Kraghollow - Dwarven City of the Trist Mountains
Is there a hardier soul than a dwarf? The Trist Mountains, a frozen fortress of ice and rock, would test the endurance of any creature. But to the dwarves of Kraghollow, it's home.
From the living rock of the mountains, they've carved a city, a sprawling metropolis of tunnels and chambers. Each building, each spire, is a testament to their skill, their tenacity, their indomitable spirit.
Kraghollow is a world unto itself, a bastion of self-reliance. To ask for help is a sign of weakness, a stain on one's honor. Yet, despite their isolationist tendencies, they welcome strangers—provided they're willing to roll up their sleeves and contribute.
Darkness reigns supreme in Kraghollow, but luminescent crystals cast an ethereal glow, illuminating the city's depths.
Farming is a challenge, but the dwarves have adapted, cultivating mushrooms and relying on imported meats.
Every dwarf in Kraghollow is a master stone worker, their homes and businesses a reflection of their family's heritage. The more elaborate and dramatic the stonework on a family's estate, the more prestigious their role in society. This is because every family is required to carve their own homes, shops, and pathways. Here, family history matters, as each generation will add to the carvings, be they functional or merely aesthetic.
Justice in Kraghollow is likewise communal. If a member of a Kindred - the name given to a family unit in Kraghollow - commits a crime of great enough severity, they may find themselves subject to a Desecration. This is a punitive act wherein a Dwarves estate is defaced and destroyed. This not only leaves the Kindred with nowhere to live, but erases their family history, deprives them of public office, and lowers their social status. The level of the Desecration depends on the severity of the offence committed. Should the Dwarves Kindred have a history of public works or statuary in their lineage, they will not be destroyed but are subject to having their names removed from the works. For this reason, some of the greatest carvings and statues in Karghollow have been rendered of questionable origin. The largest number of these losses were recorded in the 130's BCE, when King Glothwyn the Desecrator engaged in a reign of terror against many of his political opponents. Mercifully, Desecration is considered extremely serious and is usually reserved for only the most serious cases.
Demographics
The overwhelming majority of people who call Kraghollow home are dwarves. Though there are some other races who have migrated to the City Under the Mountain, the physical and cultural demands of the city render it rather inhospitable to most other folk.
If you were to find another race here, it would most likely be a Dragonborn, a Human, or an Earth Genasi.
Professions
Kraghollow features all the professions afforded by its hard terrain, including blacksmithing, tailoring, cooking, hospitality, and even stables.
Stablemaster might seem an odd profession for a subterranean civilization, but the Giant Rams of Kraghollow are prized for their speed, nimble footwork across the harsh Trist Mountains, and their fleece and horns, which are used in the some of the warmest and most robust garments in the northern reaches. Some legends tell that when Yngvus Goldhammer first settled Kraghollow, he drove out a pack of giants, claiming their prized flock for himself and his people.
Interestingly, one of the least common professions within Kraghollow is that of a stoneworker. This is because all residents are expected to become masters of stone and rock, carving out their homes, businesses, and reputations from the very mountain itself. There are those whose services can be hired, but as this helps to boost the political and societal reputation of another dwarf, there are many who are loathe to ply their expertise in service to a rival.
That said, the services of master stoneworkers outside of Kraghollow are in high demand, as kings and queens will pay handsomely for their highly adept skills.
Many of the most influential families in Kraghollow have made their reputation by sending some of their skilled artisans to work in neighboring kingdoms for extremely high wages. This provides enough money that the rest of the Kindred can remain to work on their estates without other profession. This group has come to be known as "The Displanted".
Industry & Trade
The dwarves of Kraghollow are a hardy people, thriving in the harsh conditions of the Tryst Mountains. Their city, carved into the living rock, is a testament to their skill and resilience. Despite their isolationist tendencies, they welcome outsiders who are willing to contribute. Their lives revolve around stonework, with the quality and complexity of their homes reflecting their social standing. While farming is difficult, they have adapted to their environment, cultivating mushrooms and relying on imported meats.
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