Dwarven Holds
The Dwarven holds are the collection of forts, karraks, and cities that are held by the dwarves. The Dwarves are united underneath their high king elected by the Council of Thanes. The capital of the Dwarven Holds is karrak Dumar, the city set in the heart of the glittering mountains absolutely rich in mineral wealth. The dwarves began constructing Karrak Dumar in 3734 C.E and elected their first high King Darro Rockcrusher in 3450 CE.
The Dwarves are a hardy race and are just as stubborn. Dwarves hold grudges across generations, but maintain those friendships as well. The Dwarves currently on trying to reassert their former glory and resecure their holds from sections still infested with undead which they are struggling to deal with. The Dwarves also continue to supply high grade weapons and armor to the Republic to avenge their grudge against the Hegemony of Serica as they are still struggling with their manpower problems from the sundering.
History
Dwarves in the modern age are known for their close alliance with The Republic of Solden and Vernica, but early in their history the dwarves were extraordinarily isolationist and rarely interacted with the other factions on Gaulren. This changed when the Kingdom of Serica attacked and captured their holds in the Mydon Peaks. The Dwarves were outraged and King Morlen prepared his assault during the First War of the Broken Holds.
After this war the dwarves entered into an alliance with The Republic of Solden and Vernica as their armies had been severely reduced and they needed help in future conflicts against Serica. In return the dwarves provided their expertise in crafting by providing them arms and armor to perpetuate their wars. The Republic of Solden and Vernica was happy to take this deal as their blacksmiths couldn't even come close to that which the dwarves could craft. This forged an alliance that last into the modern age.
The Dwarves continued supplying weapons and armor, but eventually it turned to the Republic simply buying them or trading food to the Dwarves for their crafts. The alliance still maintained, but turned more into a trade agreement for some time. After some time the Dwarves caught wind of the intention of the Republic to invade Albion again. The Dwarves began a campaign convincing senators to instead invade Serica as they were a former colony of the Republic and must be brought back into their fold. They also reminded the Republic of their alliance and told them that it was time to fulfill their end of the bargain. King Horthig Marrimum informed the Republic their preparations to invade Serica were almost complete and they had a stash of gear to provide to them in return for their support, as well as some gold to grease the wheels of a few key senators. The senate agreed to these terms stationing a garrison along the Albion borders and bringing their main force to the province of Luclana preparing for word from the Dwarves.
The Dwarves marched their armies out of the mountains bringing with them large numbers of artillery and ranged units to supplement the legions of the Republic. King Horthig waited until the Republic's senate completed their war declaration and then marched with their legions south towards Serica. Dwarven vanguard units were sent to the Mydon Peak holds ahead of the army securing a handful of them to allow the armies of both factions to have a forward base to operate from beginning the Second War of the Broken Holds.
The war ended with the dwarves collapsing most of the holds and mines in the mountains causing the Sericans a great deal of trouble attempting to resecure them and open the mines again. The Dwarves once again took a large number of casualties and retreated deep into their holds to recover while the Republic went to war with Albion once again. The Dwarves maintained their seclusion only interacting with the republic to maintain their alliance building up their forces and attempting to improve their weaponry. They began to develop new technology by hiring engineers from the newly formed technological capital of Gaulren, Endronia. They developed repeating rifles and flame weaponry along with a variety of new metal blends to improve their weapon quality and strength. They also began to construct steam powered chariots which they mounted heavy cannons on in order to increase their mobility and ability to change their attack direction. The Dwarves studied these weapons and began crafting them in their forges and arming their troops.
The Dwarven holds entered into a long cold civil war in which many of the holds' thanes began to not take orders from the high king in regards to arming themselves for the coming conflict as they wanted to focus on expanding their hold and economy. This lasted from a century after the end of the Second War of the Broken Holds and went on for about three hundred years before the High King managed to unite the holds again and begin their preparations for the invasion of Serica again.
The time was coming that the Dwarves were ready to strike once again and they were struggling to convince any of the senate to attack with them. It had almost been a millenia since the last War of the Broken Holds and many had no allegiance to the dwarves and their war. Tensions had been rising in the Republic and the Fourth Hadasht Expedition was about to be sent. The Dwarves continued to try and sway senators with gold and favors for them. Some senators began to get won over, but the majority were focused on the Fourth Hadasht Expedition which was beginning to fall apart at the seams. The Dwarves began to step back and the Second Republican Civil War broke out and the Dwarves sat back and watched the Republic almost tear itself apart. They spotted Serica begin to amass troops on their border near the Republic and saw what was about to happen. The Dwarves knew what was about to happen as the Republic was weakened from its infighting. The Sericans began to march into Republic lands and even though the Republic was reluctant to uphold their end of the bargain the Dwarves marched out to defend their ally. Serica marched their way into Luclana securing the provincial capital of Shenitsa and were preparing to march into Vernica lands. During this time both Solden and Vernica had finally made peace and began meeting the threats facing them. The Dwarves marched and as the emaciated legions began to mount a defense against the incoming Sericans the Dwarves charged starting the Third War of the Broken Holds. The Dwarves also dispatched a large contingent of troops on rented airships from Endronia to help defend against the Coalition of Hadasht saving the Republic from collapse from external threats. The Dwarves pushed the Kingdom of Serica and Coalition of Hadasht out of the Republic and allowed the Republic some time to recover before having them attack along with them against Serica.
The end of the Third War of the Broken Holds lead to the dwarves securing the Mydon Peaks again which had been restored by Serica, poorly by dwarven standards, and they held the holds until the events of the sundering. The dwarves content with retaking their lost lands after so many years and they erected massive monuments of High King Leriun Morumor. The Dwarves restored the holds to their proper splendor and began expanding them.
The Dwarves watched the events of the Third Republic Civil War unfold and again did not take a side in the conflict. They watched again as The Republic of Solden and Vernica ripped itself apart and watched in horror as the dead around the entire planet began to rise from their graves and began marching on the majority of their holds starting the events of the sundering.
The Dwarves were saved from destruction by the interdiction of the Justicar and his crusade saving the Dwarves holed deep in the heart of Karrak Dumar only a few months from starvation. The dwarves were absolutely destroyed losing about 75% of their population and took around a millennia to retake their major hold, but have yet to clear all of their holds of the undead since the events of the sundering and have yet to restore any of them fully. The Dwarves abandoned the Mydon Peaks and have only contributed men to the last two Wars of the Broken Holds with the Republic perpetuating the wars being equipped by the Dwarven forges.
Territories
The Dwarves have four major holds in the Glittering Mountains as well as a few minor holds. They also have a few minor holds in the Tarnished Mountains, but they don't usually interact with the dwarves of the Glittering Mountains very frequently. They used to have territory in the Mydon Peaks, but have lost the land to Serica. They managed to recapture them for about two centuries before the sundering, but lost them to the undead invasion.
The major holds in the Glittering Mountains are still crawling with undead and have still only secured about three fourths of the holds.
Military
The Dwarven military in the modern age is mostly filled with Dwarven repeaters and crowsbow units with a small contingent of shield bearers for the majority of their major engagements. The use of hammerers have fallen to the use of just guards of thanes and the High King as their casualty rates were too high and the dwarves mitigate their losses as much as possible as their supply of manpower is still very low. They also rely heavily on artillery the few times they do march out of their holds to fight.
The Dwarves that fill combat roles are forced to fight for weeks on end defending against undead attacks and attempting to clear the holds from undead trying to resecure it. These Dwarves are low in number, but exceedingly veteran.
Founding Date
3450 C.E.
Type
Geopolitical, Kingdom
Alternative Names
Dwarven Kingdoms
Training Level
Elite
Veterancy Level
Decorated/Honored
Demonym
Dwarves
Government System
Monarchy, Elective
Power Structure
Semi-autonomous area
Legislative Body
The Dwarven holds are lead by thanes who consult with the council of elders before making any decisions. The thane must have support by at least a fourth of the council before passing legislation. All thanes from the major holds are apart of the council of thanes responsible for electing the high king from one of the thanes of the holds who then becomes thane of Karrak Dumar. The High King is then responsible for the well-being of the Dwarven holds at large dealing with external threats and resolving internal debates. High Kings are able to veto a thanes decision in their hold, but can be overriden if three fourths of the hold's council supports the thane. The High King is responsible for any military action taken outside of the glittering mountains and are responsible to respond to any calls for support from a thane struggling with their problems. High Kings are allowed to pass laws that affect all holds so long as a majority of the council of thanes support the decision, but the council only meets twice a year barring a major threat.
Judicial Body
Thanes are each individually responsible for maintaining order in their holds and determining how they enact their laws. Crime happens so infrequently within the holds as most are still dealing with the undead infesting their holds that the thane usually acts as the judge for the crimes that happen in their hold. Visitos who enter the hold are usually expelled and banned from the hold indefinitely for any law broken and depending on what was done could be executed.
Location
Controlled Territories
Neighboring Nations
Notable Members
Comments