Bristlebeard's Hollow
Summary
Bristlebeard's Hollow - AKA Whurest or the Iron Cavern in the dwarven tongue - is a small dwarven mining settlement found high atop the Spine of the World. Most of those that live and work Britlebeard's Hollow hail from the Mithral Hall. While Whurest operates almost entirely independently, Dwarven oaths are eternal and many still owe allegiance to Clan Battlehammer, the great dwarven clan that resides in Mithral Hall.
The dwarves of Whurest hold a trade alliance with Exigo Syndicate and consider the organization a strong business partner. They also have found a solid ally in the Blackwood Company and often supply arms and reinforcements to the two factions mutual benefit. Many within Whurest Hold prefer their insular lifestyle, choosing to remain indifferent to the ways of men and the conflicts raging within the valley below.
Origin/History
1382 (Year of the Black Blazon)
Freed from the demands of war, and with a slow but steady increase in the total Shield Dwarf population despite recent losses at Mithral Hall, various groups of dwarves start a slow expansion across the North. Eriak Bristlebeard issues a call for free dwarves to march West towards Whurest, and about 50 do so, further bolstering Whurest's number.
Whurest, led by Eriak Bristlebeard, marches together with House Hellstrom and the Thayan Enclave to liberate Aquor from Aurilite control. The battle was fierce as it was thick, and Eriak is dealt a mortal blow by the icy edge of a Frost Giant's battle-axe. Old-Axe makes his final journey to Erackinor. Whurest names Dryn Stonewhisperer to succeed Eriak as Thane.
In response to increased White Elk raids, the Iron Council engages Blackwood Company in a long-term contract, funded by Thane Stonewhisperer, to bolster the defense of caravans traveling both to and from Whurest.
1379 (Year of the Lost Keep)
Eriak Bristlebeard opens the ruins of Runedarrhyn to worthy adventurers from Sundren Valley. Combined with Whurest’s own efforts, the forces of Xalliordell are finally matched and a long stand-off begins.
The Skullcleaver Brigade, a group of dwarven mercenaries operating in Sundren Valley, swears fealty to Clan Bristlebeard of Whurest, providing welcome reinforcements.
Murin Stouthammer, one of Sundren Valley's great brewmasters, becomes a pillar of diplomacy between Exigo and Bristlbeard's Hollow. Rumors suggest that his operation, The Stouthammer Brewery, is funded entirely by contributions from his kin.
1372 (Year of Wild Magic)
The siege of Mithral Hall ends.
1370 (Year of the Tankard)
The orc hordes of King Obould Many-Arrows lay siege to Mithral Hall. A long war begins, and the other dwarven holds sensibly focus their efforts on assisting Mithral Hall.
Whurest is neither able to help or be helped, but holds firm and is unassailed in its fastness.
1369 (Year of the Gauntlet)
Whurest continues to labor, expanding and rebuilding. Under the direction of the Iron Council and the engineering prowess of clan Greyhammer, much of Runedarrhyn’s upper floors have been retaken and become the preferred hearth of the Whurest dwarves. Little resists Whurest’s expansion and many believe the remaining ruins to be completely vacant.
Late in the year, delvers discover the deepest halls of the ruin and Whurest first comes face-to-face with the forces of Xalliordell. The resulting conflict is quick and bloody, lasting only a day. Xalliordell's forces decimate a surprised Whurest guard and many of Whurest’s dwarves are captured and taken as thralls. The surface hold is saved by the sacrifices of a small team of engineers who, led by Eldon and Orla Greyhammer, explode support structures caving-in several key tunnels, swiftly halting Xalliordell’s advance onto the surface.
1367 (Year of the Shield)
Citadel Felbarr is retaken from Many-Arrow orcs by dwarves of Clan Warcrown with the aid of Elves of Silverymoon. King Emerus Warcrown crowned.
1365 (Year of Sword)
A sizable group of dwarves from Mithral Hall arrive to join Whurest, favoring a simpler life. Bristlebeard’s Hollow continues to expand and develop, adding defenses and exploring new cave networks. During this exploration, the ruins of Runedarrhyn were discovered. In earnest, the Iron Council of Whurest refocuses their efforts on reclaiming Runedarrhyn.
1358 (Year of Shadows)
The Battle of Keeper’s Dale - House Baenre leads an army of drow, goblins, and kobolds out of Menzoberranzan to attack the dwarves of Mithral Hall. The dwarves are aided by svirfneblin, local barbarians, troops from Nesme and Silverymoon; even the mysterious Harpells and Lady Alustriel herself. The drow are ultimately defeated and driven back to their homeland.
After the battle, Eriak Bristlebeard, longing to continue his work, leads a group of over fifty dwarves to reclaim his find and re-establish trade with Tentowns and Luskan. To delight, the complex had not been discovered or re-inhabited by the yeti that lived there originally.
1356 (Year of the Worm)
After some forty years of work Bristlebeard’s Hollow is nearing completion. It was then that Clan Battlehammer’s namesake, Bruenor Battlehammer, led efforts to reclaim his clans long lost home, the Mithral Hall.
Eriak Bristlbeard heeds Bruenor's call and Bristlebead's Hollow is abandoned.
1313 (Year of the Shattered Oak)
In the 185 years that the Battlehammers were displaced from their home of the Mithral Hall, Bruenor Battlehammer sends several small expeditions out to explore the caverns along The Spine of the World.
A five-man expedition led by Eriak (Old-Axe) Bristlebeard discovers a cave network approximately 30-40 Miles South-West of Tentowns and positioned West of the Shaengarne River. The small dwarven group dub the area Bristlebeard's Hollow and work for many years to establish an outpost here, only communicating with the clan in Kelvin's Cairn annually during the summer when the mountains were passable.
1306 (Year of Thunder)
Moradin bestows the Thunder Blessing upon his people. Miraculously, the birthrate of the dwarven race begins to soar. Nearly a fifth of dwarven births after the Thunder Blessing result in identical or fraternal twins. This new dwarven generation is commonly referred to as the Thunder Children.
Previously a dying race in slow decline, things start looking up for the dwarves of Faerun.
1164 (Year of Long Shadows)
Mithral Hall falls to the shadow dragon Shimmergloom, aided by a horde of shadow creatures and an entire clan of Duergar, Clan Bukbukken. The young Bruenor Battlehammer is one of only 300 dwarves to survive, from a total population of 10,000. The clan scatters, an older Bruenor later leading 100 dwarves to Kevin’s Cairn in Icewind Dale.
Government
Iron Council Members:
- Dryn Stonewhisperer (Thane) (PC)
- Fali Stonetoe (NPC)
- Glyir Belindorn (PC)
- Urias Deepforge (NPC)
- Dalgal Deepforge (NPC)
- Angus Ironforge (Retired PC)
TODO: Link to page detailing Whurest Law.
Economy
Population: 200
- Shied Dwarf: 98%
- Gold Dwarf: 2%
Physical and Magical Environment
Terrain: Mountains
Appearance: Average
Hygiene: +1 (Healthy environment +1, Population fewer than 500 +1)
Normal Magic (Rare Enchantment)
Culture and Economy
Language: Common, Dwarven
Literacy: Accented
Wealth: Currently Struggling (Due to the infrequent caravans)
Status: 0 to 2 (Citizen to Thane)
Political Environment
Government:Iron Council
Ruling party: Whurest Dwarves
Resident factions: Whurest
Trade
Major Imports: Foodstuffs, Textiles, Lumber, Crafted Goods, Mining Supplies
Major Exports: Metal Ores, Armaments, Metal Ingots, Stone, Salt [1], Pelts
Economic Analysis
The insular Whurest Hold is a wellspring of ore and stone, but the dwarves find themselves faced with the same problem that faces the rest of the valley: transport. While a group of twenty or so dwarves will escort a caravan down to Aquor or Mirakus, the scarcity of protection means that it can't make these trips frequently without overextending themselves. That being said, the Whurest dwarves are incredible craftsmen, able to forge the most sought after armaments in the valley. Their weaponry and armor can be seen in the possession of those who have the coin to, and are the envy of anyone who knows their steel.
However, they have worked out a deal with the Exigo that allows them to transport slightly more often for a considerable price, and are able to get foodstuffs into the Hold through their agreement at a more regular rate. Transport is still a problem, but less so now that Exigo is free to offer its own services to an extent. As such, the Whurest dwarves send out small groups of contractors that work among the valley. Forging, land surveying, instruction, and other projects are the mainstay export of the dwarven hold. A lucky man indeed is one who is able to afford a dwarven smith to forge a weapon, or one to scout the fortifications of a town.
The Whurest mines are rich with adamantine, mithril, gold, and silver. However, they are riddled with enemies, notably thralls held in mental captivity. This makes it extremely difficult to mine in peace, and the dwarves have to frequently devote resources to defensive measures that will allow them to piece apart a fraction of what lies beneath the mountains.
Notes
Military Strength: The Whurest Dwarves have an able bodied force. However, that force is the main body of their population. Most dwarven craftsmen can swing an axe or hammer in the defense of their land, but they're by no means a professional military. However, give them a position to hold and the defenses to do it and a small group of Whurest warriors can hold off an army if need be.
Range of Territory: The Spine is a dangerous place, but the Whurest Hold is safe enough from the creatures that wander the icy plains. Their mines go ever deeper downward, and their entire Hold is encased within the mountains themselves.
Current Problems: The Whurest mines are hostile, making it difficult to get ores out. The defensive measures taken are usually just enough to get in a week's worth of mining a month.
Whurest is surrounded by potentially hostile forces in the Spine. Vampires, Aurilite Tribes, and even the weather itself seem to conspire against the dwarven hold in getting its goods to and from the valley.
To understand how the Economic System works, click HERE.