Hammerborn

Hammerborn is a term commonly used in fantasy fiction and role-playing games to describe a people or lineage associated with metalworking, smithing, and the use of hammers. In many settings, hammerborn are linked to dwarven cultures or to guilds of smiths who value skill, craftsmanship, and endurance in the forge.

Etymology and usage: The name derives from the English words hammer and born, literally "born of the hammer" or "forged by the hammer." In some worlds it is adopted as a clan name or as a title for master smiths who oversee apprenticeship and guild law.

In fiction, hammerborn are often depicted as living in underground halls or fortified forges and maintaining strict craft hierarchies. They are portrayed as expert metallurgists, weapon and tool smiths, and sometimes rune-carvers. The hammer frequently serves as a symbol of authority, oath, and communal identity within their culture.

Variations exist across settings: some portray hammerborn as a distinct race, others as a cultural designation within a broader species. Common themes include guild governance, sacred anvils, and a code that links workmanship to personal honor and community resilience.

See also: dwarves, smithing, forges, runes.