The Clan of Hammerstone where one of the founders of the Bankers guild in Barator some one thousand years ago. Clan Hammerstone, along with three of the dwarven Kings of the world of Barator, knew that their way of life could not continue. The curse of the scourge and the corruption of the subterraneous world of Rhunraz, had caused to much damage to the dwarven people. The great Kings had fought for almost two millennia to regain what had been lost. In doing so the dwarven race had almost gone extinct. Even thought Rhunraz was now wiped clean of the scourge, it was still a very dangerous place. The five great kings gathered to discuss the future of their race. Four of the Kings decided to move to the surface world and use their knowledge of precious minerals, to build themselves a unified kingdom above. The fifth King, King Azrilthane refused to leave their birthplace behind, raging at the others for being cowards and cursing them as weaklings, they ignored him. So, the four kings of old came to the surface world and eventually establish the great banking guild. An empire of finance, that has, over the last millennia, help form the world of Barator into what it is in the current age.
King Hammerstone the eight was one of the founders, unfortunately for him, his ancestors where not as wise or slew in their dealings and investments. In only 650 years, the current head of the clan had almost totality lost their influence, fifty years later a young and shrewd Dwarf named Thorg Audr managed to position himself close to the council. Fifty years after that, he along with his many allies, had managed to bring the once proud and powerful Hammerstone clan, to its knees and financial ruin. Eventually ending in the clan losing their place on the council. Because of Clan Audr’s cunning and head for numbers, they claimed the vacant seat on the council of four.
The Council of four are the four clans that own most of the shares/gold reserves of the Banking guild. Each Clan owns 20 prosent of the wealth. The rest is spread out amongst other dwarven clans across Barator.
Clan Hammerstone still had a lot of wealth after losing their place on the council, but the desperation of the current clan head, Thrung Hammerstone, caused him to make many desperate investments. Hoping it would in turn earn him some respect among the clans and a large profit in return. But it backfired and ended up causing them to lose what they had left. As it stands today, the family owns a large, abandoned building in the Port city of Harllow. The only reason it has not been sold, is that it is so run down that it would cost more to resort it, than just let it rot. Someone might buy the property for a hundred gold.
The dwarfs of Rhunraz call the surface dwarves Elgram (The Cowards). While the Surface dwarves call the Dwarves of Rhunraz, Azzok’Dum (Meaning the Doomed fools) .
The Dwarves of Barator no longer live in mountains or deep underneath the earth. They have not done so for untold centuries. Now they are the Lords of finance, controlling nations and kingdoms with platinum and gold.
There are four major Banking Clans. Each banking clan is run by four Guilds, that each have a say in day-to-day business of the Clan. These guilds are the most influential in their fields of expertise.
Clan Urthag and Clan Audr have banks across the continent of Gorathell. The Guilds head bank is on the Island of Urthag, a name given to it by the banking guild when they purchased it from the empire some two hundred and fifty years ago.
The Guilds that sit on the council are:
· The Dvalins: Master stone masons and builders, they have several lesser guilds under them. These lesser guilds are contracted out too build forts, castles, tunnels etc. Mostly anything that has to do with working with stone in one form or the other.
· The Larann: Master smiths and iron workers, the lesser guilds also work mainly with smith work and iron work. But also dabble with other metals.
· The Fiodh: Master carpenters, the lesser guilds deal in the construction of building, bridges and other works that deal with carpeting in various stages.
· The Midurien: Master ship builder and artisans, they do not have that many lesser guilds under them. They don’t need it, there is such a high demand for quality ships that they do very well.