Stone endures, Steel remembers
You stand on the wind-scoured granite of the South Gate battlement, the air clear and cold. This is the oldest, most sacred stretch of Hammerdeep's exterior. It is not a museum; it is a monument to vigilance, a history written in stone, metal, and unending watchfulness.
The view is immense. The valley falls away in front of you, a green expanse far below, a world of temporary life beneath an eternal mountain
The Silent Duty
Look closely at the path you stand on. The granite is worn into a shallow, smooth channel. This groove was carved not by warhammers or glory, but by the relentless, pacing tread of dwarven sentries across a thousand generations. They are the Stonewatch.
They are the mountain's living skin, the first to face the wind and the storm, and the last to ever yield. While the legendary Vanguard are the city’s Fist, winning glory in the charge, the Stonewatch is the Anvil—the steady, silent foundation that makes all other victory possible.
Whispers of the Watch
As you walk the parapet, you see the subtle, personal records of the dwarves who hold the line.
The Bowman's Notch: See the smooth, vertical groove worn into the crenellation stone? That mark was polished by countless bow staves leaned in the same spot, year after year, a ritual of readiness.
The Cup Stone: Find a slight, mug-sized depression on the corner stone. Over centuries, generations of watchmen have placed their mugs of ale or tea in this exact spot. It is a shared, unspoken comfort against the lonely chill, a history of quiet meals on watch.
The Mantle of Vigilance: The watchmen you see wear a heavy, mottled granite grey cloak. This is their badge of honor—not for glory, but for functionality. Its dull finish will not catch the light and betray their position to a scout. A watchman’s weathered cloak is a testament to a life spent enduring the elements.
