Gunnarstead

Gunnarstead Stronghold

Gunnarstead is situated near the western shore of the Kingdom Of Erigold, due west of Rutheduk Zuznudal, and due north-east of Tutfledhold.

### Inhabitants

Mostly Dwarfs, with some human dwelling outside of the Dwarven city.

**Gunnarstead** is a city of dwarves, and a member of the Kingdom Of Erigold. It is the ancestral home of the Thundermar Clan. Lord Thaldain Thundermar rules this section of Erigold from his throne room within the city.

## Description

### The High Quarter

The upper section, called the High Quarter, is home to all the public buildings of the city. The seat of government is here, along with the Great Hall of the Clans and smaller halls for each clan. The guild chapter houses are here as well, along with the schools, temples, and merchants shops.

### The Forge

The middle section, aptly named The Forge, is the industrial area, where smiths, stonecarvers, gemcutters, miners, and foragers all ply their trades.

### The Burrows

The lower section, called the Burrows, is the residential section of the city. While a few business owners prefer to live near (or above, below, or in) their shops, most people live with their clans. The most expensive and largest homes in this section are built as freestanding structures in the center of the area. While impressive on the surface, they also extend deep into the earth, rivalling the size of some of the largest manors in surface cities.

## Dwarven Society

The dwarf city has multiple clan holdings within it. Each clan has a clan hall, an official building where clan business is done and gatherings are held, and a clanhold, a large communal living area with small family dwellings attached to it. Most clan members live either in the communal area (if they are of age and unmarried) or else in the small family dwellings off the main chambers. Aside from the family dwellings, most clanholds include a communal hall, large kitchens, a barracks-style sleeping area, a bathing and grooming area (where possible), domestic work areas, and a special office and living area for the chieftain of the clan.

Children are considered a blessing in dwarven life, whether male or female, and are often called *“the soul of the clan.”* The dwarves’ birth rate is far lower than that of humans. While children are primarily the responsibility of their birth parents, every person in the clan is expected to play some part in their upbringing and education. By the same token, the elderly are considered to be *“the memory of the clan.”* Dwarves place a great deal of pride in their ancestry and heritage, and the oldest among them are looked on as living embodiments of the past. To neglect or act disrespectfully to an elderly dwarf is one of the greatest offenses anyone can make in dwarf society. Both males and females are trained in household duties, professions, and warfare.

Females expecting a child are recommended to retire to their homes as the pregnancy progresses and make ready for the new arrival. They suffer no stigma for doing so, because other clan members are expected to pitch in and help perform the mother-to-be’s duties while she ensures that the new addition to the clan is born healthy and well cared for.

## Dwarven Economy

Within dwarf society, the economy is driven by barter, not coin. While most surface kingdoms measure wealth in gold or silver because of its rarity, dwarves typically have as much gold and silver as they could want—and the best chance of finding more. They value these substances because of their beauty, not their desirability to surface-dwellers. The esteem that surface cultures place on gold and other precious metals serves the dwarves in good stead, however, and they are not unaware of the lure their possessions hold for other cultures.

When a dwarf trades with another dwarf, he is not usually interested in increasing his personal wealth. He is far more interested in increasing his personal comfort and ensuring the survival of his family, clan, and city. With a deep sense of social responsibility ingrained in dwarves from birth, it is the rare dwarf indeed who puts his personal fortune above that of his brothers or sisters. As a result, most dwarves trade in raw materials or finished goods, not money.

## Notable Inhabitants

Clan Chieftain / Grandfather and the Clanwardens