Dwarven City States

For thousands of years the dwarves of Eridas have called the Silver Mountains home. Over the centuries they have carved out vast subterranean cities stretching for miles beneath the roots of the mountains and erected megalithic constructions unrivaled in the known world. There is no unified dwarven state, but several dozen different dwarven kingdoms scattered throughout the Silver Mountains from the arctic north to the shores of the Sea of Storms. The most successful of these kingdoms have grown strong and prosperous indeed by mining the rich silver veins that lie beneath mountains, and through the export of the dwarves' famous metalcrafts.
In contrast to the fierce rivalry and infighting that rages unceasingly between the Free Cities or the fragmented kingdoms of the Lizardmen, the disparate dwarven states generally get along fairly well, often working in concert to further pan-dwarven interests. Each kingdom maintains its own monarch, conducts its own diplomacy, and generally does its best to stay out of its neighbor’s business. In times of great crisis, a high king might be appointed to unite the various kingdoms and steer the dwarven nation through the storm, but this is rather rare.
Dwarven society is insular, familial, and close knit, characteristics which extend to their form of government. Clan loyalties and familial bonds run deep among the dwarves and saturate the power structures of their kingdoms. Dwarven kings are typically limited monarchs who share power with an assembly of clan elders from the leading families of their city known as an Allthing. Once every decade, and in times of emergency, all of the dwarven kings will meet in a grand council Known as an Greatthing to discuss mutual issues, settle inter-kingdom disputes, and agree on policy that regards the whole dwarven nation.

Type

Alliance, Cultural