The Dwarf Diaspora

Like many Dwarf Clans, The Golka are made up of many smaller clans and families. However, like all Dwarves, the majority of those smaller families have the overall welfare of the Dwarf ‘nation’ as a priority, and cooperate together under the leadership of Clan Golka. When the great mines and holdings in western Brevoy were lost, the dwarves started reorganizing. It was slow, but what is fifteen or twenty years out of a dwarf’s lifetime?

While the dwarves don’t yet appear to have a grand plan, the basic plan seems to be based around a number of different communities. Perhaps learning a lesson and going with the don’t put all your eggs in one basket philosophy or, perhaps, there just wasn’t a strong enough leader.

Updated Jan 2023

Brevoy's dwarves have congregated in four main areas, listed below, which form the basis of the new Dwarven Community. There are other dwarves in other areas, but only a few in any given town or village - and never quite enough to have an impact politically or socially. Recently, however, they have turned their attentions to the new lands in the south - Midmarch, Tusk, Varnhold and Fort Drelev.

Brunderton is a majority Dwarf town, and has grown significantly over the last few years. Little more than a mining village when House Rogarvia disappeared and the Great Mine was lost, Brunderton has become the new Dwarf-Home in Brevoy. Under the leadership of their mayor, Ralin al Golka, Brunderston has grown from a small mining settlement into a sizeable town. Compared to some places, development has been slow – BUT it is financially stable (based on the output of no less that thee mines!), well managed and capable of growth. While the town and the mines are all controlled by Dwarves, and dwarves are a large proportion of the population - Ralin al Golka hasn’t shied away from building links with human run businesses and settlements. He, and the church of Torag, have arranged a series of loans (financed from across the Dwarf Diaspora) to help smaller clans and groups to get established.

The al Golka own many business here,supported by the Devales ( Brewing Clan) the Hafgreys (Miners and Smiths) and the Ironhearts (Miltary). The population is about 75% Dwarf, 20% Human and 5% Halfling.

• Old District houses the City’s Administration and was the heart of the original mining village. Now refurbished, it contains the Temple, Military Command and Administration - along with a couple of Dwarf owned businesses. Almost the entire population of this district are Dwarves.
• Central District has a market surrounded by shops, tavern and restaurants. The rest of the district is given over to accommodation. Most of the resident are Dwarves,
• Outer District is reserved for heavy industry and external merchants. There is a small temple to Pharasma and a human oriented tavern, along with Serai, a brewery, the Forge and the Smithy.
• The Hinterlands support a number of mines.

They export some top quality arms and armour, but their main exports are metal ingots and dwarf ale.

Restov is home to a large community of dwarves, led by Darain al Golka., it now holds the second largest population of dwarves, after Brunderton, in the whole of Brevoy. Most are found in Dwarf Town, as it is commonly known, a whole district of Dwarves dedicated to making weapons and armour. There aren’t just weapons-smiths and armourers, of course, there is all the supporting infrastructure of an ex-pat community as well. There are blacksmiths, whitesmiths, leather workers, cooks, tailors, woodworkers and even dwarven entertainers. The gamut of dwarfdom can be found there, somewhere. Like Brunderton, Dwarf society in Restov is financially stable, and is represented on the City Council (by Darain al Golka). It is a recognised and important part of the City of Restov, especially now the Aldori influence has been reduced. Ironically, much of the growth in Brunderton was financed by the Dwarves of Restiov – while the Dwarven Brotherhood and the al Golka are important, they also know their community would collapse without a good supply of iron and steel.

The community is self-regulating - they have their own system of government, their own guards, their own school and a Holy House dedicated to Torag. The businesses are located around a central market and specialize in weapons and armour production - of the highest quality.

Unlike the close communities of Brunderton and Dwarftown, the dwarves of Greyhaven are widespread and have little contact with each other. Golka Mercantile and The Devale brewery are both in the main city, but the rest of the Dwarf holdings are spread across the duchy. However, Toval al Golka (son of the old Chieftain of the Golka) uses the merchant house to keep them all in touch with each other, and maintain community links.

The Golka aren’t anywhere near as influential as they were - but they are still a significant part in the mining and forging businesses of Greyhaven. The biggest problem, for both House Garess and Clan Golka, is that the source of ores from the Great Mines has been lost. In the old days, the Golka were House Garess’ most important Allies - now, while still bound to an Alliance contract, their influence is greatly reduced.

New Stetven has something similar, although The Golka never had much influence in New Stetven anyway, and there were no senior members of the Golka in residence – although the family do own a smithy there. It fell to an elderly Cleric by the name of Strude Stigmar and Clan Lorson to bring the Dwarves of New Stetven together in a mutual support group, and build up a resilience in his community. Strude doesn’t have a big congregation, but then there aren’t all that many dwarves in New Stetven. Most of them work as smiths or masons – and many of those are employees of other (human) houses. However, they have a mutual support society, based around Strude’s Great Shrine, the Shovel Inn and the Dwarven Library.

The Southern Region has seen a steady influx of Dwarves into the area. Slow to start with, some dwarves are starting to establish themselves. Both the Stigmars and Silverhammers have established holdings in The Southern Region. While other Dwarves hold positions of responsibility in a couple of nobles estates.

The Great Clan of the Brevic Dwarves takes its name from one of their earliest leaders, Golka the Miner. He was an early leader of the Great Mine, who negotiated the alliance arrangements with the Garess. Both the Great Clan and his direct decedents took his name for their own. Even now, decedents bearing his name are trained for leadership and command. Sooner, or later, one of them will rise to assume the title of Chieftain, in behalf of their family. Their clans and leaders are :-

The al Golka claim to be direct decedents of the original founder and are often trained to take leadership position. They all have other skills, of course, but are expected to rise to prominence in their field – not only by their family, but by the whole of the Great Clan. They are the wealthiest and most influential group by a long way.

• Ralin al Golka, Mayor of Brunderton, is nephew of the lost Chieftain, and has led the growth of his town, he is probably the strongest candidate, if ever a new Chieftain. Under his leadership, Bunderton has grown from a small mining settlement into a significant town with trading links to both Restov, New Steven and across the region. It is the most successful, financially the strongest - and fast becoming the new Dwarf-Home in Brevoy. Ralin has a Noble Estate in Brunderton and also ‘owns’ a Mine, the Brunderton Mint and an exotic Forge. In the town. He is Rich, powerful and Influential.
• Abbot Dunan al Golka, leads Torag’s Monastery in Brunderton. An older Dwarf, he has supported his nephew (Ralin) as he has developed the town. He is one of the instigators of the ‘Clan Loan’ programme – that helps Dwarf Clans get re-established. His first priority, of course, were his Golka relatives - but now the plan has opened up to other dwarves. He is seen as the leader of the Church of Torag across the region.
• Darain al Golka, leader of the Restov Dwarves, nephew of the lost Chieftain, and City Councillor in Restov. Not as rich nor as well-connected as his cousin (Ralin) Darain is still one of the most influential dwarves. He ‘owns’ the biggest and best Weapon and Armour Smithy in Restov and serves on the City Council. Ironically, perhaps, it was loans and support from Restov that has enabled Brunderton to grow in the way that it has.
• Toval al Golka ( son of the lost Chieftain of the Golka) has organized the dwarves of Greyhaven into a semi-coherent body. In Dwarf terms, he is quite young, and hasn’t truly been tested – and while his initiatives in Greyhaven are laudable, they haven’t been a great success ….
• Poran al Gorka - a cousin of the house, Poran has a mansion and businesses in New Stetven, and provides leadership there. Slowly, with the help from Torag's Church and The Loresons, he is pulling the dwarves together into a single community.

• Clan Devale - established brewers of Dwarven ale – they own Breweries, Inns and Taverns across Brevoy. Their reach makes them quite an influential clan - even though they don’t follow a high status profession.
• Clan Rokser – A very traditional clan of stone workers, they have quarries and workshops in Brundeston, New Steven and Greyhaven, but haven't yet been tempted away from traditional Dwarf communities.
• Clan Hafgrey – rumour has it that one of their ancestors was a Duegar, who was integrated into traditional Dwarf Sociey. They own a mines and Smithies, in Brunderton and Greyhaven. One of the more adventurous of the traditional clans, they also have a smithy in Sirian.
• Clan Ironheart – A renowned military family, Clan Ironheart control Brunderton’s defences and supply mercenary guard services to Dwarf businesses in Bunderton, Tusk, Greyhaven and Restov. They aren’t particularly wealthy, but they are influential. They can be found in well established Dwarven Communities.
• Clan Pandoon – A clan of Dwarven Smiths who have businesses in Restov, Greyhaven and the Khavatorov estate. One of the more adventurous of the traditional clans.
• Clan Loreson - A clan of scholars and teachers who know all the old stories. They have Schools in all the main settlements and have a chain of shops selling Dwarf Cultural Supplies. Not a high-status, or wealthy, clan - but a well respected one. They can be found in most Dwarven Enclaves- new and traditional.

• Clan Stigmar: A small clan, shattered by the loss of the Great Mine, the majority of Clan Golka, and many of their members - the Stigmars have struggled to carve out a place for themselves. Traditionally, the more suitable members of the family have gone into the church, while others have worked for the military or in general roles. Now, they have found a way to start bringing their disparate family together again, raise their status and provide a family base. (Note: This is a DM based clan)
  • Strude Stigmar - Elder of the Church of Torag in Tusk.
  • Lutz Stigmar – Elder of the Church of Torag in Midmarch/Tusk. He is leader of the Dwarves in New Dawn, and has been appointed as Moderator for the Aeris Estates.
  • Findal Stigmar – Leader of a group of Dwarven Prospectors – and one of the beneficiaries of the loan arrangement between Clan Stigmar and the Dwarven Diaspora. Findal, and his team, have been working for Brunderton Mining - but have taken this opportunity to set up on their own.
• Clan Silverhammer: Named after an exceptionally talented whitesmith, the clan leaders have pursued the family tradition of working with fine metals and have a reputation for top quality jewellery and fine art pieces. Many others follow the more traditional affinity with stone, and are noted for their larger civic and military constructions. (This is a PC affiliated clan, which has to meet the PC’s expectations)
  • Hargrym Silverhammer – Leader of the Silverhammers in Midmarch and associate of House Medveyed-Solanus. He is a skilled stonemason, merchant and negotiator.
  • Nargrym Silverhammer - Giantslayer, adventurer and nephew to Hargrym. He turns up every now and then.
  • Bungrima Silverhammer – Stone singer - and stone crafter extraordinaire …

• Not really nameless, but members of clans who were so badly impacted by the loss of the great mine, that they hardly exist anymore. There aren’t all that many of them, but they are seen as the responsibility of the whole Dwarven community. There is an unspoken obligation to help ‘The nameless ones’ find their place in the new post-collapse society – and many Clans go out of their way to find homes and work for these survivors.
  • Gandred - a young, member of a lost-clan. The Church of Torag (Brunderton) and Darain al Golka (Restov) were his mentors. Now that he has completed his apprenticeship in Restov and oversees a Forge-Shrine in Ringbridge, and acts as the Town's treasurer.
  • Valgard Bouldershoulder – is a skilled miner and armourer. He oversees the mining complex at Ironkeep in Midmarch. The Bouldershoulders are clever miners and excellent gold-sniffers, with many members skilled in other crafts. So far they have not really managed to re-establish themselves in the post-collapse world.
  • Bagan Aigror - Currently working in Restov and looking for opportunity.