Snowperch

Snowperch was a dwarven stronghold and the seat of Clan Bracebow. Finally completed in 888 1A, it was constructed at the summit of the Hemradan in the Roofbeams of northern Khûm. Thanks to the deposit of wingrock within, the peak and the stronghold both hovered one hundred feet above the base of the mountain below, accessible by a single staircase.

Design

Snowperch protruded from the side of the mountain's hovering peak like a pair of stone jaws. To approach Snowperch, one must pass through the Guest Gate at the mountain's neck, where its peak separated from the rest of its body. Then, they must climb the Killing Stair – literally one hundred feet of narrow stone staircase that climbed to the peak, without railing or guardrail protecting the visitor from the hundred foot drop to their death. For their own safety, Clan Bracebow dwarves used a crossbow to fire a guide-rope along the stairway.
This was Snowperch's prime defense against attack. The stair was exhaustively covered in battlements from the stronghold above, such that archers on those parapets could pour fire onto any invaders making the climb. Largest of all these was the Messenger, a gargantuan ballista mounted atop the stronghold's roof. The personal invention of master artificer Khosava Bracebow, the Messenger was primarily used to relay magical messages across the kingdom but could double as a devastating scorpion against attackers. at the end of need, the entire staircase could be dropped, plummeting to the mountain below – presumably while loaded with enemy soldiers.
Despite this fearsome facade, Snowperch was a smaller and more modest dwarven hold, capable of housing perhaps no more than four hundred dwarves. The peak contained a fair reserve of minerals for them to mine – opal and alabaster were common in the Roofbeams – but it did not sit upon anything like the wealth deposits that other clans did. Its primary concern was defense and isolation.
Notable locations within Snowperch included:

• Commons: The clan's gathering place, the Commons is where the dwarves drink and feast together as one. In the Snowperch Commons, the dwarves have erected a number of archery targets for friendly competitions.
• Courtyard: Snowperch's central courtyard was open to the sky and especially unique for the aged camphor tree, a gift from the arboretum of Castle Cloudpeak, that grew on a floating platform at its center.
• Thane's Hall: The thane's audience chamber and the seat of the Peer Council, the hall was constructed like a staircase, with the thane's floating throne presiding over all.
• Khosava's Workshop: The very highest level of the stronghold was devoted entirely to Khosava's workshop, where she could tinker with her inventions in peace, as well as access the Messenger on the roof above.

History

First Age

Clan Cloudpeak approved Zazem Bracebow's request to found his own underclan in 770 1A and construction began shortly thereafter. However, it was immediately met with setbacks and delays, due to its strange location. Uncompromising on his vision for his own floating stronghold, Zazem proved a difficult thane to work with. In the end, it would take nearly a century before Snowperch was considered complete. In 888 1A, Zazem Bracebow hosted his former family in his new hold, after decades and thousands of gold spent.

Campaigns

The Menagerie

• Khûm: When the Menagerie first arrived at Snowperch, Thane Zazem turned them away, on the advice of Brother Sorav. It wasn't until the Commander's Tent, aided by a flight of giant eagles, were deposited on the roof that the mercenaries made any progress against the recalcitrant thane. Permitted to stay within the stronghold for three days, they conspired with Warmaster Dezori to overturn the thane's refusal to admit the mercenaries with a vote from the Peer Council (). Operating in secret, they gathered votes among the influential masters and detained Brother Sorav so he couldn't influence the proceedings further. When the vote was tallied, the Menagerie was permitted inside and the thane's will overturned (Chapter 12) It was on the parapets of Snowperch where Griffon finally confronted Stirge about her betrayal and where Remorhaz challenged Griffon to a duel about his withholding. When Dûnya arrived, she quickly took possession of the stronghold. While holding a council of war in the Commons, she – and several other members of the council – were petrified by ale poisoned with cockatrice venom (Chapter 13). This threw the clan into uproar and resulted in Brother Sorav's fall through the courtyard, multiple confrontations with the clanguard and the summoning of the First Judge (Chapter 14).

Name: Snowperch
Seat: Clan Bracebow
Nation: Khûm
Founded: 888 1A
Authority: Thane
Population: 354
Demographics: Isolated (100% dwarf)