Oramar Mordol

The Dwarven Empire which has stood vigilant as protectors of the realm for 1790 years, forged by Emperor Mordol. The Empire has always been led by an enlightened monarch who chooses their successor, adopting them into the Mordol clan - whose only members are the immediate family of the Emperor and their Successors. Membership in Clan Mordol may not be inherited, it is the Clan of rulership - and as such only current rulers are members. In modern-day, Oramar Mordol is a shade of its former glory. The last Emperor of Mordol, Emperor Musak Mordol, and all of the members of Clan Mordol died 49 years ago. In a betrayal of all of Dwarvenkind, a Clan now unnamed took the hospitality of Emperor Musak as he sought to establish a political alliance through marriage and the Unnamed struck as Shadowalkers in the night, slaughtering all in Dhunrim. The unity of the formerly 22, now 21 Dwarven Clans has shattered. The Kro Klad Edaris (The Iron Helmet Clan) sealed the Capital and slaughtered every resident to ensure none of the Nameless Clan might escape. Those who were captured alive were magically branded, with the assistance of Eradis Aroth Urdim (Clan Runespire), to change them. Records indicate they are Dwarves no longer, not in spirit, not in body, not in mind - and they were released into the Underhalls to wander, stripped of all that once made them Dwarves. Never, in the history of Oramar Mordol, had an Emperor died without a living Successor. Each Emperor saw the wisdom in having multiple successors and it was a rarity for the Sons & Daughters of Clan Mordol to all congregate in one location. Left without a clear successor, a Clan gathering was organized which all 21 Clans attended, but no clear majority formed. It was agreed that all Clan responsibilities would be maintained until an Emperor was selected, and another gathering was planned. A year passed, another Clanmeet was held - and yet again, there was no clear outcome. This pattern repeated for 5 years, each Clanmeet had the most favored Candidate's supporters suggesting they should take the throne outright, each Clanmeet having a different favored Candidate at the outcome. The 8th Clanmeet saw the first year without full attendance, from there it only worsened until the 16th year - which saw only 4 Clans attending.

Kro Klad Edaris (The Iron Helmet) who stands vigilant to this day as the Guardians of Dhunrim, the Eternal Guardians of the Throne
Eradis Aroth Urdim (Clan Runespire) who remain the historians, guardians of lore, and runic magicians for all Dwarvenkind.
Lam Eshtan (The Masons) who are perhaps the oldest and most renowned Clan in the Empire, who guard the secrets of the Crafts with zeal.
Eradis Dastot Dum (Clan Steeltooth) who were previously a lesser Clan of the military tradition, but grew in fame and reputation due to maintaining their neutrality.

The 4 Clans agreed at the 16th Clanmeet to cease Clanmeets until a majority of the assembled 21 Clans would meet, and all swore an oath of eternal neutrality in the succession decision - each would not choose a candidate or side and instead support all of the Dwarven Clans during the Succession Period, to assist in seeing to essential services that no longer had the support of the Clans. It has been 38 years since the 16th Clanmeet, 54 years since the death of Emperor Musak Mordol, during that time one of the Clans has gone missing, and there are a handful of Clans openly at war, with many others talking of war.