Dominion of Blodhalle

Once there were a number of dwarven civilisations across Kordania, though now only two remain. The oldest and grandest of these is the colossal fortress city of Blodhalle. From their indomitable seat in the southern slopes of the Kesselbron Mountains, the Blodhallens have come to dominate the craggy lowlands and land-bridges that connects Kordania to the lands to the south.
More than a thousand years ago, the mining dwarves came upon a society of rock and deep gnomes residing deep within the tunnels and caverns below the mountain. The two races, rather than compete for territory and resources, became fast friends, with much in common. Blodhalle became a fusion of traditional dwarven and gnomish culture, unique anywhere in Gaio.
The dwarves and gnomes of Blodhalle are an ingenious folk. Their skill at construction, metalworking and alchemy are unrivaled on this continent, and few elsewhere in the world can claim to truly compete with them. Their fortress-city has survived calamities and invasions time after time through the brilliant and stubborn minds of their engineers and workshops. Blodhalle is also vastly wealthy, their mines spreading deep into the earth like the roots of a colossal tree. Unfortunately, the folk of Blodhalle are notoriously insular, mistrustful and unwelcoming to outsiders of all creeds. It was only in their darkest hour that they even entertained the idea of reaching out to the Kesselbroni Clans and Wyrmyrans for aid, and even then there were those who believed defeat was better than appealing to others.
Because of this ingrained xenophobia, Blodhalle has few friends and insists it needs none, though even the most obstinate Blodhallen cannot deny the benefits that cooperation with the clans and Wyrmyran's has brought over the centuries. Thanks to trade with the Wyrmyran's, including access to a steady trickle of the marvelous substance Drakon Dvasi, Blodhalle has made massive steps in the field of arcane studies, including an advanced understanding of how to infuse arcane energy into mundane objects. Blodhalle is at the forefront in developing the field of artifice in Gaio, and they guard their secrets and creations jealously.
Blodhallen society is ruled by two ruling families who share governance, known as the Twin-Pillar Monarchs. The dwarven Orsbruk dynasty and the gnomish Gruntaub dynasty share rule of the city and its outlying territories, guided by a council of advisors including the Fortmaster, the commander-in-chief of the Blodhallen military who is responsible for the defence of the citadel above ground.
Since the Collapse, Blodhalle has gradually become more accepting of outsiders. As payment for the aid they lent Blodhalle during the invasion of Nezvied, Wyrmyr and the southern Clans were granted the freedom to travel and trade within Blodhallen lands. Foreigners from distant shores find a warmer welcome in the trade ports Blodhalle operates on the Brokmir coast, though Blodhallen merchants are notorious as being merciless hagglers and canny negotiators.

Goals

Blodhalle's principal interest is to continue to grow and increase its wealth and production of astonishing crafts. It is principally an industrial nation, its wealth found in the minerals and precious metals harvested from their mines, as well as their engineering expertise. Blodhallen goods are known far and wide for their quality and durability, and the rich and influential of nations across Gaio enjoy flaunting any Blodhallen treasures they possess.
Blodhalle remains a tightly-closed society however. Only dwarves and gnomes born and raised in Blodhalle have ever been recognised as citizens, and their closest allies are only ever seen as welcomed guests. Always at the forefront of the Twin-Pillar's minds are the security of their nations borders, and the tight control of who comes and goes.

Relationships

Being such a xenophobic society as Blodhalle is, it has very few political allies. Most of it's dealings with the outside world are only as cordial as they need to be to secure the continued flow of trade in and out of Blodhalle. From Langharad to Syribia, Blodhalle sees only willing customers and nothing more.
Only the dragonborn city of Wyrmyr can claim to have a warm relationship with Blodhalle. The relationship with the dragonborn has become essential to the Blodhallen industrial power, and the peoples of the two cities have come to form a true and lasting bond.
While Blodhalle is on cordial terms with the Clans of the southern Kesselbron Mountains, such as the Bronsvauden and the Hundrveeren, most of the Clans still view Blodhalle with distaste and mistrust. The common attitude among the clans is that Blodhallens are disrespectful, deceitful double-dealers. So far, no Blodhallen has made much of an effort to dissuade them of this perspective.

Figures of Interest

King Bjorgen Orsbruk
Male mountain dwarf
Head of the Orsbruk Dynasty and one of the Twin-Pillar monarchs of Blodhalle
Queen Duvama Gruntaub
Female deep gnome
Head of the Gruntaub Dynasty and one of the Twin-Pillar monarchs of Blodhalle
Fortmaster Gunvora Vorst
Female rock gnome
Commander of the Blodhallen military, and warden of the citadel.

Symbol

A red mountain behind a stout gatehouse. The towers are shaped in the dwarven and gnomish characters for "locked"

Neighboring Nations

• Children of the Callair
• Kesselbroni Clans

Related Historical Events

• Circa 272 ca.
  The Underwar
• Circa 186 ca.
  The Rewards of Friendship
• Circa 6 ca.
  The Tables Turned
• Circa 698 ia.
  A Desperate Alliance
• Circa 788 ia.
  The Nezviedan Invasion
• Circa 2400 ia.
  The Blodhallens Rebel