Brothers in Bloodstone

Hey guys,

    another wildspace family, this time House Bloodstone.  Been one of those
nagging ideas I've had for months, but never really knew what to do with
them.  So I polished off the format I used for the Leafbower family and used
it to describe this rather odd family of dwarves.  Enjoy!

Adam

Brothers of Bloodstone



            The embers glowed brightly as they were stoked.  Two large,
barrel-chested dwarves worked the bellows, breathing life into the fire.
Carefully, another pulled a glowing blade from the fire, a short and broad
piece of steel.  Chanting a prayer to Moradin, the slender dwarf put the
blade on an anvil and began hammering.  The glow from the blade highlighted
his features, his cherry-red hair, his neatly trimmed beard, his jet black
skin, his slightly pointed ears.

            Days later, he found himself with the same blade, etching
eldritch runes into the guard.  The runes glowed softly as he worked in the
magic that would make it a weapon of legend.  At his side was his wife
Weralsia, a rose-haired lass of some years, worked her own magic.  They
worked under the stars, etching and chanting.  Finally, the sun crept over
the mountains.

            "It is done!" Anik proclaimed, hefting the blade high into the
air.

            Weralsia smiled.  "Young Prince Harral will be most pleased with
such a gift."

            Anik replied "Yes, and he will be more inclined to favor our son
when it comes time to choose his captains."

            Yes, soon everything Weralsia had envisioned would come to pass.

            Deep in the cave behind them, the dwarven apprentices busily
cleaned the forge, unaware of the plot, one they had a part in, was
unfolding.



            Largely unknown outside of a few circles are the dueril, the
bloodstone dwarves.  These creatures are a hybrid of dwarves and drow, the
result of a failed invasion.  Most are encountered in the Barak Mountains, a
chain of high mountains on a worldlet.  Outside that homeland, they can be
encountered as advisors, wizards, and loyal captains in the courts of
dwarven kings.  More likely, one encounters the results of their work,
powerful weapons that are the stuff of legend.

            All bloodstone dwarves belong to a single house, named House
Bloodstone by outsiders.  Its proper name is Arazikili, the "Brothers and
Sisters of Bloodstone".  They are crafters of potent magical weapons,
wizards, and dreamers of the Grand Dwarven Empire.



History



Foundation

            The origins of Clan Bloodstone can be found in a failed drow
invasion of the Halls of Highstar, a major dwarven nation.  The Widowers, an
arrogant nation of amazon drow, attempted to sneak its army past the dwarven
defenses.  They attacked what they believe to be a weak point in the
citadel, taking two entire levels without loss.  Only when the drow were
fully committed to the attack did the dwarves spring their trap: the
occupied levels were flooded with potent sleep gas, knocking out the entire
assault force.

            The drow awoke in the shackles of slavery.  The exotic drow
women were quickly sold off to bachelor dwarves (a serious problem in
Highstar at the time; no less than 30% of the men were unmarried).
Abandoned by their goddess, the drow resigned themselves to their fate.

            Surprisingly, the dwarf-drow unions proved viable, and a
generation of hybrids was born.  Officially, the hybrids were barred from
becoming full members of House Highstar.  Instead, they remained
second-classed citizens for generations.



Liberation

            The drow/dwarf hybrids, the dueril dorili (literally, "dark
face, red beard"), remained second-classed citizens in dwarven society for
generations.  The drow never regained their freedom, instead dying of old
age.  In truth, they never really tried.after being showered with jewels and
finery by their dwarven husbands, few found they had a desire for freedom.
Their unions did prove quite productive; in a mere two generations, the
true-blood dwarves found themselves outnumbered three-to-one by the dueril.

            These increased numbers would serve House Highstar well during
attacks by a powerful ogre warking.  The dueril were adequate soldiers, but
their true talents were discovered as makers of powerful magical devices and
especially as mages.  The magic they brought to the field tipped the scales
to the dwarves' favor, and the war was won.

            For their efforts, High King Yuror granted the dueril clan
status, naming them House Bloodstone.  The head of the clan was a great
warrior-wizard by the name of Delrid, the nephew of the High King himself!
Most of the dueril removed themselves to the newly founded city of Thrcral
(the Black Hall).



Recent Activities

            Clan Bloodstone is well established in Thrcral.  The city is
built in the shadow of the Barak Mountains, with smaller homesteads
scattered throughout the nearby hills.  The dueril are busily crafting new
magical items, axes, and the like.  These they give to dwarven kings and
great warriors as gifts.  In doing so, the dueril are hoping to bring about
a great dwarven kingdom in wildspace, preferably with House Highstar on the
throne.  That would give the dueril great power given their connections to
that house, and by providing favors to other dwarven kings, they gain
influence over those powerful rulers.  The dueril are not above using
underhanded methods to achieve their goals, such as provoking giants to
attack, then ride to the rescue with magical gifts and allies.

            The dueril see the recent deprivations by the neogi as their
best chance of bringing about their Grand Dwarven Empire.  By pointing out
the worst neogi atrocities, they hope to goad the dwarves to unite in a
grand crusade against the spider lords.  Of course, the chance to slaughter
a spider-like race is an added bonus, as the dueril are terribly afraid of
spiders of all kinds.



Appearance & Abilities

            Dueril, also known as the bloodstone dwarves, has much in common
with mountain dwarves.  They stand about as tall as a mountain dwarf, but
willow of frame, so are much lighter and fleet-of-foot.  From their drow
mothers, they have inherited magical abilities and a scheming streak a mile
wide.

            Bloodstone dwarves have jet-black skin just as drow do.  Their
hair color is red, ranging from almost pink through blonde-red to cherry
red.  Hair is rarely cut and thus worn long.  Men have short beards, rarely
more than a few inches long.  Women have no facial hair but have long braids
fore of their ears.  Their facial features are finely chiseled, much like an
elf, with some dwarven influences.  Men and women alike obsess about their
hair, keeping it neatly combed and trimmed.  A well-trimmed and braided
beard is a mark of pride for a bloodstone dwarf.

            Bloodstone dwarves are considered standard dwarves, with dwarven
abilities, except they lose the dwarven resistance to magic.  In addition to
dwarf abilities, they can use the following spell-like abilities, once per
day each: dancing lights, detect magic, and faerie fire.  Many are mages
while some females become witches.  They are as a race hate spiders and are
highly superstitious about them.  This fear was instilled by their drow
parents, who feared that Lloth would seek revenge against them for failing
to take the Halls of Highstar.

            The bloodstone dwarves use dwarvish as their primary language,
with drow influences.  Their regional dialect is somewhat hard for regular
dwarves to understand; the dueril speak with a heavy accent.  Ironically,
despite dwarf and drow parents, most dueril live above ground.

            Despite their efforts and words of unification, in truth the
dueril face terrible persecution in dwarven communities.  They are well
aware of their drow heritage forever marks them as unwelcomed in most
dwarven communities.  They often travel in disguise, or stay in areas they
know are safe.  A handful of dwarven clans, notably the Highstars, at least
tolerate the dueril.



Prominent Members

            The following are some of the more important members of the
clan, but is by no means a comprehensive list.



            Dargen Bloodstone: LN dm F2/W12 Int 16 Con 17

            The hammer and anvil of Dargen is well worn, as this dueril
works tirelessly at his forge.  He crafts items of power, usually weapons
against giants.  No less than nine hill dwarves and dueril serve as his
apprentices, keeping his forge operating late into the day.  He is dedicated
to the dream of a dwarven empire, brought about by the hand of the dueril.

            Dargen is a typical dueril male, about 4' 4" tall and has
flame-red hair.  His attire is quite plain for a wizard, with simple pastels
and furs.  If confronted, he will use Gilglimmer, a warhammer +3 that makes
Dargen immune to ice and cold.  As a person, Dargen is quite absent-minded,
becoming so involved in crafting his magic items that he loses all track of
time.  More than once his apprentices have found him slumped over the forge,
having worked days on end without food or rest.



            Aradeth Bloodstone: N df W9 Int 15 Cha 18

            There are many dueril actively working towards the rise of a
dwarven empire, and Aradeth is at the center of many of those efforts.  This
exotic beauty with blood-red hair is usually found as a courtesan in the
court of King Alur.  Although she rarely gets a chance to give council to
the King or his closest advisors, she remains the duerils' closest link to
the powerful King Alur.  She hopes to convince one of Alur's advisors to
marry her.  Thus far, it appears that the Captain of the Guard Vonster is
her best marriage prospect.

            Aradeth is a strikingly beautiful dueril female with
ankle-length red hair.  She has a quiet demeanor, which hides a vicious
temper and seductive women.  She has thus far managed to keep a lid on her
temper, but gets frustrated by her failings.  An ambitious woman, Aradeth
fully believes a dwarven empire is at hand.just a push here and a prod
there, and everything could fall into place very quickly.



            Sergeant Morsun Bloodstone: LG dm F3 Str 18 (48) Cha 17

            A newly named Sergeant in the city of Duriduun, Morsun commands
a mere 30 dwarf guards.  Young and largely untested, Morsun is a charismatic
leader who inspires greatness in his few men.  He is a rising star among the
Bloodstones, a hope to prove the family's worth to a powerful dwarven king.
Thus far his victories have been few and not glorious, mostly hunting down
kobold and goblin scum.  His pride is a battleaxe +3, a finely crafted
weapon given to him by his father.





Typical Bloodstone Homestead

            This section details a small homestead that is common for the
dueril.  Most are in the shadows of the Barak Mountains, but some have
spread out to other asteroids and spheres.  The homestead is a hall of
fieldstone with a high peaked roof of sturdy timber.  Stone pillars,
decorated with the family's history, support the heavy roof.  The hall is
about 100' long, and the roof soars to a peak 25' above.



A.     Terrace: The hall is built on a sturdy stone foundation.  It rises 10
' off the ground.  The main entrance is guarded by a pair of guards.  These
are standard hill dwarves, hired by the Master of the Hall, to keep his hall
safe.

B.     Cloak Room: The surrounding land is quite cold, so the hall has many
warm cloaks to guard against the wind.  There are dozens of pegs and fur
clothing.

C.     Stairs: A short flight of stairs leads from the main entrance to the
main hall, dropping about 5' into the stone terrace.

D.     Main Hall: Warmed by a hearth at the center, family functions such as
feasting, story-telling, and displays of magic are held here.  As largely
nocturnal creatures, the dueril begin their activities at dusk with a hearty
meal, and end their night with a meal at dawn.  A ledge surrounds the sunken
section of the hall, lined with shields, banners, and tapestries.  The ledge
offers an excellent view for when the hall is filled with guests.

E.      Pillars: There are four stone pillars holding up the roof.  Each is
a monolith 5' broad and detailed with family history, favorite stories, and
spells.  The pillars serve as backup spellbooks for the dueril in case their
primary spellbooks are lost.  Carved on the pillars are the following
spells: affect normal fires, alarm, change self, enlarge, hold portal,
mending, phantasmal force, unseen servant, wizard mark, fool's gold, knock,
magic mouth, misdirection, whispering wind, dispel magic, gust of wind, hold
person, non-direction, secret page, tongues, emotion, enchant weapon, shadow
monsters, vacancy, and wizard eye.

F.      Servants Quarters: Warm beds for about a dozen dwarves, mostly hill
dwarves, can be found here.  Light is provided by two small, shuttered
windows and flickering torches along the walls.

G.     Stable: Given the cold climate, animals owned by the family (four
ponies) are stabled in the main building.  The ponies are kept warmer than
in a separate building, and the large animals provide additional warmth.  A
loft above the stables has several bails of hay to feed the animals.  The
animals are tended by a pair of gully dwarf stable hands, who sleep in the
loft.

H.     Master's Chamber: The Master of the Hall sleeps here with his wife.
There is a small window to provide fresh air, but little light.  During the
day, they sleep soundly in the bed, rising only as the sun vanishes behind
the mountains.  The room is decorated with the Master's personal trophies,
including monster heads, weapons, and scraps of magical scrolls.

I.        Armory: This room is locked and guarded by a fire trap spell.  The
key is held by the Master of the Hall.  Inside is a dozen suits of chain
armor, four dozen axes of all sizes, six warhammers, and several helms.  All
are sized for dwarven use.

J.       Guest Chambers: Each of these three rooms is a small spartan
chamber with two beds and like furnishings.  Children and relatives usually
live here, and sometimes guests are put up in here as well.