Mithral Hall
Mithral Hall is a dwarven stronghold under Fourthpeak Mountain in the Frost Hills, part of the Spine of the World. It is one of the most well known dwarven strongholds in the world.
Originally a Mithral mine belonging to Clan Battlehammer, this underground town became a safe haven for other dwarven families and even other races. Mithral Hall has had a long history of tragedy and triumph, and was the making and breaking of countless individuals.
History
Although the exact date is unknown, the Hall was founded by Gandalug Battlehammer. The settlement was originally set up as a mine due to the rich seams of mithral ore in the mountain. The business quickly grew into a thriving community. The location of Mithral Hall was kept extremely secret, so that other organizations wouldn’t invade. The dwarves used to sell their ore and weapons in nearby Settlestone, using it as a public front for the mine.Reign of Shimmergloom
The deepest mines carved out by the dwarves of Mithral Hall broke into a shadowcavern, said to connect to The Shadowfell. An immensely powerful shadow dragon named Shimmergloom aided by hordes of shadow creatures and a whole clan of duergar. The dwarves stood and fought allowing the few not strong enough the opportunity to flee. Among those that escaped was a young Bruenor Battlehammer. Bangor Battlehammer and his father Garumn Battlehammer died in the battle slaying hordes of Duergar. The 300 or so dwarves that escaped fled to nearby Settlestone, where they waited for news, expecting their kin to emerge victorious and invite them back. The good news never came. Ever since leaving his home when he was a young dwarf, Bruenor Battlehammer had wanted to reclaim Mithral Hall and avenge his kin. After spending many years living at the clan’s new home in Icewind Dale, the aged and respected Bruenor decided it was time to return to Mithral Hall. Bruenor set off along with a small group including Drizzt Do'Urden, Regis, and Wulfgar, who later became known as the Companions of the Hall. The journey to find Mithral Hall was a long one, as even Bruenor had forgotten many of the details of its whereabouts. They eventually tracked it down with the help of rumors, clues and, most significantly, a memory inducing potion. Once inside they set about navigating the complicated tunnels. Along the way they encountered the dusty bodies of Bangor and Garumn Battlehammer, Bruenor's father and grand-father. After laying them to rest in a nearby room, and donning Bangor's Armor, Bruenor proclaimed himself the Eighth King of Mithral Hall. A series of minor events occurred in the tunnels before reaching Shimmergloom, who after being disturbed appeared in one of the mine's natural gorges. After a protracted battle and faced with no alternative, Bruenor doused himself in oil from a nearby store room, leapt onto Shimmergloom (pouring oil on his scales) and set light to both of them. The brave dwarf and fearsome dragon roared down the natural abyss in a spectacular fireball. In the aftermath the companions were forced to edge their way around the chasm to reach the eastern exit, where they left assuming Bruenor had been killed in the fireball. In fact Bruenor had miraculously survived the scorching fall thanks to Drizzt's magical sword, Icingdeath. After clambering from the dead dragon's body, he made his way through Mithral Hall. With Shimmergloom dead, all that was left to do was clear out the shadow dragon's vermin. Bruenor slayed vast numbers of duergar as he made his way through the tunnels and rooms. He eventually escaped the complex by climbing up one of the furnace chimneys. Once Mithral Hall was free from the dragon and its minions, it was once again suitable for habitation. Many of the dwarves Of Clan Battlehammer left the Dwarven Valley of Icewind Dale and resettled within the home of their ancestors.Battle of Keeper's Dale
In the year 1358 DR an army of Drow, goblins, and kobolds led by House Baenre attacked Mithral Hall, from Menzoberranzan. The defending dwarves soon received aid from Svirfneblin from Blingdenstone, local human barbarians from Settlestone and others. After a few days of intense fighting, the evil drow and other races were eventually defeated and driven back to their shadowy homes. During the Battle of Keeper's Dale, Bruenor and the other Companions of the Hall freed Gandalug Battlehammer from a powerful spell leaving the ancient dwarf a servant of Baenre. In 1362 DR, Bruenor abdicated his throne to Gandalug, the founder of Mithral Hall, making him the 1st and 9th King of Mithral Hall. The old dwarf died only a few years later, no doubt from old age, as the spell that had held him captive and postponed his aging had worn off. Bruenor, who had taken a few hundred of his dwarves back to Icewind Dale, returned to rule as Tenth King of Mithral Hall in 1370 DR.
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