Dwarves

Dwarves are not very common in Kayliss unless you are in or near their homelands. There are 4 major clans of dwarves. They are the Bitterwest Dwarves, The Westerling Dwarves, the Duerger and the Dwarves of the Magemark Mountains. The Bitterwest dwarves claim the Dalesmark Mountains as their home. There are 12 major clans and several dozen smaller ones each with its own king. In times of conflict with the outside world the 12 major clan heads form a council. This is rare, though the kings all get together every 5 years. This is marked by much celebration and drunken dwarves. The Bitterwest dwarves do deal some trade with the local kingdoms. They do not deal with the Glenwood elves and often have "incidents". The Dwarves of the Magemark Mountains are much less outgoing than there western coutnerparts. They tend to be suspicious and have little to do with the neighboring kingdoms. The Magemark Dwarves sepnd alot of time defending their kingdoms from the nearby monsters from the Wilds and the Duerger of the Underdark. There used to be a third clan in the Dragonspine Mountains, but they have all been killed by countless invasions. The Dragonspine mountains are known to be rich with not just gold and silver, but mithral and admantium. The Dragonspine Dwarves used to be extremely rich and haughty. They were invaded by nearly every direction at one time or another. Eventually the grudatchii drove them underground where the Drow were able to kill off the survivors. This area still teems with old ruins filled with all sorts of treasures. Many hunters and miners travel to this area. Few return. The final dwarven clan is the Duerger. They live in the Underdark and usually fight against the Drow. They have been known to make surface riads, particularly into fellow dwarven strongholds who are rich in mithral and admantium. The Westerling Dwarves claim to be the original dwarves. They are very similar in attitude to the Dragonspine Dwarves. It is believed that the few Dragonspine Dwarves who survived resurfaced in the Drash Mountains. It is also believed that these dwarves brought huge amounts of treasure with them. Regardless the Westerling Dwarves are known to be extremely wealthy even though they have mined their mountains clean. It is believed that they have broken into the Underdark and have stacked large claims.