The Castle stands as the heart and soul of the empire, a monumental stronghold whose ancient stones carry the weight of countless generations. Within its towering battlements, rulers decree the fate of nations, councils gather in hushed chambers, and the banners of the realm fly proudly against the sky. Mechanically, the Castle is essential infrastructure: it determines city level, unlocks building slots, and provides base population capacity (+20 per level, scaling at 1.2x). Construction requires substantial resources (500 Gold, 200 Food, 200 Wood, 50 Herbs, 100 Stone, 50 Mineral at level 1, scaling at 1.5x). Losing the Castle cripples the city.

Dwarves are the undisputed masters of mountain and forge. Their civilization revolves around mining and metalworking: Mithril production reaches +50%, Mineral +40%, Stone +35%, Gems +30%, Coal +25%, Dextronium +25%, Marble +20%. Gold flows from their trade (+10%). However, their underground focus neglects agriculture: Food (-10%), Herbs (-20%), and magical Elixir (-15%) all suffer, with Research and Wood slightly reduced (-5%). Dwarves are naturally resistant to hardship (-15% Mutiny, -10% Famine, -10% Protests) but cramped mines increase epidemic risk (+15%) and gold-love invites corruption (+10%). In battle, Dwarven warriors form an immovable wall: +25% Life in the frontline, +20% Life in flanks, but -15% Speed limits mobility. Mountain terrain and Winter season synergize perfectly with Dwarven strengths.