Heart of the Mountain

The  is an ancient order of the mountain peoples of Ironforge, reformed into the Mountainheart Institute with the founding of the Explorer’s League. A university of the highest calibur, the doors are open to any dwarf or gnome that seeks to know more about themselves, or to learn the tools needed to find the knowledge yourself.

=History=

The Order of the Mountain Heart was an old, secretive organization tasked with preserving and protecting Dwarven traditions. It was established shortly after the mountain of Khaz Modan was first delved by the Dwarves with the blessing of the High King, but it was promptly forgotten by mainstream society and left to its own devices. The Order of the Mountain Heart was fundamentally religious in its beginning, obsessed with preserving the little knowledge the Dwarves had regarding their creators the Titans. Its beliefs were codified into the Seven Statutes of Stone, which reflected a deep commitment to the Titans and to the High King.

Many years passed, and the Order’s numbers dwindled as its adherents quietly kept their sacred charge in the shadows of the mountain. During this time, a powerful relic was uncovered in the depths of the mountain, and after realizing its terrible power the Order decided to seal it away in an elaborate stone tabernacle. It has long since been forgotten what was actually stored inside of the Ark of the Mountain, and perhaps deliberately so. All that is remembered is that it was believed that the Heart of the Mountain is present within that tabernacle.

Many more quiet years passed, and then Order was struck with tragedy when the War of Three Hammers broke out. This enveloped the organization in turmoil, as while the majority of its members were Bronzebeards, it still housed many Wildhammers and Dark Irons. The Order lost a sizeable portion of its membership at the conclusion of the War, a loss that it could not afford. In an effort to prevent such a travesty from happening again, the Order made itself public once more, assuming a slightly more secular, professional character that would be more appealing to the general populace. And this gradual secularization would increase with time.

During the immediate aftermath of the War of Three Hammers, a certain prophecy became popular among the older elements of the Order who were still trying to cling on to its religious past. It was believed by some that one day the Anvilmar line would be restored to the throne and the three clans would be reunited under the mountain. The majority of the organization regarded this prophecy as a dangerous lunacy and attempted to downplay the sway it had over many of the organization’s members in order to appeal to the public opinion at the time. But like anything devised by the Dwarves, belief in the prophecy persisted into the present day: even with the direct descendent of Modimus strongly implying that he will not make a claim to the throne, many of the older Dwarves of the Order stubbornly persist in their belief in the prophecy, that the heir of Modimus may be swayed by the plight of his people.

Many more years passed, and the Order almost faded into obscurity, despite its efforts to engage more with the public. The Order was about to die a quiet death when it was fortuitously discovered by the newly established Explorer’s League. The scholars of the Explorers’ League were fascinated by the existence of such an ancient order and treated it with more respect than it probably deserved. In order to ensure its survival, the Order of the Mountain Heart was incorporated into the Explorers’ League and renamed the Mountain Heart Institute.

With this change, the organization’s shift into a more secular institution was now nearly absolute. In order to adjust with modern times, the Mountain Heart Institute has accepted an influx of new members from different clans and of different beliefs. But a few surviving members of the older Order remain and guard its secrets with fierce jealousy.

=Structure=

Heart of the Mountain has three core principles: acquire relics relevant to the culture and history of the Mountain folk, investigate and educate the Mountain folk about their culture and history, and to preserve and protect the scholars, prospectors, and antiquities of the Mountain folk. Combined with the ruling council of the Heart, these comprise the Four Chambers of the Heart.

Divisions
The First Chamber: Explore

Prospectors, miners, archaeologists and the dwarves who like to get dirty: these are the Explorers of the institute, usually working alongside the Explorers League or members themselves, anyone who seeks adventure and the thrill of being the first in a room for centuries comes to this Chamber.

Ranks: Prospector, Explorer, High Explorer (Officer)

The Second Chamber: Guard

Traps, monsters, demons, Old Gods: there are many threats that rest in the deep dark of dungeons long disused. The Second Chamber comprises of those able-bodied people that choose to protect the First Chamber on their expeditions, as well as the relics housed by the institue and League for study.

Ranks: Guardian, Forgeguard, High Shield (Officer)

The Third Chamber: Learn

But what’s the point of getting all these items if they mean nothing to us? Scholars, mystics, and theologians reside in the Third Chamber, studying the artifacts found by the First, and protected by the Second, and provide lectures to the rest of the world about information discovered.

Ranks: Student, Scholar, Professor (Officer)

The Fourth Chamber: Advise

Then we must decide what to do with this information. Where to go to find more. Who needs protecting most, and where funds should be directed. The Fourth Chamber is the ruling Council of the Heart, comprised of representatives of the previous 3 Chambers. They ultimately decide the fate of the Heart.

Ranks: Officers and GMs from other Chambers.

=Recruitment=

https://discord.gg/RH77Ry

In-game contact: Thorgoin, Anvildeep, Maximillas, Eòghàn, Kelshara