Clan Brokenshield
"Eventually, one ambitious young dwarf, and adventurer named Balian, gathered the survivors around him. They were riven by internal rivalries and dissension, the various family groups from their old hall still clinging to centuries old grudges against one another and split by years of homelessness, hunger, and horror. Balian told them it was time to let go of these old feuds and find a place of sanctuary to build their strength and rise again. The Dwarves of their homeland would endure, he said, as they always had, through their strength together, as over the years their people had forged a new identity, assimilating other refugees and fellow dwarves, and their shared identity came from the legacy of the loss of their homeland. They were no longer the old families and clans of their homeland, but instead, they were one family, one clan, united in their history and vision. Balian shattered his own shield, a symbol of the shared broken heritage of his people, before shattering others and lashing them all together once more, building a new, strong shield, the symbol of the Clan's new identity and togetherness, leaving one piece still missing , the clans missing homeland, and thus he united his people and became the Brokenshield." - The Founding of Clan Brokenshield
Structure
Clan Brokenshield is structured in a similar way to most of the other dwarven clans in Attika, with the exception that the dwarves of Clan Brokenshield tend to be, on the whole, less xenophobic than other dwarves. The clan is led by its Clanspeaker, a position similar to the Kings or Lawspeakers of other Dwarven clans (from which the position derives its name) but as the members of the Clan are officially vassals of the Duke of Whiteport, and the Clanspeaker holds no official title as simply the representative of this specific group of vassals, he does not call himself a King.
In all respects though, the Clanspeaker's authority is akin to that of a King within the Clan community, and the members of the clan are deferential and obey the laws of the clan. The clan's founder, Balian Brokenshield, has ruled since its inception, and is a revered paternalistic figure within the community, and his word carries the weight of law. However, as Balian has ruled since the clan's inception, it is unclear who his successor will be, and he has named none. Most anticipate that Balian's son Ibelin will take over, as he currently serves as the Digger Captain and is popular, but some suggest that unlike other Clans, in which the leaders of Clans are often Kings or Lawspeakers, often hereditary titles, perhaps the Clanspeaker could be selected by the Clan's consent.
Beneath the Clanspeaker, clanmembers are divided into various duties, from Houseguards (seasoned, heavy infantry), smiths, architects, diggers, artisans, traders, and the various other wealthy houses which influence the Clan's politics. The Clanspeaker's primary councilors are the first the Captain of the Houseguards, who oversees the Clan's army and security (while the clan are technically vassals of the Duke of Whiteport, they retain a separate military structure), second the Digger Captain, who supervises the ever-ongoing of the Clan's stronghold (an exceedingly prestigious post), and third and fourth are the treasurer (who oversees the Clan's budget and tax policy in the Clanmarket as well as manages affairs with the various business interests of the clan externally) and the Forgemaster, who oversees the Clan's industrial operations. All Clanmembers are guaranteed free housing and meals within the Brokenhall, within which the Clan's own laws and traditions apply.
Culture
More than anything else, Clan Brokenshield is guided by two pursuits, improving their current home, the Brokenhall, and reclaiming their lost ancestral home. However, the Clan's ambitions are largely divided across generational lines. While many of the older dwarves in Clan Brokenshield, who initially settled in Whiteport as refugees after fleeing the loss of their fortress, dream of recapturing their lost homeland, this generation, while venerated, is fading from public leadership and society as its members are lost to age. Balian Brokenshield remains one of the few members of this generation, and although he dreams of this goal and would pursue it if the opportunity presents itself, he recognizes the current state of affairs means his clan lacks the strength to reclaim their home, and so focuses as he always has on the Clan's present affairs. This is far more aligned to the values of the younger generation of dwarves in Clan Brokenshield, and as the children of refugees they have grown up hearing tales of their homeland and dream of reclaiming it, but lacking any personal experience of it view often think of these views as the dreams of their forebears and as no more than dreams, since they lack the knowledge and ability to act upon them since the location of the Clan's homeland was lost. As a result, the younger generation is focused far more on the improvement of their current home, the Brokenhall, and aspire to turn it into a citadel which rivals the stories they grew up hearing of their lost home.
The culture of Clan Brokenshield is similar to other dwarven cultures around Attika, with the exception that the dwarves of Clan Brokenshield are generally more tolerant and social than other dwarves, and less xenophobic. The Dwarves of Clan Brokenshield also tend to be more meritocratic, favoring birth far less than capability in within the Brokenhall, a legacy of the Clan's time as refugees, in which practicality outweighed birth and when many of the established nobility were slain. Clan Brokenshield views itself as a refuge and a Clan of refugees, and this shared legacy is what the clan views as its unifying experience, in which one's birth and family were irrelevant, and the Clan regularly welcomes new members (as long as they are dwarves, generally wanderer, clanless, or fellow refugees) into its ranks both by adoption and marriage, which accounts for the Clan's sizable growth from scarcely more than five thousand individuals to almost fifty thousand official members who live within its halls.
The Clan also tends to have a more favorable opinion of outsiders than other dwarves as a result of its location within the city. Clan Brokenshield regularly allows outsiders into the Clanhall, and although the lower halls and markets are off limits to non-clanmembers, the Clan's own market is often packed full of the general population of Whiteport who have business with the Clan or its members.
Regardless of their age or origin, much like other dwarves, members of Clan Brokenshield tend to share a commitment to the well-being of their adopted clan, and a loyalty to the Clan above any other organization, viewing the Clan as one large family with a collective mission. The Clan's resources are almost entirely put towards the improvement of the Brokenhall, which is under ongoing construction as each chamber is a masterful work of art and architecture in its own right. Clanmembers are devoted to this shared vision, and each one knows their role in building the clan's strength and glory.
Public Agenda
The Dwarves of Clan Brokenshield are entirely devoted to the well-being of their clan, and the improvement of their home the Brokenhall. They believe that the continued prosperity of the clan depends on the peace and prosperity within the city of Whiteport, as they benefit from the trade which passes through their halls, especially since Dwarven goods and tools are highly prized within the city. The clan seeks to continue the construction of the Brokenhall, adding ever more elaborate, beautiful, and intricate fortifications and artwork within its halls and chambers. Clan Brokenshield also oversees the maintenance of Whiteport's sewer systems.
Finally, Clan Brokenshield aspires to reclaim its homeland if possible. While most of the original generation of refugees have either died of old age or suffer from infirmity, Balian Brokenshield still harbors dreams of reclaiming the clan's lost home, and through his charisma has convinced the rest of the clan to share in this dream. While they find the halls of Whiteport satisfactory, the Clan still yearns for its ancestral home to restore its honor, but the Clan cannot pursue this goal because the location of the ancestral hall has been lost to time.
Assets
Clan Brokenshield is extremely wealthy, and has invested much of this wealth into their new fortress, Brokenhall. Stored deep within the Clan's treasury are chests of gold and silver accumulated over decades of trade in Whiteport, as the high quality arms, armor, and crafts the clans smiths and artisans produce are highly valued in the city, and many of the clan's most talented individuals contract out their for work in the city as well for the general population, often donating a share (if not all) of the profits to the clan's coffers. The Clan uses this wealth to create fabulous artwork and decoration within the Brokenhall, and walls and ceilings are often covered with elaborate gold or silver inlay, filagree, or artwork, and many of the finest goods the clan produces integrate this wealth. The clan also uses its wealth to purchase the variety of building supplies and materials it needs for these goods and its ongoing construction, from fine lumbers, special stone, and expensive metals, which the clan's artisans and smiths work with immense skill. Finally, the clan's assets are often expended on the needs of its members, as clanmembers can expect a minimum standard of food, housing, and welfare to be provided by the Clan.
The Brokenhall itself is a work of art, wealth, and power in its own right. Above ground, the Brokenhalls great upper halls stand almost four stories tall featuring bas reliefs of the history of Clan Brokenshield, while below ground the Brokenhall sprawls outward into and underground city in its own right, housing most of the Clan's members. The Hall is a veritable fortress, with concentric layers of defense, and although it features large foyers and courtyard chambers, the uppermost of which are open to outsiders, these layers are all equipped with extensive integrated defenses and can be locked down and quarantined, making any conventional assault on the Clan an extremely unattractive proposition. This is only supplemented by the Clan's final asset, its diggers and Houseguards. While the diggers make up the rank and file of the Clan's armed forces and are generally only raised as a citizen militia in times of emergency, similar to Whiteport's citizen levy, the Houseguards are a professional military unit, and each member is an exceptionally well armed and armored warrior, usually with a decade or more of battle experience, making them some of the most hardened troops in the city of Whiteport. These guards are generally deployed in the Clan hall itself and are not on active duty, but they are occasionally deployed in support of city guard units or Whiteport's army, serving as extremely capable heavy infantry, often armed with heavy shields, pikes, halberds, and axes.
History
The history of Clan Brokenshield begins with tragedy. The original members of Clan Brokenshield were mountain dwarves, living deep within their hall, when the hall fell suddenly and quickly to a mysterious attacker. The survivors, few in number and scattered far and wide, eventually came together into a large migrating band of refugees, but they were driven from the lands they travelled through. The clan wandered for almost forty years searching for a new permanent homeland, repeatedly driven from potential homes by rival groups, their numbers whittled down further by attrition. Eventually, one ambitious young dwarf, and adventurer named Balian, gathered the survivors around him. They were riven by internal rivalries and dissension, the various family groups from their old hall still clinging to centuries old grudges against one another and split by years of homelessness, hunger, and horror. Balian told them it was time to let go of these old feuds and find a place of sanctuary to build their strength and rise again. The Dwarves of their homeland would endure, he said, as they always had, through their strength together, as over the years their people had forged a new identity, assimilating other refugees and fellow dwarves, and their shared identity came from the legacy of the loss of their homeland. They were no longer the old families and clans of their homeland, but instead, they were one family, one clan, united in their history and vision. Balian shattered his own shield, a symbol of the shared broken heritage of his people, before shattering others and lashing them all together once more, building a new, strong shield, the symbol of the Clan's new identity and togetherness, leaving one piece still missing , the clans missing homeland, and thus he united his people and became the Brokenshield. Balian "Brokenshield's" new clan adopted his new identity, and together they sought a new homeland, eventually making a pact with the Duke of Whiteport to settle in the city, managing the city's sewer maintenance and contributing special taxes and levies, and establishing the Brokenhall. Clan Brokenshield has resided in Whiteport ever since, building its strength as it dreams of eventually returning to its homeland.
Enduring as the Stone
Founding Date
1259 AC
Type
Geopolitical, Clan
Alternative Names
The Wandering Dwarves, the Clanless
Demonym
Brokenshield
Leader
Location
Controlled Territories
Notable Members
Comments