Dwarf Kingdom of Druz

The is a minor dwarven power in Imperial Space, 
== History ==
The Dwarf Kingdom of Druz is the most recent in a long (often tragic) sequence of dwarven revivalist powers. The Kingdom claims its decent from the Episurian Empire, the last great dwarven power (destroyed by the Mage Imperium near the end of the Imperial era), though its territorial boundaries in no way overlap with those of the Episurians.
=== Druz Fever ===
In 446-, Druz suffered from a dwarven fever which killed an estimated 3% of its population. Among those killed was Druz's King Rubloff, who was succeeded in by King Gunnar Kamrand.
== Religion ==
Druz follows a mixture of ancestor worship and “resurrectionist” reverence for the long-dead (possibly mythical) dwarven patron gods of the Pantheon War Era.
== Economy ==
Druz enjoys a technically sophisticated economy, with significant exports from mining and other resource extraction (e.g. gathering hydrogen from the ether). It suffers, however, from the severe economic inefficiency of its clan corporations. Strong family traditions mean that craftsmen take up their trades by inheritance, regardless of their aptitude for other fields, family pride prevents any consolidation of enterprises, and family solidarity forces overemployment of dwarves in unproductive roles (while barring them from moving into undersupplied sectors of the economy). A common (only somewhat exaggerated) observation by their trade partners is that a Druz engineer is worth three Aeldmen by skill but half an Aeldman by output.
== Society ==
Socially, the Kingdom is heavily stratified by clan membership: private property is limited to personal effects (heirlooms etc.), while most capital is owned by clan corporations. The King of Druz is elected for life from among the leading clans, and is charged with protecting the boundaries of the Kingdom as well as the interests of dwarves across the cosmos (in keeping with pretensions to the Episurian legacy, the King of Druz is the “protector of dwarf-kind”). 
== International Relations ==
Due to the widespread dwarven diaspora, Druz enjoys commercial and diplomatic connections throughout the cosmos. Though its technological edge and strong cultural identity have allowed it to retain significant independence, the Kingdom is hindered from greater influence by its relatively small population (dwarves do not reproduce quickly), the high degree of political autonomy of its powerful leading clans, and by the severe economic inefficiency of its clan corporations.
Category:Nations