Stonehold is a compact dwarven settlement nestled high in the snowy Southern Crags, where bitter winds and prowling drakes make every day a battle for survival. Its people live by strength, endurance, and tradition — hardy folk who wrest their lives from the mountains themselves. Though small, Stonehold stands as a bastion of dwarven resilience, untouched by plague and wary of outsiders.
Rows of squat, thick-walled stone cabins cling to the cliffside, their soot-darkened roofs trailing plumes of smoke that vanish into the howling winds. Narrow alleys twist between the huts, lined with wind-carved statues of dwarven ancestors that stand sentinel against the snow. Icicles dangle from carved balconies, while the jagged white peaks loom high above, half-hidden by storm clouds.
- Survival First – Dwarves of Stonehold live for the hunt, braving the icy cliffs for game and defending their homes against drakes.
- Rite of Manhood – Dwarven men are not considered adults until they slay a mountain ram barehanded, a feat that demands courage, strength, and cunning.
- Community Bonds – Families huddle close in stone huts, with meals, stories, and victories shared communally. Honor and loyalty are paramount.
- Isolation – Stonehold has little trade with outsiders, though rare caravans from Thalossa bring salt, grain, and steel in exchange for pelts and stonecraft.
- Drakes of the Peaks – Four-legged, wingless reptilian predators hunt the snowy crags, forcing dwarves to remain vigilant.
- Avalanches & Storms – Nature itself is a foe, with sudden snowfalls burying whole paths.
- Orc Raids – From the lowlands of the Southern Crags, orc raiding parties sometimes strike the settlement, though few return alive.
- Dwarven Heartland – Though small, Stonehold embodies the dwarves’ rugged culture: strength through hardship, honor in survival.
- Symbol of Defiance – Its people resist orc expansion, holding their peaks with unyielding pride.
- Cultural Keystone – The rituals and traditions of Stonehold define dwarven identity across the Southern Crags.