Dwarves--The Stout Folk

The Dwarven Kingdoms

In Peridyym, there exists five dwarven nations which inhabit the main continent's mountainous regions. They exist throughout the honeycombed chambers and tunnel networks within and below the peaks and hills of the land. There are two dwarven cities being built above ground, Forge and Refuge, in the First Mountains of nation Peridyym, created for the specific purpose of providing the colonists an access to them above-ground.

Recorded dwarven history stretches back for more than two millenia, which creates the dwarven calendar year as presently being 2136 D.F. (Dwar Farrenglos) Due to the internecine warfare of the dwarven nations, however, the present day kingdoms have not been in existence that long. The oldest of the present five is about 730 years old, and this is Arundakkhil, wherein lies the Dwarven Capital warren-city of Mordenekken.

ARUNDAKKHIL Founded 1399 D.F.
King Virast Belkanazan (translation; Farvision Above, or "Visionary") came to succeed his father when the word of the Peridyymians' landfall reached the court's ears and the elder king wanted to mobilize the dwarrow to wage slaughter against them. He was overthrown by factions who wanted only to live their lives in subterreanean seclusion, and use their resources to survive therein, rather than go above ground and die in the cause of upworlders. The coup was a peaceful one, and the former king still lives, taken care of by the benevolence of his son. Now-King Virast also has made an alliance with the ruler of Peridyym, King Peridyym, for exclusive production from dwarven smithies in exchange for his support in the humans' high courts, should Belkanazan ever need to protect the dwarven people from the human nationals. Good King Peridyym vowed what he could and the fledgling humans have been enjoying the military provisions provided by the dwarves for the past seven years.

KHALGIRUZUR , Founded 1576 D.F.
King Brislav Stonespeaker has agreed to rule in low profile, in support of the Arundakkhil kingdom. As such, King Stonespeak's throne is a mobile one. Brislav goes where the clans need his guidance the most, but it also protects his office. This has enabled Brislav to keep his dwarrow content for the 200 years of his reign.

ZANDUL-THARAG, Founded 2126 D.F.
King Thunderheart is the king of this youngest dwarf nation which split off from the eastern warrens of Baleddumar. This nation formed only 10 years ago at the campaigning of King Filomiel, who empowered the dwarves to resist negotiations with the humans while they are still young on the shores. This rivals the Dwarven Newking Virast Belkanazan's edict and personal practice, which has raised no small amount of eyebrows.
In response to this autonomy, Highking Virast and the other kings have agreed to begin preparation to subdue Filomiel's court and overthrow his influence. Zandul-Tharag's borders are therefore powderkegs.

BALEDDUMAR Founded 1512 D.F.
It is King Stovakar Granitefist who feels the shame of losing half his kingdom to Virast. He has not thought much about Virast's stated motives, nor does he care overmuch about the Peridyymian humans or their Shakaran cousins. He cares about eliminating the insulting new name of "Sandyfist" whispered in children's circles as reference to his inability to keep his kingdom unified.
However, Stovakar is also the oldest king, having reigned for 250 years, and having started that when he was already 150. In his desperation, he has begun petitioning the elves of the Oiomaire to aid him in regaining the westernern half of his kingdom. His emissaries have been met with indifference.

NATHAR-TARAM Founded 1684 D.F.
The power-centres of this kingdom actually lie in the mountain range some hundred leagues distant from the divided kingdoms south of them, and King Morlodik Gurnvosendrukar rules over only about 30-45 clans in seven cities. The kingdom was created roughly 600 years ago when Baleddumar, once stretching between both east and west coasts, gave the detached group autonomy.
When King Morlodik took the throne 187 years ago, he begun opening his borders to the many northern Shakaran barbarian tribes, and wild elves of the Oiomaire to the north and east of their mountains. Hence the King's surname which translates to "forest-home". Morlodik is aware of King Sandyfist's petitions to the Oiomaire courts, and has asked the elvesnot to direct the old king towards the nation of Nathar-Taram for assistance. King Morlodik and his dwarves quite enjoy the status quo.