Ruby Ideas

Traditions
+1 Possible Advisors
+25% Improve Relations

The SogahrubiDwarves are well known for their tales of ancestors. One tale is particularly significant to the citizens of Rubyhold: The Sogahrubi. Traditionally told over 34 days, to represent the 34 years of the quest, it is the story of an honourable but destitute dwarf's journey to gain the hand of the one he loved. Her father spurned him, saying he would need an entire mountain of gems to get a blessing for them to marry. Rubies, to match her hair and inner fire. Nothing else would be good enough for her. Meant to be an impossible task. He suffered many trials. Experienced joy and loss. Searched forgotten caves, fey touched woods, lonely mountains. Until he finally found it, his Ruby Mountain. With permission at long last, he and his beloved married and established a small colony over the mountain of rubies he had discovered. What would one day grow to become Rubyhold. That quest was nine thousand years ago, when much of Cannor was untamed wilderness. Every Ruby Dwarf knows our claim, why these are our mountains.
+1 Yearly Devotion
+1 Yearly Horde Unity
+1 Yearly Legitimacy
+0.3 Yearly Republican Tradition

Rubyhold Institute of HumanitiesThe humanities are studies of humans and human societies. Rubyhold has institutions devoted to the study of the various races that live in the lands around Rubyhold, but the Rubyhold Institute of Humanities is considered the most important and prestigious. Founded when humans first began settling in the Dameshead region, scholars from the Institute have been carefully studying humans for over a thousand years. Human construction methods, how they conduct wars, fashions, how they order their societies; studies have been conducted on these topics and more. For Rubyhold the Institute has been an important way of keeping tabs on what humans are doing, with the added benefit of sometimes uncovering new ideas the dwarves had not considered.\n\nMost famously, it is here that the Lencori Plan was devised: the idea of creating a human nation out of the local tribes to act as a shield against external threats for Rubyhold. The crumbling of empires during the Dragonwake provided the opportunity, Lorenan demonstrated promise. Dwarven mediation and the forging of a crown provided the last spark...
-5% Idea Cost
+10% Spy Network Construction

The Two GatesRubyhold grew while the old dwarven holds died. With each fallen hold, a new wave of refugees eventually reached the foothills of our mountains. Seeking a safe haven from the threats lurking in the Serpentspine's depths. The old holds' mistakes, missteps, and misfortunes were our tutors when it came to designing our hold's defenses. Talented craftsdwarfs, ex-soldiers, and other professionals - our guides. Combined, they ensured that Rubyhold would be prepared, would not fall to any of the same tricks. Among the lessons learnt: having an outer set of gates, instead of just relying on the main gates of the hold for protection. These were named the Redgate and the Rivergate. Wrought and rewrought five times in our history in response to new lessons. The gates have stood up against the Ashen Skies, the Dragonswake, and foul sorceries. Our young hold has seen more than its fair share of disasters. But none yet have troubled our children in their beds. Long have the twin gates stood guard over our mountain hold, and never have they been cast down.
+10% Fort Defence
+10% Garrison Size

West RubiesWest Rubies (Vaz-Rubii in old dwarven records) are known for their distinctive dark red colouration, typically deeper than rubies mined elsewhere. Primarily found in the Ruby Mountains, the West Ruby mines are Rubyhold's main domestic source of gems. In the days before the old holds collapsed, the only gems that could be profitably exported to the Serpentspine. The distances involved in transporting them, combined with the relative scarcity, meant West Rubies have historically commanded a premium price.\n\nThe most famous West Ruby is disputed, most go to the Great Rose on the Ruby Crown of Lorent, which is ringed by five lesser rubies, collectively assembled to create a stylised rose. As a result, many Cannorians also refer to West Rubies as Rose Rubies.\n\nIn cultures further east that is not the case, West Rubies being associated with sunset, blood, or endings instead. The ancient crown, the Dwarovkron of the Dwarven Empire was said to have the largest West Ruby as its centrepiece, which was a late addition to the crown to mark the official recognition of Rubyhold as a hold equal to those underneath the Serpentspine. Such a controversial decision sparked the last great civil war of Aul-Dwarov, the War of the Bloody Gem, which to many was the final omen leading to the Last Days of the Dwarovar and the fall of dwarven civilization.
+10% Production Efficiency

Ending the SulkDwarves are known for many things. One of the less pleasing things, is our ability to sulk. To bemoan. To hold a grudge. And this is how we reacted when the elves led by Ioriel so easily pushed us aside and sunk their velvet claws into Lorent. We turned inwards, any and all attempts to reverse the situation failing and only further souring the mood in the upper echelons of our halls. But Ioriel is long gone now. And the Lilac Wars roused some of our kindred to the aid of Lorent. A Damerian victory would have been a disaster, leaving us surrounded and eventually subsumed into the empire. But war has always had the effect of reinvigorating dwarves. The momentum is swinging back the other way now, the dwarves of Rubyhold are once more rousing. We have learned from the past, and will be more tenacious, more united in our purpose going forwards. By the ancestors we swear it.
-15% Stability Cost Modifier

Lorent's Siege CorpOther dwarves raise armies to fight their battles. Rubyhold raised Lorent to fight battles. The skilled knights of Lorent are highly valuable to us, protecting their lands and ours from those who would try to conquer us. But how can the dwarves of Rubyhold be useful to Lorent? That question was answered by specialising in siegecraft, for centuries Lorentish sieges have been led by dwarven generals. Our military academy teaches the other aspects of war, yes, but the art of the siege is the priority. Ballistas, mining, cannonfire. Castles, fieldworks, city walls. For generations Rubyhold generals have learned the latest and greatest when it comes to besieging.
+1 Leader Siege

The Global Gem TradeAelantir colonization opened up new opportunities for Rubyhold. Famed for gems, Rubyhold has long been seen as the premier destination for Cannorian nobles who wish to have a gem cut. Situated on the edge of both Lorent and the empire, Rubyhold has been sought out by both when it comes to turning gems into jewels. The discovery of new world gems in the colonies only increased the quantity of gems arriving in Rubyhold for cutting. During the 1600s ruby dwarves began setting up gem cartels, in many cases directly taking over the operation of mines in the new world. With long mining expertise, many countries were eager to accept the assistance of the cartels in their colonies. Those cartels funnelled gems of all shapes and sizes back to Rubyhold. Gems from Lorentish colonies arriving via Oldport and the Redgate, gems from imperial colonies arriving via Exwes and the Rivergate. It was said that more gems passed through the gates of Rubyhold in a year than existed in the treasuries of many countries.
+10% Goods Produced Modifier

Ambition
+10% Siege Ability