The border between Kadrik and Nadrow is mostly unusable land, of thick forest or steep mountain. It is uninhabited apart from a small strech of land near the south. This has come to be known as Southgill Mine, after a long period of ownership by the Dwarves of Kadrik, and has been fought over since the border was drawn.
Nearly 100% of the population of Southgill mine are drow elves. Some continue to work the mine, while most are farmers of the famous grapevines that fill the area.
The small population and almost autonomous nature of the region have lead the drow that live there towards a form of communism. This apparently works quite well, although serves to strengthen their hatred of other races.
Two huge walls, each several miles long, mark the ends of the lands called southgill mine. These strech deep into mountainous forest, such that it's almost impossible to enter the area without crossing them. A gate in each marks the only crossing place, and every person that enters is checked thoroughly, watched constantly, and encouraged not to stop in their two hour long crossing.
As Kadrik and Nadrow grew, they reached a border with each other. Most of this consisted of incredibly difficult terrain, and so a line was drawn easily, with little concern about accuracy. However, a particularly bountiful valley bowl was discovered, which niether country wanted to give up, as it was rich in resourses and would make an excellent strategic point should the countries go to war. The border at the time was drawn straight through the valley, and both Kadrik and Nadrow began to build fortesses there. Soon the conflict escalated into all out war, with niether side happy to allow the other such an advantagous position. After three years of bloodshed, the agreement was made that the border must be open.
For 107 years this arrangment held, with neither side getting the benifits of the land they daren't occupy. The road through the valley became a hotspot for theives and smugglers. Eventually, an entrepreneurial dwarf started to mine on the Kadrik side of the valley, naming his mine "Southgill Mine". His wealth from the copper he mined there grew, and the shabby mining huts started to look more like castles to keep out the bandits, and began to spread across the border.
Then, 562 years after the treaty was signed, the generals of nadrow decided to make a move. They negotiated with a portion of the drow population (who were disliked, for good reason) that the drow could own the land if they could keep the dwarves off it. What followed is one of the bloodiest battles known to Tariksan, as every single one of the dwarven occupants of Southgill Mine was slaughtered.
The drow made their homes in the mines, and farmed the valley for grapes to make wine. No conflict has followed in the last 200 years, as neither Kadrik nor Nadrow believe the valley is worth it now that Southgill Mine is essentially a 'buffer' between the two nations.
A large, fertile valley bowl in the mountains.
Southgill mine still produces a small amount of copper, although it's main export is wine, which it is famous for. In the taverns in Tariksan and Kadrik a song is sung about this famed drink, that goes as follows:
I'll tell you a story about your wine,
The grapes are grown near Southgill Mine,
the reason why it tastes so good,
Is those fields are rich in dwarven blood!
Because the drow, they do not care,
Whose broken bodies they lay there,
And so, my friend, please fill your bowl,
And quench your thirst with dwarven soul!