Nidavellir
Nidavellir is the kingdom of the dvergar, in the northwest of Midgard. Because the dvergar cannot tolerate sunlight, they live beneath the mountains, and have carved out a massive underground kingdom of great stone halls, intent on resembling their native realm, Nidafjoll, from which Nidavellir derives its name. They rely on human thralls to provide food and outside goods.
The dvergar demand tribute in both wealth and slaves from the surrounding lands, most especially Sviarland and Kvenland. All human lands in contact with the dvergar kingdom fear them, though the dvergar are a shadow of their once-great selves.
Numerous petty kingdoms of Man dot the coasts and fjords, including the kingdom of Agder.
Geography
Most of the land is covered in never-melting snows, making agriculture almost unheard of. Men subsist entirely by hunting and fishing, usually living in small clans that depend on the dvergar for protection from the more hostile forces of nature (and from the supernatural). The dvergar, in turn, prove twisted, oppressive masters who enjoy making humans suffer as much as they themselves are forced to.History
The dverg kingdom fell into decline in accordance with the rise of the Old Kingdoms. Even once the Old Kingdoms themselves fell, however, the dvergar made little attempt to re-conquer their former holdings. Their civilization appears to have been in decline ever since.
Dverg ruins are found across the North Realms, identifiable by the runes they used to ward these places against the mist and other vaettir (besides themselves).
Inspiration Notes
Nidavellir occupies what would be Norway in modern times. In Norse mythology, Nidavellir is one of the Nine Worlds, possibly the same world as Svartalfheim (as dwarves might be the same entities as dark elves; scholars disagree on this point).
