Before Nightfall the Dwarves mostly lived in an isolated crafter's class within the society of Humans on Hadira where they divided themselves in five Clans each with their own distinct territories of goods they could craft. Some independent Dwarves continued to live in their ancestral home mountains, The Beacons. After Nightfall Dwarvenkind fell back into their mountain strongholds but their rigid clan structure kept them divided even as they struggled against common foes like invading giants, orcs and glowing fungi. Since the invention of the Spelljammers Dwarves have once again started leaving their mountain homes, this time in order to find immense riches found in the many asteroids across the Core with many settling in Bainen's Delve at Broken World's portal.
Dwarves live in a strict clan-based society. There is very little social movement between the different clans. Each clan has their own set of products and services they claim as their territory. Dwarves from another clan infringing on that territory is grounds for a conflict which can range from a scuffle up to a full on clan war. Ever since the dwarves have started scattering throughout the universe the old clan based structure has become harder to maintain since so many dwarves might live in a small enclave without craftsmen from one clan or another and are forced to make do.
Hammer Clan- Territory: masonry, precious stones and any metalworking not involving weapons or armor. The Hammer clan owns the largest territory of all clans. Due to their extensive territory males from the Hammer clan are expected to become crafters while the females have taken over leadership and enforcement of clan honor. This arrangement is scorned by all other dwarven clans resulting in a large number of attempts to usurp their territory. While Hammer clan was in the past often allied with Iron clan they have cut ties since Hammer’s infraction of the code by allowing women to enforce their honor. Refusing to dishonor themselves by obtaining non-dwarven armor and weapons, these have become increasingly scarce, forcing Hammer’s female enforcers to defend its territory with their fists and improvised weapons.
Axe - Territory: all weapons except bows and crossbows. The Axe clan holds a monopoly on weapon creation and trade within the kingdom of Hadira and jealously defends it. They deal with any perceived infraction on their territory with extreme force and refuse to sell arms to the other clans for fear of them becoming too strong. Armor is hard to come by, since the Iron clan has stopped selling it to them decades ago and leather armor is considered unmanly, as a result most Axe enforcers fight without armor, only the highest ranking individuals own metal armor which are often ancient relics imbued with magic to withstand the test of time.
Iron - Territory: all armor made mostly out of metal. The Iron clan sees itself as not only the protector of it’s own honor but also that of the honor of the entire dwarven race. The honor codes handed down by generations of dwarves are revered as divinely inspired by the Iron clan and they are quick to intervene in any attempt by a clan to usurp another clan’s territory or any other infraction on the codes. The Iron clan was once numerous and feared by the other clans but near ceaseless conflict with the other clans for centuries has made their number slowly dwindle. Finally resulting in being unable to prevent the Axe and Bull clan’s usurpation of the Oak clan territory.
Bull - Former territory: leatherworking and woodworking. Bull clan was formerly one of the biggest clans after they destroyed Oak clan, however their constant greed for more power put them in hot waters with the other clans and a group of adventurers. When it was revealed they were working together with Drow spies the other clans worked together with the adventurers to take destroy Bull clan and its Drow allies. Bull clan's territory was granted to Oak clan, which was reinstated to fill its niche.
Oak - Territory: Woodworking, axes and leatherworking. Unable to defend its territory from Axe and Bull usurpation the Oak clan was been destroyed for some time before Nightfall however with the destruction of Bull clan the Oak survivors rebuild their clan and were awarded the former Bull clan's leatherworking territory. It’s male members either took their own lives to preserve their honor or scattered throughout the land, working as rogue craftsmen evading enforcers from the clans whose territories they infringe upon until Bull clan was destroyed and they were once again able to ply their trades honorably.