Clan Goldwrought

The Sigil of Clan Goldwrought, depicting both it's artistry and the Clan's Words "Wealth Over Words"

### Secondary Leaders

Clanlord Gorvek Goldwrought, Gren Goldwrought, Hilga Goldwrought

### Affiliation(s)

Dark Iron Clan, Clan Moltenfist

**Clan Goldwrought** is an obscenely wealthy Clan of Dark Iron Dwarves, skilled in the working of the finer metals and in the field of gemcraft both for decoration and magical application. With investments in multiple mines in depths of Blackrock Mountain and no small number of similar mines along the outskirts of the Searing Gorge, and much more recently the Burning Steppes, the Goldwrought Clan has its influence in the highest places of Dark Iron Dwarf Society, rich enough to have it's own Seat in the Shadowforge Senate. They are famously tightfisted, private, business oriented, and unforgiving of slights with a reputation for pessimism that often proves correct, to the irritation of many.

## Historical Accounts

### Foundation

The first mentions of the Goldwroughts are found under the greater Moltenfist Clan, coming into their own during the War of Three Hammers, splintering off under Lord Gor Goldwrought. By all accounts he was primarily a Warlock a Sorcerer under the Dark Iron Clan and he credited with the creation of the semi-famous Goldwrought Chains technique, animated magic in the shape of shackles and links able to pin, grab, and even tear at the foe. Lord Gor was an exceptionally greed-driven man, and saw the ongoing War as both an excellent excuse to establish himself separate from the Moltenfists, make an obscene amount of wealth off the war and further increase his own raw power.

The War itself would in no way go precisely as planned as Lord Gor himself badly injured and forced to surrender his position as Clan Head to his Son, Gorvek Goldwrought, however the Clan proper found itself in a uniquely powerful position. Through constant and careful investment and ownership of vital mines, along with almost never committing troops to any offensive assault and instead "securing the Nations resources" in their outskirt mines, the Goldwrought Clan clung tightly to power and bought their way into not only a seat on the slowly forming Senate, but made themselves invaluable in providing the remaining Nobility with gleaming crafts to denote their station and much needed tribute to their new Fire Elemental overlords.

Only fifty years after the end of the War of the Three Hammers Lord Gor Goldwrought dies, leaving his eldest son Gorvek to lead the clan, who heads it in a very similar manner as his forefather. The loss is keenly felt, although the funeral is private the Goldwrought Family can be seen as distinctly more dour and irritable for some time after.

### The First War

Much of the Goldwrought Clans time during the years before the arrival of the Horde was spent slowly assisting the Dark Iron Clan recover and reconstruct their holdings, with much of their power and wealth funneled into the efforts of The Firelord causing a hidden lingering resentment of their overlords, which grew into a fevered and raw hatred at the arrival of The Horde. With some of the Mountain they had invested in simply -given- to these strange invaders on the whim of their ruler drove an immediate an irreparable rift into the Goldwroughts relationship with Ragnaros and his forces.

While on the surface the Clan served, paid its dues and presented works of wonder for the sake of the Nation, already Lord Gorvek Goldwrought was making discreet contacts among similarly minded dwarves.

### The Second War

Little changed during the Second War in Azeroth for the Goldwroughts, up until the arrival of Nefarian and the Black Dragonflight. While already pressing for the removal of the clearly useless Orcish Horde presence, the Black Dragonflight turned what was to the Clan a simple extermination into a battle just to cling to survival. It is during this time Gorveks eldest child, Glauric takes a more active role in both his magical studies and leadership roles within the Clan, and is steadily introduced to the Clans more unique techniques.

### The Third War and Aftermath

While Azeroth buckled under another Great War, the presence of demons and the arrival of the undead, The Goldwrought Clan quietly focused itself on small, but important gains. Once the demon threat had ceased and enough of the Draconic threat had been contained Gorvek put his sons to task, sending his two eldest to not only discover any possible remaining Mines their Clan had lost contact with during the Wars, but to use the pair to indirectly assist the slowly forming Thorium Brotherhood. While Glauric was sent to use his unique connection to gold itself to uncover lost mines, Gror Goldwrought was to take a large contingent of the Goldwrought Guard elsewhere and busy itself establishing some small outpost and thus be unable to respond to the sudden break out and proper establishment of the Thorium Brotherhood.

Sending Glauric as the families contact on the sly, while Gror acted as their front in the efforts to "discover and drive out the traitors", the Goldwroughts funded both sides, misdirecting much of the Dark Iron Clan where they could to assist the Thorium Brotherhoods efforts. These efforts would eventually bear fruit, but at vast cost to the Dark Iron Nation for the arrival of Moira Bronzebeard, the assassination of Dagran Thaurissan, Moiras subsequent takeover and the utterly unexpected banishment of the Firelord Ragnaros had the Goldwrought Clan spinning on its heels trying to stay afloat and in a position of power and importance. Thankfully their long-held grudge against the Fire Elementals combined with allies within the Thorium Brotherhood vouching for their Clan, and Glauric in particular, had the Clan remain in its high position in Dark Iron society.

### The Cataclysm and the Alliance-Horde War

The breaking of the world and arrival of Deathwing came at a particularly tumultuous time for the Goldwrought Clan, for Lord Gorvek under no small amount of pressure declared his eldest son Glauric to be the new Lord of the Goldwrought Clan, and in this transaction the world itself began to split asunder. Not the start Glauric would have liked, but with Blackrock remaining stable despite some minor damages he managed to spin the matter of the world trembling at the changes the Dark Iron Clan, and Goldwrought Clan of course, were to make upon the world.

With Moira now leading the Dark Iron Nation as a whole, the Alliance-Horde conflict eventually drew the Goldwrought Clans attention, and wholehearted support. They never once forgot nor forgave the Orcs within Blackrock and this "other" Horde was not different in their eyes. Lord Glauric Goldwrought himself participated in a number of conflicts his "unique" methods garnering the attention, and oversight, of the Earthen Ring who directed him most commonly against the second arrival of the Firelord Ragnaros where long-held grudges were finally settled.

### The Third Invasion of the Burning Legion

With the Burning Legions return, Clan Goldwrought threw everything they could muster into the defense of both their mines and the great Mountain of Blackrock itself. Lord Glaurics ability was honed to its sharpest point in these years, taking advantage of tunnel warfare whenever possible as the hulking demonic enemy could barely manage single-file in the confines of the underground. Most of the Clan kept well within the Mountain, fighting off demonic incursion whenever sighted with the ancient Gor Goldwrought himself providing valued information on the particularities of Warlock technique to secure important networks and access points. Victory would come from elsewhere, but no demon laid so much as an eye on the rich vaults and carven stones of the Goldwrought Clan Home.

### The Fourth War

While perhaps the rest of the Alliance was caught by surprise by the Hordes aggression, Clan Goldwrought had been expecting such as soon as the Demonic threat was eliminated. Stockpiled well, and with soldiers in position they were the first to start claiming key resources and plundering lightly defending outskirt territories of the Horde, especially within the Badlands area, before withdrawing to be redeployed as part of the "proper" Dark Iron military. The Clan was on the forefront of the wars in Zandalar, the Golden City seen both as a mighty prize and major insult to the Clan. Referring to it as the "Gilded" or "Pyrite" City was common among them. During the Battle of Dazar'alor within Zuldazar itself the Goldwrought Clan was responsible for making off for as much of the cities wealth as could be contained, lifted, hauled, or even torn from the very walls likely responsible in part for the Hordes later accusations of rampant pillaging. Which it was.

No further involvement was noted during the incident in Nazjatar which was highly avoided for very understandable reasons, instead keeping its commitment to territorial conquest and conflict in the northern Eastern Kingdom. However the growing presence of the influence of the freshly freed N'zoth re-prioritized defense, drawing back from their battles to instead secure Blackrock proper due to its history with the Twilights Hammer. Thankfully such dangers passed soon enough and the Goldwrought Clan was quite ready to sweep across the North until they were hammering on the gates of Silvermoon but the sudden cease-fire on orders of the Alliance High-King Anduin forced a halt and to this day they grumble over the matter, placated only by the plundered treasures and held territories in the hills.

### Present Day - The Rift In The Sky

The great Rift in the sky opening up the realm of the Shadowlands was a rather confused event, on the one hand leaving the Goldwrought Clan in once more a curiously smug, and correct, position that the afterlives to their understanding are not worth leaving this realm to deal with. That in fact the Dark Iron habit of binding thier Ancestor Spirits to locations of importance to benefit from their Wisdom was the most correct action and one the Goldwrought Family quite earnestly supported as proper tradition and is now seen as simply better then what apparently awaits. However on the other hand the now furious and uncontrolled legions of the Scourge spreading out in sudden and dangerous assaults meant rallying the military might of the Clan to mount quick defenses, forced to surrender much of the territorial gains from the Fourth War leaving a bitter grudge in its wake against all who failed to act "correctly" in dealing with Sylvanas and her Horde.

Their first inkling came as rumors, but due to Lord Glauric Goldwroughts technical connection to spirits and the Earthen Ring he was eventually presented the opportunity to cross over and discover first hand some of the truth of the statements. He was both disgusted with the incompetence on display, the entire manner of transference as explained to him, and the Afterlives currently at the forefront. Informing his Clan of what details he could confirm to at least some degree, the collective decision was made to stay out of it as much as was possible as the rampart Undead Scourge was a far higher priority, with new suggestions being made to more hurriedly preserve any fallen Clan members to prevent being hurtled into The Maw.

## Culture

### Smithing

The source and greatest talent of the Goldwrought Clan is found within their talent for shaping the more "Noble" metals. While just about any Smith can hammer out a lump of Iron into a useful shape, Clan Goldwrought mastered using the more delicate minerals, gold being their specialty naturally, in works of wonder and beauty. Every member of the Clan but most especially its leaders are taught much of the craft, with the current Head holding the collected knowledge and mastery of the craft, being its foremost face and most skilled example of the Clan.

### Mining

Part of the key to Clan Goldwroughts vast wealth is not just in its ability to produce crafts but to do so without having to entirely rely on one of the larger Mining Clans. Clan Goldwrought is one of the few Clans who actively own working Mines outside of Blackrock Mountain which they guard obsessive and jealously against even the slightest affront. The importance of these mines is enough to where they only employ enslaved labor for the sake of moving the "dross" of stone, dirt, and lesser metals while teams of specially trained Goldwrought Miners search ever deeper for veins of the most precious of substances. Many within the Clan see it as the second most honored of position below only the fine Goldsmiths themselves, as the honed talent of finding and extracting the most pure and plentiful ore is one highly valued despite its less "artistic" nature.

### Politics

Clan Goldwrought has a powerful presence in the Shadowforge Senate, having grown more secure over the generations and has most recently found itself a small foothold in the Ironforge Senate as well. While their presence amounts to not much more then a particularly rich Clan of tradesdwarves, they are eternally pleased that they had no need for the larger Smithing Guilds to represent their desires in Court. Within the Ironforge Senate they are seen still as outsiders, presence only allowed under specific circumstance and primarily as a representative of owned territories that may be in question during meets, with only some minor sway during more general meetings.

### Magic

As most Dark Iron Clans, the Goldwroughts have their fair share of Sorcerers, their Clan Founder being one in turn along with the majority of the Ruling Nobility of the Clan being a wielder of Magic in one form or another. While the more expected fields of Magic are explored and often used the Goldwrought Clan leadership is most known for its uncommon power of Chrysopoeia the ability to not only transform objects, if temporarily, into gold but to also manipulate and control the material. The exact method is kept secret and in fact varies between the generations of Goldwroughts, but the ability is by all accounts a technique developed by the founder and taught to each Heir who then personalized the method to suit their needs.

### Military

The Goldwrought Clan has a strong and primarily defensive military presence, the bulk of their troops assigned to securing their Mining holdings and securing the transports and roads they send back to Blackrock proper. Their forces are split between the personal house guard of extremely well equipped shield bearing warriors, and the soldiers who guard their holds and caravans. The Mine and Caravan guard tend to be mostly Dragoons, soldiers armed with both rifle and pike often found directly aboard the Iron Hauler transports to defend them from assault. Smaller units of Engineers and Sorcerers exist within the overall Military, found primarily to support the upkeep of the Iron Haulers and keep order in the Mines.

## The Truth

### Foundation

The first mentions of the Goldwroughts are found under the greater Moltenfist Clan, coming into their own during the War of Three Hammers, splintering off under Lord Gor Goldwrought. By all accounts he was primarily a Warlock a Sorcerer under the Dark Iron Clan and he credited with the creation of the semi-famous Goldwrought Chains technique, animated magic in the shape of shackles and links able to pin, grab, and even tear at the foe. In particular his personal use of the technique involves harnessing Shadow Magic to tear at the souls of his foes, ripping soul fragments free rather then relying on the slow method of the more commonly known Soul Drain. This would later result in further refinement of the ability, leading to an unusual situation later in his "life". Lord Gor was an exceptionally greed-driven man, and saw the ongoing War as both an excellent excuse to establish himself separate from the Moltenfists, make an obscene amount of wealth off the war and further increase his own raw power.

During this period the family invested in other Clans works, including a technique to be known as Direforging, a process to bind the knowledge of a spirit to a weapon to pass onto whomever wielded it, without the spirit having any say in the matter. The project did not pan out, and the Goldwrought Clan washed their hands of the technique for its numerous flaws, not the least of which was the slow degradation of the users personality as the broken soul imbued in the weaponry interfered with the users.

The War itself would in no way go precisely as planned as Lord Gor himself badly injured and forced to surrender his position as Clan Head to his Son, Gorvek Goldwrought, however the Clan proper found itself in a uniquely powerful position. Through constant and careful investment and ownership of vital mines, along with almost never committing troops to any offensive assault and instead "securing the Nations resources" in their outskirt mines, the Goldwrought Clan clung tightly to power and bought their way into not only a seat on the slowly forming Senate, but made themselves invaluable in providing the remaining Nobility with gleaming crafts to denote their station and much needed tribute to their new Fire Elemental overlords.

Only fifty years after the end of the War of the Three Hammers Lord Gor Goldwrought dies, leaving his eldest son Gorvek to lead the clan. His death however, was far more deliberate then not, as his injures slowly causing his life to fade he elected to bind his soul to a specific point to provide insight, information and make demands of his Clan well after his own death. Desperate to cling to power, he harnessed the darkest of his magic and twisted his creation to bind the soul-fragments of several rivals and no few slaves to his own spirit to grant him far more power then he would otherwise have as a ghost. To this day the ancient haunt of Gor Goldwrought clings to this reality, bound to a gilded throne quietly guiding his Clan but unable to truly rule.