Haerkglar

Stats

+2 Constitution
+1 Strength
-2 Dexterity

Darkvision: Dwarves can see in the dark up to 60 feet.
Stonecunning: +2 bonus to search checks when inside.
Skill Affinity (Lore): +2 bonus to Lore checks.
Weapon Proficiency: Dwarves are proficient in using dwarven waraxes.
Hardiness vs. Poisons: +2 racial bonus to saving throws against poison.
Battle Training vs. Aberrations: +1 racial bonus on attack rolls against aberrations.
Battle Training vs. Giants: +4 dodge bonus to armor class against monsters of the giant type (such as ogres, trolls, and giants).
Bonus Feat: Fearless

Favored Class: Fighter

Rwokglar - Stone People

The Rwokglar used to live in the Hrasqueel Arhrael (Silentfire Peaks) where they had built extensive tunnels and halls beneath the mountains. After the construction of their massive tunnels the Rwokglar built a massive coalition based on trade with the peaceful races of Eramere. Many races were apart of the coalition and the Dwarves openly traded goods with their allies. There was no governing body, only allies trading and sharing goods and culture. The Rworkglar brought the races together and offered their military might to protect any within the coalition that could not defend themselves.

The Dwarves worshiped the actual mountain they resided in, Hrasqueel. Long ago Hrasqueel suffered a massive volcanic eruption killing all the Rwokglar within the deeper tunnels and driving out the rest. The Dwarves that were still alive banded together, no longer Rwokglar but now Zvarkglar (Shattered People). The reason for this eruption is suspect, though many of the Zvarkglar blame their own failings and greed. All that remains of their ancestral home is a caldera where no life grows.

Zvarkglar - Shattered People

With the death of their mountain the Zvarkglar roamed the lands suffering from their great loss, forcing them to band together, their racial determination drawing them together to survive and overcome. After the Great Loss the Dwarves called upon their allies for aid as they had lost everything of value and had no supplies. Their allies responded with sympathy and granted the Zvarkglar what aid they could. All but the Gnomes. For some reason, the Gnomes did not respond, although the reason for such has always been mysterious and unclear. This occurrence sits heavy with the Zvarkglar, forming a mild and curious resentment that manifests whenever the two races meet. For many years the Zvarkglar were a wandering people, making their way through Eramere to trade, moving with the seasons.

The Reforging of the Haerkglar

"We spent three hundred and forty two years wandering the continent of Eramere after the near extinction of our race. But we did not lose hope, we forged ahead and kept as true as we could be to our past. We had been shattered but true to our nature we did not quit. Our allies we had spent so many years assembling came to our aid and together our people's story continued.

"Now we have found Her again. Our guardian and protector for generations gave of Herself to shelter us and allow at least some of our race to survive. Through an ultimate sacrifice we have given something of ourselves to return Her boon from so long ago. We stand upon a precipice and all of us will determine whether we stand firm once more or fall utterly to ruin forever."

~ An except from the teachings of Hakkar of Clan Khazad

Over 600 years ago, the Haerkglar say that Hrasqueel was reborn, just before the Sundering and the destruction of Atalan. It was then that they rediscovered the Skolden'fel Stand Fortress, which they have since reclaimed as their permanent home.

The Haerkglar nation finally settled and lay down roots for the first time since the explosion of their mountain home nearly 1000 years ago. After much heated discussions, the Zvarkglar people believed they had reached a transition much as their ancestors, and as such they adopted the new name Haerkglar, meaning The Reforged People.

It has been centuries now since they abandoned the ways of traveling and returned to being stationary folk. While rebuilding the fortress, they also set about building many literal and figurative bridges across the continent. However, during the War of Ashes and the Halmorian Invasion, the Haerkglar retreated into the mountains into their fully rebuilt and defensible fortress, for a few hundred years. Centuries later, caravans once again embark to trade with their Allies, with highly defended supply wagons.

The return of Hrasqueel changed much for the Haerkglar. Many Haerkglar reconsidered their view of things as their old patroness has been returned, and the voices of the Overseers fell silent. There are still debates that rage over how or if the Overseers and Hrasqueel can co-exist. Many cite the Syl'vae as an example, but tempers are still high among the various sides of the argument. It will likely be some time, if ever, before all sides are sated.

An interesting phenomena struck the youth of the Haerkglar during the past centuries. Now that the people have elected to settle a trend among the younger generations is becoming apparent. Nearly four centuries of traveling the land has induced a need to explore and wander during the early portions of life. An almost undeniable need to see the open road strikes nearly all of the young Haerkglar, and lasts well into their first century of life. Perhaps it is just an odd twist of fate or some sort of cosmic intervention, but it seems that wandering is, in part, now in the blood of the Haerkglar.

Society and Government

The Haerkglar society is made up of three separate Houses. The House of Battle, the House of Prayer, and the House of Commons. The houses make up the seats on the Vaerglar that govern all of the Haerkglar. A Haerkglar may operate under more than one House, however, he or she may only swear official allegiance to one House for the purposes of voting members to the Vaerglar.

The Vaerglar (Voice of the People) has nine members is broken down as follows:
5 from House of Commons
2 from House of Battle
2 from House of Prayer

The House of Commons holds sway because they are the ones that have to rebuild and sustain the civilization while wars and holy crusades are not necessarily good for the whole. While not an official member, the Speaker of the Stone always attends meetings of the Vaerglar.

Religion

Centuries ago, the destruction of their home and Hrasqueel forced the Haerklar (then Zvarkglar), to turn to Memnos' strength, sternness and sense of purpose, and Luscient's battlerage, to protect their people, which changed to Scorsheth in time. Reverence of Hrasqueel has resurged amongst a large portion of Haerkglars, particularly since the Overseers fell silent. But not all have abandoned the Overseers; in particular the House of Prayer is now lead by the Stonecallers, the druidic masters of the mountains.

Rwokskold (Stoneshield)

Rwokskold are often times revered as relics of the old empire. This brings both respect and fear of the past from many of the Haerkglar. The proud and vast military, structures, and infrastructure of the Rwokglar are slowly being reclaimed to their former glory. Their training stems directly from the powerful warriors of the fallen Empire that were dying before their eyes. The secrets were passed on hurriedly to the youngest recruit, Hamir Crownshield. Having little time to learn all of the secrets, many of the forms and stances were lost, but not all, notably those of defenders of the noble clans and leaders. With the Haerkglar hard pressed in the times ahead, a new generation took up the mantle of protecting ALL of the people, vowing to never again let harm come to the remains of their people.

The Rwokskold take the stance of stubborn and relentless protection of their kin. They believe in putting the safety of the majority above their own. They are intensely honorable, and dutiful in their tasks. They believe that if they should fall, it should be giving the chance for hundreds of Haerkglar to get to safety. They train themselves to near-legendary toughness and use secret shield training, tactics, and stances, so that they may take the brunt of whatever threatens their kin and make their enemies pay in kind. In battle, when they pick their patch of land to defend, to move them from that spot is like trying to move a mountain. They plant their feet, assume a solid stance, raise their shields, and will not let anything past them. Their kin has lost so much, the Rwokskold will not give any more to anything, hence their motto "Not an inch". When fighting in groups geometric phalanxes are formed, ranging from wedges to simple squares. In dire circumstances a circle may be formed to protect the center, but only in the case that they are unable to move to a more advantageous position or are drastically outnumbered. Dwarven Runes symbolizing death often form circles; this is no coincidence and the formation is often called the Stance of the End or Dela Fangir to represent being surrounded and assailed from all sides with no chance for escape until the enemy or they themselves fall.

When not being threatened, the Rwokskold defend the their home, keeping a silent and ever-vigilant eye out for danger. They also guard the outposts, elders, and mines with unflinching attention and duty. They are expected to make a sweep of the mines their kin will be working at that season, just before they begin, to make sure it is clear of all danger. Rwokskold will even protect races of the Old Alliance if it means not leaving any of their kin to danger. Their honor and duty demands that the old empire still gives its due diligence to old edicts. But the protection of Haerkglar come first, always.

Rwokskold are born, not made. Every member is a volunteer, and know what is expected of them, even to the bitter end.

Hran'fel - Battleragers - Firehearts

Few can stand the loss of a friend, a home, or family. The Haerkglar have endured it all to the extreme. Seeking to never let any outside outside force ever threaten their people, there are those that let their wild rage at the Great Loss fuel their every step through life. The smallest of gestures and hunches can set off triggers in their minds unleashing waves of wracking anger. Often times appearing as homely warriors outside of a fight, these mighty berserkers will fly into a fury at the merest threat to their traveling clan, often times leading to tense situations with the other races. Rarely seen in good humour around other races, they accept the need for trade with them. Callous and easily brought to anger, they are impulsive by nature, opposite of their more calm, stoic counterparts the Rwokskold. Many of them have taken oaths to die in battle against whatever may threaten the Haerkglar, leading to a disregard for consequences in skirmishes. While the enemy death toll is generally catastrophic, the loss of any one of their scattered people is a brutal loss. Most clans tolerate them for their skill in battle but some see such reckless, outspoken kin to be a hindrance to the whole.

Once in full battle-lust a Hran'fel is nearly unstoppable, his attacks tearing through multiple opponents at once, and his incredible rage shatters shields and sunders armor. There is little defense against such a tower of anger. Simply being in the presence of the Hran'fel in battle can inspire those around him to heights of rage they little knew they had. Some have been seen to fight through what would be deadly injuries only to finally fall when all enemies have been slain.

Rituals

Burial
Most Dwarves will be carried outside to a hole carved in the ground, the oldest son will trade something with the father (their weapon, their helm, their armor, ect...) to send the father off with a token of his successor, and for the son to carry on with something of his fathers legacy (if its a woman being buried, the oldest daughter does this with her). The dwarf is laid in the hole with his personal equipment, and a large boulder is rolled on top. those attending the funeral, leave small smooth stones with messages carved into them around the base of the boulder. the boulder may just have the buried dwarfs' name carved on it, or a stone smith will be hired to carve something out of it AFTER it has been placed over the grave. Heroes and Kings had a custom sarcophagus made, and their likeness was carved into the lid. Historically they were laid in the hall of legends back in Hrasqueel, but since then, they are sealed within the deepest reaches of Skolden'fel Stand Fortress in the southern part of the old empire.

More information on the Haerkglar people, government, caravan routes and more are available in the Dwarven forum.