Overview: Highforge is the largest dwarven and gnomish settlement in Karameikos, nestled deep within the Wulfwolde Hills between the Windrush and Hillfollow Rivers. It serves as both a cultural stronghold and a center of craftsmanship, renowned for its subterranean architecture and mechanical ingenuity. With a population of over 6,000 gnomes and 1,000 dwarves, Highforge operates as a semi-autonomous enclave, maintaining its own laws and customs distinct from the human-dominated regions of the Grand Duchy.
Appearance: The majority of Highforge lies underground, carved into the hills with precision and artistry. Vaulted stone halls, gear-driven lifts, and glowing crystal lanterns define its interior spaces. Above ground, stone buildings with reinforced metal frames accommodate visiting merchants and airships. The settlement’s exterior is modest but fortified, with watchtowers and signal posts dotting the surrounding ridges. Residents wear practical clothing suited to workshop life—leather aprons, tool belts, and thick boots—often adorned with clan insignias or mechanical motifs.
Culture and Society: Highforge is governed by clan law, with gnomes and dwarves settling disputes internally and maintaining their own judicial systems. The gnomes, particularly the Tinker clans, are famed for crafting clockwork devices, toys, and precision instruments. The dwarves of the Stronghollow clan, descended from Rockhome stock, specialize in metallurgy and structural engineering. Religion centers around Kagyar for the dwarves and Garal Glitterlode for the gnomes, with communal rituals held in underground chapels. The settlement does not pay taxes to the Duke and only engages in economic exchange when selling goods to human markets. Magic is rare and typically tied to craftsmanship or defensive wards.
Territory: Highforge controls a wide stretch of the Wulfwolde Hills, including several mining tunnels, forested ridges, and river crossings. Its influence extends to nearby trade routes and outposts, including waystations used by caravans traveling between Kelvin and Threshold. The settlement is marked on regional maps as a kingdom in its own right, though it remains nominally under Karameikan sovereignty.
Resources and Sustenance: Highforge’s economy is built on craftsmanship and mining. It produces high-grade steel, copper, and rare minerals extracted from deep veins beneath the hills. Gnomish workshops export mechanical devices, ranging from toys to complex gearworks used in mills and ships. Dwarven forges supply weapons, armor, and architectural components. Food is sourced from underground mushroom farms, goat herding, and trade with nearby human settlements. Rainwater cisterns and subterranean springs provide fresh water year-round.
Military and Defense: The settlement maintains a disciplined militia composed of dwarven shield guards and gnomish engineers. Defensive systems include reinforced gates, tunnel chokepoints, and mechanical traps. Ballistae and rotating turrets guard the surface approaches, while underground patrols monitor for breaches. Leadership falls to King Dorfus Hilltopper, a gnome of considerable wisdom and mechanical prowess, supported by a council of clan elders and forge-masters. In times of war, Highforge can field several hundred trained warriors, bolstered by defensive constructs and siege weaponry.
Relations: Highforge maintains cautious but respectful relations with the human authorities of Karameikos. Trade with Kelvin and Threshold is steady, though the settlement resists external governance. Relations with elven communities are limited but cordial, especially regarding shared concerns over goblinoid incursions. Highforge is openly hostile to orc and goblin tribes that roam the nearby hills and maintains a strict border patrol to prevent infiltration. Diplomatic ties with Rockhome remain strong, with occasional visits from dwarven dignitaries and trade envoys.
Reputation: Highforge is widely regarded as a bastion of craftsmanship and independence. Merchants speak highly of its quality goods, though some complain of its insular customs and strict entry protocols. Adventurers value its reliable gear and safe haven status, while nobles respect its strategic importance and defensive capabilities. Among dwarves and gnomes across the Known World, Highforge is considered a cultural jewel and a symbol of resilience.