Shieldholme
Shieldholme is the kingdom of shield dwarves located largely beneath the Galdark Mountains. The kingdom exists mostly underground with only a few settlements above ground. The capital city is Steadhold, which is located underneath Mount Stead.
The extent of Shieldholme's territory above ground has shifted over the centuries, but currently extends from the River Stead to cover most of the peninsula, with only the edge of the peninsula being independent territory of the city state Elridge.
Because it is predominantly underground, very few inhabitants are not either dwarvish or gnomish. Most of Shieldholme extends below the level at which the Deeps effect other races. However, there are several areas of the kingdom which are located at a height that is suitable for non dwarves and gnomes to reside.
Clans of Shieldholme
There are several great clans that vie for power over Shieldholme. The throne currently belongs to the Queen of Shieldholme, Helga Truehelm, who took the throne from Gorn Stonebreaker. The most powerful of the clans are:- Clan Truehelm
- Clan Stonemantle
- Clan Deepeye
- Clan Steelfound
- Clan Stonebreaker
- Clan Forgehold
History
The Shield Wars
The Kingdom of Shieldholme was formed before the Collapse at a time when the underground region was divided between several warring dwarven kingdoms. Over the course of the Shield Wars, Shieldholme emerged as the largest and most powerful. The Shield Wars largely took place underground, with the other races largely being unaware of its existence at the time. With the end of the Shield Wars came an end to warring between dwarven kingdoms, however fighting between the dwarven clans that control Shieldholme has continued to the present day. Instead of fighting between kingdoms, they frequently fight between each other for the throne of Shieldholme. Steadhold was constructed during the Shield Wars by the now extinct Clan Ironfist. It was under their rule that Steadhold expanded and gained ground against the other clans. Clan Ironfist brought an end to the Shield Wars by uniting the clans under a single dwarven nation in Shieldholme, with Steadhold as its capital, and maintained peace between the clans until the Collapse.Post-Collapse and the Second Shield Wars
With Clan Ironfist being wiped out during the Collapse, the aftermath left a power vacuum in Shieldholme that the powerful clans fiercely fought over. To an extent, this fighting persists to the modern day, with monarchs of Shieldholme frequently being deposed (politically or through violent means) so that a member of a rival clan can take the throne. In the wake of the Collapse, the dwarves of Shieldholme briefly established settlements above ground as they adapted to the pressure of the Deeps. Over time, they slowly returned to deep mining of the Galdark Mountains and largely abandoned above ground living. With the above ground region of Shieldholme empty, the Carenthian Empire began to occupy the land. The powerful clans of Shieldholme continued to vie with each other for control of the throne. The throne of Shieldholme tended to change from one clan to another every few decades during this time.The Stead War
Until around 690 PC, the Carenthian Empire had held the territory south of the Stead Mountains. There had been an informal agreement between the empire and Steadholme that allowed Carenthia to control the territory above ground while the shield dwarves of Steadholme controlled the area below ground. This informal agreement was stretched when large numbers of shield dwarves began to settle in the region above ground. The dwarven king contended that the land above ground was rightfully Steadholme's and that they had been kind enough to lend it to Carenthia until now. Despite its name, The Stead War is a war that never actually took place on any battlefield. While tensions were high, Carenthia ultimately ceded the territory to Steadholme before a physical war broke out. This is thought to be largely due to the fact that this would have been the first war fought after the invention of airships. With Carenthia reliant on trade from the hill dwarves of Ashun, it is likely that the empire's leadership did not think they could win if the dwarves of Ashun assisted their brethren in Steadholme. The territory above Steadholme was administered by the shield dwarves of the Stead Mountains until 830 PC, when a further treaty was signed with the Carenthian Empire. The new treaty granted the empire the right to administer some sections of the land above Steadholme in return for a portion of the produce from the region being sent into the Stead Mountains, thus finally formalising the arrangement between the two powers.Cold Blood Exodus
In 903 PC, the Carenthian Empire went to war with Draconir in what became known as the Cold Blood Exodus. This war lasted for several years and was heavily destructive. The King of Shieldholme sent soldiers to assist on the Carenthian side of the fighting, largely due to Draconir's practise of capturing shield dwarves for slaves. During these years, Carenthia slowly gained ground to its north and steadily captured Draconian territory. In 908, the two sides agreed to a peace deal that granted Carenthia large swathes of previously Draconian territory. This granted Carenthia most of its current day borders. Despite Shieldholme's participation in the conflict, they were unsuccessful at freeing large numbers of dwarven slaves from Draconir. However, Draconir did decrease the number of slaves it captured.Hundred Days War
In 980 PC, the Hundred Days War began. After decades of tensions between Carenthia and Draconir, Draconir launched an attack in northern Carenthia aimed at reclaiming its lost territory and capturing much of Carenthia's territory. However, due to numerous factors, Carenthia achieved such tremendous battlefield success during this time that Draconir was forced to capitulate and sacrifice slightly more territory to Carenthia. Draconir was also forced to relinquish all non-reptillian slaves in their territory to Carenthia, including dwarves. Shieldholme saw this as a great victory and the return of dwarven slaves to the kingdom was a powerful stabilising force for the monarch at the time, with very few of the powerful clans willing to challenge the monarch that oversaw the return of kidnapped dwarves.
Type
Geopolitical, Kingdom
Capital
Government System
Monarchy, Absolute
Legislative Body
Shieldholme is an absolute monarchy, with the king or queen having ultimate authority over the kingdom. The monarch is assisted by an advisory body made up of advisers from several of the kingdom's most powerful dwarven clans. However, the clans often fight amongst themselves for greater power and often fight against the monarchs themselves. Civil wars have been frequent throughout Shieldholme's history as one clan or another has vied to take the throne.
As a result of the monarch generally being unable to trust all of their advisors, the monarchs tend to rule absolutely. They take advice from their advisory body officially, but usually do not trust it. For a Shieldholme monarch, they must balance being seen to listen to the powerful clans while not appearing weak enough for one of the clans to consider challenging them.
Executive Body
Enforcement of the law in Shieldholme is the responsibility of the Stone Ministry. The Ministry is run by representatives from all of the powerful clans so that enforcement can be fair and monitored by each clan.
Controlled Territories
Neighboring Nations
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