Highhelm caste system

The approach to Highhelm.

Clans in the dwarven city of Highhelm fall under one of three designations in the city's caste system: goldhilt, steelhilt, and ironhilt, listed from most to least well respected.

These designations often correlate to a clan's specialization within Highhelm's society. Some, though not all, Highhelm clans include:

• Goldhilt clans, who often focus on cultural, political, religious, and academic pursuits
  • Clan Firecask, a clan of brewers and distillers
  • Clan Molgrade, who focus on smithing, traps, and locks
  • Clan Oriddus, a clan of sages who focus on the dwarven pantheon
  • Clan Runebinder, who focus on arcane magic, particularly runes
  • Clan Tolorr, who focus on Highhelm's history
• Steelhilt clans, who often focus on crafting, warfare, and trade
  • Clan Aringeld, Highhelm's wealthiest clan
  • Clan Breakiron, who focus on alchemy and engineering
  • Clan Ertubur, specializing in mortuary services
  • Clan Grimmark, who focus on defenses and armaments
  • Clan Ironfist, a clan of smelters and metallurgists
  • Clan Pearlcask, who focus on water filtration and mollusk aquaculture
  • Clan Stonefist, who fill Highhelm's military
• Ironhilt clans, who often focus on farming, herding, and manual labor
  • Clan Felltree, a lumber clan and one of the few whose clan hall is on the surface
  • Clan Gelderon, who focus on farming and ranching
  • Clan Lasthall, composed of forsworn and refugee dwarves
  • Clan Vanderholl, composed of Highhelm's less prestigious manual laborers

While these castes are among Highhelm's oldest traditions, the city's society otherwise avoids expressing prejudices based on caste, and does not enforce any caste-based restrictions on individuals.

Clans often incorporate their caste into their clan dagger designs.

Clanless dwarves

A small minority of Highhelm dwarves are without a clan, such as those descended from exiles or who did not receive a clan dagger upon their birth. Such dwarves can join a clan through petition, marriage, or recognition, though banished dwarves often find their petitions ignored.

Some clanless dwarves choose to refuse association with a clan, and while such dwarves are remarkably unusual, some residents of Highhelm recognize that circumstances best left unknown might have led to such a drastic decision.