The Brencuíndil (lit. Cuíndil folk), otherwise known as Island Dwarves, are related to the Dwarven race, and inhabitants of an island nation as the name suggests. Their usual appearance is short and arguably chubby, as it is with most subraces of Dwarves. The main difference with most other Dwarven races is that they have much shorter hair. It is commonly short and spiky, with their facial hair never more than stubble on their chin and upper lip. It is presumed that this development arose due to the windy island climate, which made long hairs get in the way. Not particularly sensitive to magic traits or energetic influence, Brencuíndil often rely on their weaponry and brute strength in combat rather than spells and tricks. Interestingly, this results in Brencuíndil being more resistant to magic and energy cast on them as well, as they do not ‘receive’ the effects as effectively as other races do.
History
The closest estimation for these events lies in the Fourth age. Due to inaccurate chronicling, inconsistencies in different works and several documents being lost over time, some of the time frames could not be placed more accurately.
First Journey
Breaking off from the main nation of Dwarves, a caravan of settlers set off somewhere in the Fourth age, under the leadership of an unidentified former Dwarven Lord. Sources disagree on the question whether the settlers carried the Dwarven king’s blessing or not. There are also several notions of ‘many hardships along the way’, one source even citing an encounter with a band of Mountain Trolls.
Eventually, the caravan reached the mainland shore and settled there, supposedly with less number then when they first set out. They started fishing and growing crops, the water climate being ideal for it. However, the new village presented an easy target and was soon assaulted by a variety of hostile forces.
Second Journey and Founding of Cuíndil
The Dwarves fled into the sea with their fishing boats, again lead by the same Dwarven Lord. He wanted to go back to the shores and try again, but many of his subordinates had grown frightened of the prospect. Disgruntled with the way their Lord had led them into danger before and seeking to prevent their return to land, the Dwarves stages a coup and elected a new leader, Cuíndil Roath.
Roath eventually led the dwarves to a large uncharted island, and upon discovering it named it Cuíndil, after himself. There, the new Dwarven nation thrived over time and soon expanded. The dwarves founded the first town on the island by the shore, later to become the nation’s capital and main port, and named it Langdok. There, they lived mainly off fishing and growing crops. They also discovered a good breed of livestock on a nearby island and tamed it for meat and milk.
Growth of Cuíndil
As the population quickly grew, the young nation spread out to more villages across the island Cuíndil and spread to two other, smaller nearby islands, one of which held the livestock.
After 6 years and some months of isolated existence, Nermien Roath, Cuíndil’s daughter and successor, decided it was time to announce their existence and sent out emissaries to the mainland, in particular to the Dwarves. After some time of political haggling, the nation of Cuíndil was recognised and granted a territory of the three islands it occupied, plus a stretch of the nearest shoreline, and two more islands which lay nearby further to the shore and the waterscape between the five islands and the shoreline.
With the nation now known, traffic of goods and people started, and the necessity arose for the Island Dwarves to develop a system of commerce, seat of government, and a military. A large marketplace was established just outside the docks of Langdok, and a House of Rule in the city’s centre. Both were financed by the Dwarves, who thereby secured an alliance and a beneficial position in commerce with Cuíndil. Under the guidance of their Dwarven allies, the Brencuíndil explored the mountains to the far side of the island Cuíndil and discovered rich deposits of charcoal and high quality steel. Using their mining expertise, they exploited the deposits and used them to pay off their debts to their allies quickly, and paid them a tribute in thanks. With the steady income from mining, Cuíndil also raised and armed a small army and navy.
Topography
The nation of Cuíndil starts at a stretch of shoreline and is comprised of the seawater that starts from there, and the five islands in it.
Bodies of Land
- The shoreline is named Dagcuíndil (lit. Gate to Cuíndil), and sports a defensive wall and outlook towers, as well as a military body of men to guard it.
- The main island, in the middle of the island formation and to the North of the shoreline, is named Cuíndil after the nation. (Technically the nation was named after the island, as shown in the nation’s history.) It holds the nation’s capital and is the main source of income.
- The island just to the North-North-West of Cuíndil is named Boclu.
- The island to the North-East of Cuíndil is named Druj.
- The two islands closer to the shore, to the South and South-South-East of Cuíndil and laying just next to each other, are named Broc and Truchi.
Settlements
- The capital, situated on the shore of the main island of Cuíndil, is named Langdok. It also houses the nation’s largest fishing and trading port, main commerce center and marketplace and the seat of government.
- The military settlement to the South of Langdok is named Negrovd. It houses both the nation’s main military fleet and garrison.
- The main mining colony, at the base of the Cuíndil mountains is called Broff.
- Another settlement, more inland at the center of the island of Cuíndil, is called Jepho.
- Each of the other four islands have one main settlement, which carry the same names as the island.
Economy
Today the nation of Cuíndil is a wealthy, prosperous place. The nation still lives mainly from fishing and farming, and now from its export and trade, mainly with other Dwarven nations. Its main export products are the charcoal, high quality steel, weapons forged from this steel, and several beverages (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic) brewed with water from the mountain sources. Over time, the Cuíndil mark has become an implicit seal of quality on both weapons and Dwarven-style brewed beer. At the capital of Langdok, just outside the dock district, there is a large marketplace and centre of commerce.
Military
It has a mainly defensive military force, with a small navy to defend the five islands and a single garrison on the main island of Cuíndil, plus defensive walling and lookouts on the nearest mainland shoreline. Both the garrison and navy are mainly based in the military settlement of Negrovd, to the south down the shore of Langdok. The troops use mainly typically dwarven weaponry, like two handed axes and war hammers. There is one elite unit of mounted guards, referred to as the Cuíndil Bane, which wields short swords and crossbows. The crossbows are a special design with a broadened stock and three slots, which allows the wielder to shoot three bolts at the same time.
Dynasty
The House of Roath still rules the Brencuíndil today. The current Lord, Dragnín Roath, still continues the House of Roath with considerable success. He inherited the title from his father, Regnald Roath, who in turn took over the title from his mother, Luza Roath. Before her, records of rulers are lost, but it is known with certainty that the rulers today are still direct descendants from Cuíndil and Nermien Roath, the nation’s first two rulers.
Culture
The Bencuíndil is much like that of the Dwarven culture from which it stems. It features the typically Dwarven love for beer, skill at stonecutting and weapon crafting, merry making and feasting. The main difference is that the Brencuíndil live above ground rather than in cave systems and that they are a sea faring and fishing people, because of their position on an island.
