Dubh-dùn (Dark/Black Fortress) is a collection of 16 separate shards that have been welded together by giant chains that are stretched taunt between shards that do not belong together. The join points are bridged by massive bridges that allow the steud-ridir (Black-knights) of the briste-biatach (Broken-raven) clan to roam freely between the shards.

The method of joining the shards of the Dubh-dùn are by the use of huge chains fabricated from base materials readily available from the lower portions of the shards. The chains are composed of links caste as whole components. They measure 10 feet in diameter, 60 feet in length and are 30 feet wide. Each one of these links weigh in excess of 100 tons.

The briste-biatach is the primary clan whose warlord ruling class achieves its supremacy over the shard populations by brutal and unbending dominance. The steud-ridir are the feared army of the clan and are split into two factions that together carry out their objectives. The steud-anail-ridir (Black-Air Knights) are the equivalent to sea marines. Using air ships, they subdue any resistance that may arise from defenders using the same methods. The steud-fonn-ridir (Black-Land Knights) are land based troops that are proficient riders, that quickly ride across the targeted shard’s land areas and subdue the populations there.

Once a shard has been captured and bound to the collective, the shard surface is subdued and its shard-key-holder is sought out and found. Once this individual is under their control, the shard is considered subdued. In some instances, the shard-key-holder is successful in destroying themselves or their key.

Specialty engineers of the briste-biatach carry out the construction of the chains in specially constructed caverns at or below the gravity line of the shard. There are several under construction on the existing shards that are in a variety of stages of preparedness. At the same time, operations are underway on any number of candidate shards to prepare the caverns and engines that will be required to pull up the chains and hook the two shards together.

The casting of each link is a process that entails building a massive packed earth form in the shape of the new link. The link to which it is attached is rotated at 90 degrees and passes through the center of the form and is separated from the new link by a portion of the mould. When the new link has cooled sufficiently, all the packed earth is removed and the new link rotated to allow another link to be set up for pouring.

As the links are created, they are shifted into the weightless void of the ways and are accumulated until they are deployed. Smaller chains are also formed to be used in bridging the gap and pulling the large chains into position. Once the large chains have been pulled into position and the shards have exerted their negative repulsion on the chains to pull them tight, spells are used to imbed their ends in the stone and fabric of the two shards.

In general, if a shard’s owners know that they are drifting too close to the briste-biatach domains, they will do their best to move away as quickly as possible. The present age has had no new additions to the briste-biatach collective in quite some time. A number of shards have the scars of the chain caverns to show that they almost became part of this trap.

The current warlord of the briste-biatach clan is Horgaru Hawknose. He is a burly, gruff man prone to outbursts of anger and violence. The steud-rider are lead by an equally violent man named Jaquar Pieutte. Both have publicly spoken about adding yet another trophy shard to the Dubh-dùn collection. As ruthless as these men are, many do not doubt that they will achieve their goal.

The history of the briste-biatach and the Dubh-dùn is not documented in any publicly available histories or documents. It is sufficient that their efforts began shortly after the shattering and has grown and waned over the years since. The people who inhabit these shards are subdued and have grown accustomed to the iron rule of whoever holds the warlord position. Off the shards, the steud-rider are feared and known for their capture of people who are brought back and become slaves within the confines of the Dubh-dùn.

The briste-féill (Broken-fair) is where warriors are recruited. They are sought from a young age. The people have been conditioned to welcome the annual festival associated with choosing youngsters to join the elite forces. While not a festival that is generally liked by the population, the opportunities that make themselves available during the festival to escape a life of servitude attract many to try.