Disclaimer: This is a setting of my own creation.
To the West of the Human lands, leading up to the Taevasein Mountains (known as the Sky-Wall Mountains in the common tongue) are the cities of the Dwarves, those that call themselves the ‘Svikin’ (The Forged).
A people steeped in history, the ‘Svikin’ were expelled from the underground kingdom of their Gods nearly 2,000 years ago. Since then, the Svikin have tried to live in the manner of their ancestors. This caste system, which often seems highly arbitrary to outsiders, consists of three levels.
At the top, leading each city, are the caste known as the “Dirigents” (the closest word in Common would be ‘Conductors’). Also known as the ‘Gold Caste’ these sorcerous or otherwise magically endowed Dwarves govern their cities communally, eschewing dealing with commerce or personal wealth in order to remove themselves from temptations which might hamper their ability to rule. This, some-would-say, myopic perception that magic is an innate ability means that many Dirigents have little time for the Wizards of other races, believing them to be interfering with the natural order of things. Most importantly, the Dirigents’ study of Divination and their proclamations are the method by which each new-born child within their city is assigned to their caste.
Performing the will of the Dirigents, and sometimes referred to as the Silver Caste, are the Vahends (or ‘instruments’ in Common). The soldiers who are to protect their cities are separated from their birth families as soon as a Dirigent confirms their fate. Spending the rest of their lives amongst their comrades and apart from the mass of civilians is seen as a way to ensure the soldiers are loyal to the body politic of their city as a whole. Famously, it was Dwarven armour-smiths who first conceived and produced full-plate armour, which has now spread both into the Human Kingdoms and even the Elven Republic.
Below both of these castes, and known as the ‘Bronze Caste’ are the majority of Dwarven/Svikin society. Ranging from wealthy merchants to the homeless poor, the ‘Publik’ have no political voice. Yet the peace and prosperity enjoyed under recent years has prevented any serious resistance to the continued rule of the Dirigents.
Living beyond the safety of the cities are a fourth group, known as the ‘Brottin’ (The ‘Broken’). Refusing to live by the rule of the Dirigents, the Brottin are the families and descendants of exiles, condemned to roam the land as vagrants and poachers.
These lands offer a wide variety of opportunities for adventurers. There remains the threat of raids by Hob-goblin war-hosts from the Western Wastes. Despite the construction of the vast Kivikil (Stone-Shield) Wall, these creatures, in sufficient number, still pose a danger significant enough to merit the service of those souls sufficiently brave to range beyond the wall.
More lucrative perhaps, is the discovery and exploration of the underground pre-expulsion cities, many of which lie undisturbed beneath the Taevasein range. Not even tragedy of ‘Parandlinn’, the so-called “City of the Gods” which was inexplicably and dramatically reburied by the mountain under which it slept, trapping a huge contingent of Dirigents and their Vahend entourages underground, has been enough to deter treasure-seekers and lore-hunters from continuing to explore other sites, though the Dirigents now pay much closer attention to the intentions and actions of those foreigners involved.
Hosted and narrated by:
James Trigg (Triggladius)
Started 05/08/16.
Scenes played: 3
License: Community License
