The History

The dwarves of Old Scragg have been there for centuries, millennia even, mining at the rich veins of ores and minerals that wind through the mountains. But then they started to realise they had mined many of those resources out. The rich veins were getting more difficult to find and the tunnels were getting deeper and further from home. Soon they were setting up new halls, places that were intended to house mining communities, to house the miners and their families, places where the ores could be collected and refined ready for use in the main settlement … But even then, the community was dying - as more people moved out to the satellites, more of the magnificent halls and corridors were closed and lost the light for ever …

Then came the fire wars. Everyone was fighting, the renegade human mage needed stopping, or soon there would be no more dwarves, or elves or gnomes or free will … So the dwarves of Old Scragg went to war, and like everything else they did it whole-heartedly. It was obvious it was coming, so they took time to prepare, they made shields and crossbows and war picks, and trained themselves to use them. Any one capable of bearing arms learned - and every one capable of bearing arms went to fight the mage. After all- if they lost there wouldn't be any point coming home, would there?

And they never came home. It is said that they were the front line of the Army of the Old, and that they bore the brunt of the disaster. But what ever happened - none that were there ever returned.

All that was left was the old, the young, the sick and the weak or feeble.

When it became clear that the war had been won but the Army lost, Dwak started to rebuild. Dwak was the youngest and the fittest of the highborn who remained behind, and it feel to him to collect the remnants of the once proud dwarves of Old Scragg together and start a new life.

He sent the strongest as messengers to the other holdings, for them to join him at the old outpost settlement of Banaduum, where the sick and injured from the war had been sent, and he would support them and protect them …

Some came and some stayed behind, but in the end those other strongholds were just to weak to survive. It was only Banaduum, protected by its ragtag collection of recovered warriors, which survived.

Ruled by Dwak III, a descendant of the original Dwak, Banaduum sits in the side of Old Scragg nearest to Porter's Bar.

It is still a small community around about 120 dwarves are all that remain. Most of them are mountain dwarves, but about 25 are of hill dwarf stock.

There are caverns below the living accommodation that grow various types of fungi, which is tended and harvested by a couple of clans of Mountain dwarves. They also grow and harvest a couple of different types of lichen and mosses

The dwarves make an ale and bread from different Fungi and lichens as well as using them in stews and soups. Meats bought in from the surrounding country size (mainly lizard of one type or another) by a clan of Hill dwarves supplement this. Other items are imported, in small quantities, from Porters Bar.

The best seams were played out anyway, but there were a few seams left around Banaduum. They mine copper, lead and tin on a regular basis and occasionally finding Azurite of a high enough quality to polish, in amongst the copper.

Mostly the copper and tin are worked together to make bronze for every day use, but some of the lead in incorporated into the mix, to make a stronger alloy, for use I weapons and armour.

On of the Mosses cultivated can me treated to make a felt-like material, which is used for most of the communities clothes. Lizard skins are tanned to make leather, the finer belly skin is often used to reinforce felt clothing, while the tougher skin from the back and flanks is used for jackets, jerkins or as a backing for armour.

Militia

Th Banaduum militia is equipped with bronze ring mail, shields and bronze headed war hammers. They also have a collection of light cross bows, many of which are old, that fire bronze tipped quarrels. (This particular alloy of bronze [copper, tin & lead] is hard - almost as hard as steel [yes really] These Dwarves do not attract any penalties for these bronze weapons). However, if they want to make more cross bows, they have to import the steel.

Polished and cut azurite set in copper mounts - are the normal jewellery of the Banaduum Dwarves. Because of its tendency to leave marks on the flesh, it is most commonly worn as broaches or cloak pins. Bronze statues, candelabra and other pieces decorate the halls and homes.

The dwarves have few items to trade, a few polished and cut azurite stones, copper and azurite jewellery and minor bronze work items. Their staple export though are copper ingots and kegs of the mushroom ale (an acquired taste).