Dwarven Kingdom of Starn
The Dwarven Kingdom of Starn (Dwarvish: Dwjorgumal Kjarnarrik Starnavor) is a kingdom located in central Galessia. Spanning the majority of the mountain ranges of Galespine and the eponymous Starn Mountains, as well as lower-lying territories Balkholme and the Worthy Lowlands, Starn is bordered in the west by the City of Garlond, in the south by the Kingdom of Grasynnia, in the northeast by the River Wendrough, in the north by the Protectorate of Highvale of the Alliance of Overmyre, and in the northwest by the empty Ossyeard. An ancient nation famed for its wealth, the dwarves of Starn have long shaped Galessian history and continue to be a major player in the economical and political landscape of the continent.
Forced back into the mountains, the dwarves founded the Starnish kingdom as a successor state. In the centuries that followed, as nations sprung up around them, the dwarves kept to themselves; playing the long game in hoping that the shorter-lived races of the continent would slowly forget about the subjugation of the Empire. In this time, the dwarves toiled away, constructing more cities in the mountains, and mining its precious resources for trade with their new neighbors. Slowly, but surely, the coin of the world started flowing in the direction of the mountains again.
The Grasynnian kings of eld were on good terms with the dwarves: as a trading kingdom with a love for luxury, Grasynnia conducted much business with them. Therefore, when the Dragonbane Conquest happened, Dwarfking Lhimmog Boulderbrand was initially cautious and kept relations cool. However, as time passed, the ambitious conquests of the Dragonbanes spurred a change in behavior: the Dwarfking sought an alliance with Grasynnia, to secure the continued existence of Starn - and to profit off of their conquests. With this alliance sealed, trade between the two nations grew more plentiful than ever.
Not long after the accession of Lhimmog's son Dardrag Boulderbrand to the throne, the Zenith War broke out with the Grasynnian attack on the Kingdom of Dergeria. As more and more factions joined the conflict on the opposing side, Dwarfking Dardrag opted to honor his father's word and defend his ally by halting what would otherwise have been a crippling attack by the Alliance of Overmyre at Balkholme. After holding the northmen at a stalemate throughout the war, and providing the Falchions with all the steel they required, the dwarves secured the Grasynnians' opportunity for victory on nearly all fronts.
After the end of the war, the dwarves have integrated their economy more and more with Grasynnia, while also remaining a resource provider for other territories. Some balk at the prospect of working with the dwarves, especially the people of Overmyre, but none can deny the necessity of their resources. Thus, the Starnish treasury continues to grow, and the dwarves continue to prosper.
However, beyond the confines of the massive mountains live the hill dwarves, in the lower-lying lands known as Balkholme and the Worthy Lowlands. These grassy hills are rich in lumber and game, and the waters of the rivers flowing from the mountains keeps their nature lush; most major rivers in Galessia, such as the Myre, Wendrough, Rothe, Aln, and Bax find their source somewhere in Starnish territory. The dwarves therefore never lack in fresh water for use in their many alcoholic brews.
Governance is divorced from the common dwarf, who has no say in the government in any way. Most dwarves however care little for such matters, preferring to just keep working. Dwarven culture is, ironically, very sober and labor-focused. The city dwarves especially don't meddle much with matters beyond their ken, including outsiders. Rotheraine and its mountain are considered sacred to the dwarves, and are therefore off-limits to any non-dwarf, except those with special exception granted to them by a member of government or the clergy. The dwarves worship several gods, even old dwarven deities not counted among the Divines, such as Moradin. Among the divines, however, Gond, God of the Crafts is popular in the nation.
Beyond dwarves, a sizable community of halflings has relocated to Balkholme following their displacement, and they fit in well. Outside of them however, Starn remains to this day largely a dwarven nation, with little in the way of other races to be found.
History
Millennia ago, before the modern nations of Galessia appeared on the map, the mountain-dwelling dwarves were the masters of the continent. The Ancient Dwarven Empire ruled over nearly the entire continent, subjugating and displacing many of its other people groups and exploiting them for wealth and labor. Massive uprisings throughout these conquered lands, collectively known as the Darksky War, brought an end to centuries of dwarven rule and forced the dwarves to retreat to the mountains were none but they could live. In the wake of the Empire's dissolution, much of its treasure was lost to the now-free peoples of Galessia, but much was hidden from prying eyes by enterprising individuals. These artifacts, collectively known as Moradin's Treasures, largely remain lost and hidden somewhere on the continent.Forced back into the mountains, the dwarves founded the Starnish kingdom as a successor state. In the centuries that followed, as nations sprung up around them, the dwarves kept to themselves; playing the long game in hoping that the shorter-lived races of the continent would slowly forget about the subjugation of the Empire. In this time, the dwarves toiled away, constructing more cities in the mountains, and mining its precious resources for trade with their new neighbors. Slowly, but surely, the coin of the world started flowing in the direction of the mountains again.
The Grasynnian kings of eld were on good terms with the dwarves: as a trading kingdom with a love for luxury, Grasynnia conducted much business with them. Therefore, when the Dragonbane Conquest happened, Dwarfking Lhimmog Boulderbrand was initially cautious and kept relations cool. However, as time passed, the ambitious conquests of the Dragonbanes spurred a change in behavior: the Dwarfking sought an alliance with Grasynnia, to secure the continued existence of Starn - and to profit off of their conquests. With this alliance sealed, trade between the two nations grew more plentiful than ever.
Not long after the accession of Lhimmog's son Dardrag Boulderbrand to the throne, the Zenith War broke out with the Grasynnian attack on the Kingdom of Dergeria. As more and more factions joined the conflict on the opposing side, Dwarfking Dardrag opted to honor his father's word and defend his ally by halting what would otherwise have been a crippling attack by the Alliance of Overmyre at Balkholme. After holding the northmen at a stalemate throughout the war, and providing the Falchions with all the steel they required, the dwarves secured the Grasynnians' opportunity for victory on nearly all fronts.
After the end of the war, the dwarves have integrated their economy more and more with Grasynnia, while also remaining a resource provider for other territories. Some balk at the prospect of working with the dwarves, especially the people of Overmyre, but none can deny the necessity of their resources. Thus, the Starnish treasury continues to grow, and the dwarves continue to prosper.
Geography
Starn has two faces, geographically speaking. The mountains for which the country is famous are among the largest in all of Luquastra, including the single-highest peak in the world, known as Halug Gor to the dwarves and Rotheraine Peak to others. These towering mountains house a myriad of cave systems, treacherous gorges, and the dwarven cities, built in the heart of the hollowed-out mountains. Most prominent of these is the capital city of Rotheraine (Dwarvish: Dunfearn, meaning Under-Home), however, eight other dwarven cities exist within these mountains' hollows, known collectively as the Eight Lesser Summits.However, beyond the confines of the massive mountains live the hill dwarves, in the lower-lying lands known as Balkholme and the Worthy Lowlands. These grassy hills are rich in lumber and game, and the waters of the rivers flowing from the mountains keeps their nature lush; most major rivers in Galessia, such as the Myre, Wendrough, Rothe, Aln, and Bax find their source somewhere in Starnish territory. The dwarves therefore never lack in fresh water for use in their many alcoholic brews.
Politics and Society
The Dwarven Kingdom of Starn is a kingdom of kingdoms: each of the nine mountain cities has a king, yet only the king of Rotheraine can style himself the Dwarfking and is considered to be the absolute ruler of all dwarves. Only male dwarves are allowed to rule: if a dynasty has no more male heirs, a new king will be crowned. This is usually decided through a contest of some sort, though the exact type varies. The hill dwarves of the lowlands have mayors instead of kings, appointed by and reporting directly to the Dwarfking's council. The Dwarfking appoints various functionaries to this council, most important of which are the Chief Treasurer, the Godsspeaker, and the Minelord.Governance is divorced from the common dwarf, who has no say in the government in any way. Most dwarves however care little for such matters, preferring to just keep working. Dwarven culture is, ironically, very sober and labor-focused. The city dwarves especially don't meddle much with matters beyond their ken, including outsiders. Rotheraine and its mountain are considered sacred to the dwarves, and are therefore off-limits to any non-dwarf, except those with special exception granted to them by a member of government or the clergy. The dwarves worship several gods, even old dwarven deities not counted among the Divines, such as Moradin. Among the divines, however, Gond, God of the Crafts is popular in the nation.
Beyond dwarves, a sizable community of halflings has relocated to Balkholme following their displacement, and they fit in well. Outside of them however, Starn remains to this day largely a dwarven nation, with little in the way of other races to be found.
Dwarvish Kingdom of Starn
Dwjorgumal Kjarnarrik Starnavor
Ruler
Dwarfking Dardrag Boulderbrand
Capital
Rotheraine
Armed Forces
The Samans
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