Fornmidr

Legendary for their toughness and strong will, mountain dwarves are indomitable warriors and master artisans. Dwarven kingdoms are mighty mountain citadels, many of which are nations in their own right. The largest collection of dwarven cities beneath one banner is Fornmidr.

History

The citadel of Durngar.

The Dwarven race likely began in the mountains under Fornmidr, where they found themselves ensconced within a natural fortress, a mountain that would become the great dwarven citadel of Durngar. The Dwarves learned very quickly to take advantage of the strategic position they were placed in, and soon began mounting expeditions to other regions of Mondevai. Great traders and bargainers, the dwarven community quickly realized the value of the natural resources they possessed, and began to develop their arts and trade with the new races they encountered.

Though the desire for wealth drove the dwarves onward, the newly emerging threat of the Marran Empire kept them unified, until the Marrans were beaten back by the dwarven armies and later devastated by the Turathi and tribal counterattacks. Following the defeat of their greatest rival, the great dwarven families began competing with one another on a totally different level.

After years of trade embargos, disputes, and near out-and-out inter-family warfare, one dwarven leader took action. Bjarngir Stronghammer, known far and wide as the greatest blacksmith in a race already considered the best in the world, convened a gathering of the greatest craftsmen in the dwarven race. He organized them into clans, groupings of dwarves centered around a common craft, disregarding familial ties altogether. Each clan was guaranteed the best trade rates with another clan, so as to allow the best dwarven craftsmen to profit most from outsiders, and to enrich the dwarven race as a whole.

Bjarngir himself became head of the Stronghammer Clan, the clan whose craft was the ruling of the Forn people itself. These dwarven clans quickly became known for both producing high quality goods, and for prohibitively pricing their sale to outsiders. In this way, the dwarves once again grew strong, a race to be reckoned with in the world of Mondevai.

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Life in Fornmidr

Fornmidr is now comprised of nearly a dozen massive cities cut into the stones of the mountain range, from peak to root. While only these cities are officially a part of the Clandom, a majority of the dwarven holds within the borders of other nations bow to the decrees of Fornmidr, accepting price marks and the currency of the land.

Transportation around the kingdom is a mixture of well-hewn tunnels, narrow mountain passes, and in some places underdark canals inspired by the Marran transportation system.

Cities are often segregated into clan quarters. While civil unions outside of clan lines are common, spouses are more likely than not to live apart, within the bounds of their own clan. Inter-clan rivalries are common, but rarely elevate beyond the level of sport. The clan of law is the most powerful of the divisions, even beyond the warmakers, and keeps the others well in check.