Karak Ozenhammer

[SIZE=12px]Located beneath the Human City of Middenhiem, the smal Dwarf Population of the Karak Ozenhammer make up one of the many Clans of such species that live beneath the great Human City. Living in a hold, which serves as home for 500 Dawi, the Ozenhammer Clan are famed for their smithy, and stone masonry skills, and provide reckoning services to the Graf of the proud settlement.

[SIZE=12px]What follows in an account of their deeds, membership and structure.

[SIZE=12px]Leadership -
[SIZE=12px]Headed by a Lord, the current occupant being Lord Duram Ozenhammer, who oversees the foreign affairs and central military of the Dwarves of Middenhiem and of his Clan, the Ozenhammers also send a member to the Middenhiem Dwarf Assembly, a body of Dwarves which runs the Society of their species, made up of the Leaders of the Clans. The Assembly can overrule the King, and also elects a new King - despite the King being allowed to appoint an heir. The Ozenhammer Clan currently fills the role of King, and itself is lead by Lord Ozenhammer and a Council of Elders.

[SIZE=12px]Structure -
[SIZE=12px]The Clan is made up of 500 members, with each of the families within the Clan following certain ancestral roles and careers. Some are smiths, others stone masons, and two Clans from the units of Ironbreakers. The lead Clan, the Ozenhammers (as opposed to the families names of Ozenbeard, Ozenstone etc) patronize these families, as well as legally own the hold.

[SIZE=12px]Currently, the armed forces of the Clan consist of a standing army of Ironbreakers only, who work on contract to the Middenhiem Graf, clearing the tunnels below his City and keeping it safe.

[SIZE=12px]Military -
[SIZE=12px]Iron Breakers (2)
[SIZE=12px]- OzenAxe (25)
[SIZE=12px]- OzenShield (25)
[SIZE=12px]Warriors (4)
[SIZE=12px]Consisting of various family, stuck together in regiments in times of war.

Lord Ozenhammer

[SIZE=12px]Current Clan Chief of the Ozenhammers, and Lord of the Middenhiem Dwarves, Ozenhammer comes from a long line of Thanes, dating back to before the foundation of the Human City of Middenhiem. One of two brothers, his leadership began at a young age when his father began to groom him to take his place in the Assembly, which he did once his father passed away - leaving his younger Brother to take up the position of Castellan of the Clan, and Commander-General of the Army. He took the Position of the Ozenhammer Representative on the Assembly, becoming one of the thirty representatives for the various 'Noble' Clans, and following the death of Urik Stonefist, the incumbent Lord, managed to defeat the nominated Heir, and was elected as King.

[SIZE=12px]Since then he has never been seen above ground, instead using the extensive tunnel network when he is required to meet with the Cities Graf to conduct diplomatic business, and is often to be found pouring over the records of the City to dispatch Reckoners across the Streets, or in the Assembly Hall, trying to broker impasse between the rival Clans.

[SIZE=12px]Political Structure -
[SIZE=12px]Lead by an elected Monarch - with a semi-hereditary system of replacement - as well as a legislative assembly, the Dwarves of Ozenhammer are part of a very convoluted political system that differs from those of the mountain holds in small ways. Whilst the King overseas Foreign Policy, and commands the Dwarven Ironbreaker Regiments, all Laws that the king passes must be approved by the Assembly, and then ratified by the Guild of Runesmiths.

[SIZE=12px]In turn, the Assembly, which is made up of one representative from each Thane Clan in the City advises the King, and may debate and approve or block new laws, as well as pass its own laws (subject to approval and ratification from the King and Guild respectively), as well as elect a new King upon the death of the current one. Any time the assembly passes a law, but doesn't have a unanimous vote, the King may send the proposal back for another vote - any number of times.

[SIZE=12px]This system often can lead to decisions taking years, or even decades to be resolved, but is described by the Dwarves as effective, and prudent.

[SIZE=12px]The Holds -
[SIZE=12px]Deep beneath the City of Middenhiem, known for its large population of Dwarfs, there lie dozens of small holds, each home to the Thane Family, forming what has become known as 'Karak Middenhiem' or more commonly as 'The Mountain of White Fire' (so named due to its proximity to the flame of Ulric). These holds, only accessible via a large network of caves and tunnels beneath the mountain, each hold a Thane Clan, who's leader sits on the Assembly, and acts as an elector for the regions King.

[SIZE=12px]One layer down from the human City of Middenhiem lies a large hall of stone and pillars, which serves as the meeting place for the Dwarves and their Human neighbors, and is guarded by Hammerers of the Assembly, whilst the assembly itself sits in session within the so called 'Regal Hall' deep within the mountain, a place that serves as hold for the incumbent king, and the meeting place for foreign Dwarves and the Government.

[SIZE=12px]The Regal Hall lies behind a vast set of Stone doors, inset with precious metals and stones, and is Guarded by the Royal Hammerers.

[SIZE=12px]Ozenhammer Hold and Clan -
[SIZE=12px]The Thane Hold of the Ozenhammer Clan itself, which lies in the deeper parts of the mountain, the Ozenhammer Hold is one of the largest holds, boasting a vast network of Vaults in which treasure unseen by any outside of the Clan lies. The Clan itself, reckoners and merchants primarily have made vast fortunes facilitating trade between Humans and Dwarves, and as such can count themselves as the wealthiest Clan in the region, something which is supported by the fact that the doors of their Hold are banded with Gold, and the base of the pillars in their halls are lined with Gold, alongside two statues of solid gold beside the main door to the Hold.

[SIZE=12px]The Clan itself consists of the Thane and his Family, as well as numerous offshoots, forming merchant families, banking families and reckoners. They provide a large tithe of warriors to the Government, as well as a unit of Ironbreakers, with several of their Clansmen being members of the elite kingsguard hammerers.

[SIZE=12px]Currently the Ozenhammer Patriarch serves as King.