Skjegghardt, the result of hundreds of years of hatred packed up into a destructive attack.

The Hviteiks were wiped out, with no known members surviving the attack. The orchestrators of the attack captured and executed, and the Skjegghardts went unpunished, basking in the victory they spilled so much blood for.

A Brief History of the City of Sjöberg

When the Men of the Sea first arrived, they raided and pillaged our towns, chased us away from our cities. Our ancestors fled to the mountains, guided by man and women of great might and courage. The first stone of Sjöberg was layed by Tila Bear-Heart.

Since then, the city has welcomed all who search for a home. Just as we were chased away, we will not repeat the wrongs done against us: all are welcome to Sjöberg the Radiant.

— Aldrick Moonfist, in his "Essay on Sjöbergen hospitality"

Members of the Alliance

Clan Hviteik

The Hviteik, or White Oak, are amongst the oldest clans of the city. Descendants of Tila Bear-Heart herself, they named themselves after the mystical white oak around which they built their home. The tree stands tall in the middle of their court, leafless and proud. They were wiped out in a devastating attack in the year 290 I.A by the Skjegghardts.

Clan Skjegghardt

The Skjegghardt are the sibling clan of the Hviteik. They too are said to descend from Tila Bear-Heart, and after her death a deep rivalry dug a trench between the Hviteik and Skjegghardt. The two clans are bitter enemies, and have fought many battles against one another.

Clan Jedenhert

The Jedenherts are the youngest clan amongst the Eight. Founded when a wave of immigrants arrived to the city, they created a new district built on stilts on the lake, and by staying united with one another they managed to keep their independence.

Clan Khajrtem

The Khajrtem are on the eastern side of the lake, opposite to the Haraen Gwaed clan. Their district is the first anyone entering the town encounters, making them very powerful despite their small size. The Khajrtem are the only clan who refuses to let smaller clans live within their districts, instead having them find a place amongst the unprotected neighbourhoods or some other district.

Clan Blomkel

The Blomkel are settled on the western side of the lake, their district going up the mountain flank. They use their pastures to raise cattle, and have recently started expanding their city beneath the earth similarly to how the Blåoma built their district.

Clan Haraen Gwaed

The Haraen Gwaed have made their home on the coast of the lake, their district on the outer edge of the city. They are the second youngest clan of the city, but older than the Jedenhert by about 150 or so years.

Clan Altankahk

The Altankahk district is settled in the valley, surrounded by other districts. Unable to expand their territory outwards, they have taken up the habit of building upwards instead, with complex stone structures rising up above all other buildings in the city.

Clan Blåoma

The Blåoma clan is located towards the far back of the valley, nestled against the mountain. Most of the district is subterranean, going deep beneath the earth in a network of corridors and incredible hallways.