List of Dwarven Clans

Introduction
"Clan transcends king and country" has been repeated more than almost any other commandment written in the ruddri. Founded centuries ago by powerful families, clans exist as a massive extension of the dwarven family unit. Clansmen are to grant preferential treatment, aid, and hospitality to their brothers and sisters, as well as guidance and assistance as the youngest generations of the clan grow.

Inter-clan relations
A crime against one member of a clan is often considered a crime against them all, and can bring the full force of extended family to bear. Clan Grudge Books have existed for centuries, and provide a valuable record of dwarven infighting, insults, and criminal activity. Opposite them are Tomes of Deeds, which compile the completed obairbeths of the clan's members.

In times without inter-clan conflict, cooperation between clans defines dwarven daily life. The clans have become so specialized that interdependence has become entirely necessary. For this reason, clan conflicts have been tamped down upon by King Korrol II, who has instituted a the dwergild system of monetary repatriation to prevent armed conflicts from escalating.

Clan Vocations
Clans concentrate upon a specific sub-industry or particular practice. While not required, families typically encourage newcomers to enter into that trade with their ancestors. For this reasons, guilds never gained popularity among dwarves in both Durheim, the Empire, and human lands—clans preceded such an organization and formed bonds closer than any guild could hope to accomplish. This insular structure often leads to difficulties when departing from the clan structure—unless an argument can be made for how an individual's work benefits their clan's vocation, they may find themselves barred from entering a new industry by the clan already invested in it. Dwarves which travel abroad to locations where clans can't monopolize certain industries face far fewer difficulties in breaking out of their niche.

As more clans emerged from splits, disputes, and new foundings, existing clans have become more and more competitive. Instead of dominating all aspects of an industry, many smaller dwarven clans zero in on one portion, while larger clans dominate every step of a chosen industry. For example, there are dozens of smallerquarrying clans, varying from the breakage of new ground to the preparation of blocks into valuable material to the actual carving of said materials. Conversely, the ancient Omhatigierna clan dominates the entire bronze industry in the southwestern parts of the empire;

A clan's role in society can determine a dwarf's social status and vocation for their entire life, and few deviate from this norm. Most see their clan's industry as a vocation chosen for their soul by the gods, and that the industry and connections they have been born into grant them advantages they could never find elsewhere.

Of course, dwarves are not entirely limited to their areas of clan expertise. All dwarves receive 2-10 years of military training before they continue their personal careers, and almost all dwarves have some interest and passing knowledge in metalwork, stonework, and brewing. However, the clans which have dedicated centuries to mastering those activities will almost always exceed the capabilities of the average civilian dwarf.

Use in language
Dwarves name their children according to the following structure: given-name family-name of clan. In Cseppan, dwarven full names are written as ''given-name family-name of the clan-name clan. ''This practice emerged in the 4E 220s, when dwarven merchants and Durheim diplomats equated the castle or city nomenclature of nobility and equated it to their own clans.

When traveling in foreign lands, dwarves translate their clan names into the local language. Most translations truncate the names for ease of human language, and therefore lose much of their meaning. Most dwarves will explain, with enormous enthusiasm, the meaning and history behind their clans' names, if provided the opportunity.