Bludi Dwarves

The Bludi are a race of Mountain Dwarves who populate the Bludi mountains of southern Aelderin. They are renowned across the land for their skill at fighting and warfare and their ferocious temperaments. Their culture is built around slaying monsters. All Bludi children fight in the Arena of Blud Makar, where they must learn to slay the various horrors of The Fhaidorca including Jakkir and Thrimgrin. Those who succeed then fight one another until only the very best warriors remain. Adult Bludi earn prestige and renown by their heroic deeds in the Bludwars, or else in the tunnels of the Fhaidorca.  The Bludi have few real diplomatic treaties or arrangements, though a loose alliance with both the Empire of Nara Tok and the Halfling Crews remains in place since The Exilia Coalition and the Vengeance Campaign .

Structure

The Bludi are ruled by a Rex who is chosen from a council of fearsome warriors known as the Krigrim. These Krigrim are highly respected within Bludi society, frequently acting as advisers to the Rex, and having earned their position by slaying Giants. Individual Krigrim often act as the leaders for smaller subclans within the larger Bludklan, the most famous of these being the Krigrim of Maran Thok who is second only to the Rex themselves.

Public Agenda

The Bludi have recently embroiled themselves in the Bludwars, a campaign to claim The Untamed Hills for Dwarfkind. An agreement with the Empire and with the Halflings to their east leave them relatively free to pursue this in the wake of the Vengeance Campaign, though the Bludi remain ever-suspicious of diplomatic overtures.

Assets

The Bludi mountains are home to little that is truly precious, except for its inhabitants who are prized for their unmatched ferocity and battle-hardened tactics. However, the Bludi do control some measure of trade in goods from The Fhaidorca as they are some of the few who dare to venture down there. Some Bludi make large amounts of money fencing these goods on to curious buyers and enterprising fleeces.

History

It is theorised that the Bludi first arrived in their mountain home during The Warring Times, a garrison of warriors loyal to Ulric the Warmaster, the Dwarven god of battle and war. Yet this is not known for sure, for the Bludi keep few records of their past. The Bludi successfully staved off attempts by the Aoleirian Empire to tame their lands, later keeping the Volodarin from the Bludi mountains with the fierceness of their defence. Years later, from around 700BIF, the Halfling Imperialists settled just east of the mountains and were subjected to many Bludi raids and attacks. Some theorise this was a key factor in the Republicans ultimate success. An uneasy truce grew between the two peoples, with many border settlements continuing to be subjected to raids right up until The Exilia Coalition was formed in the year 399 IF. The Bludi were key members of the original coalition formed by Alumnus to slay the necromancer Sundemar. They likely agreed due to the promise of imperial support in their Bludwars (which has been slow to arrive properly). Many of the current Krigrim were chosen during the course of the following Vengeance Campaign in the lands of Thragea, where the Bludi were mostly used as elite troops and bodyguards to the Emperor. Since the end of the campaign in 402IF, the Bludi have refocused their efforts on the Bludwars in the west. Yet these wars take a hefty toll - the Bludi people have been severely reduced in number. Equipment from the Empire of Nara Tok has been slow to arrive, and some theorise that the Emperor seeks to ruin the Bludi people and then take their land from them. Tensions have risen with the Low Council of Astria, the Twilight Town especially.

Power through bloodshed. Glory through victory.

Type

Geopolitical, Clan

Demonym

Bludi