Elderhalls of Kanarrak
Overview
Hidden beneath the icy peaks of the Iglophian Mountains lies the secluded and formidable realm of Kanarrak. Far beneath the cold, unyielding rock that separates the overworld from the deep, the Elderhalls of Kanarrak stand as a bastion of Dwarven tradition and isolation. Ruled by the Kazram'Dhurn (Council of Elders), Kanarrak enforces an ironclad martial law that is outright hostile to outsiders. Once part of the ancient Under-Empire, this realm remains fiercely protective of its legacy. After centuries of isolation following The Cataclysm, the memory of the overworld’s perceived betrayals and crimes against their kind burns vividly in the hearts of the Narraki Dwarves.
To the Narraki, the overworld represents corruption and sin. They hold sacred the belief that even glimpsing the open sky is a heresy punishable by the gravest of measures - exile and the shaving of one’s beard, a fate considered almost worse than death. In their eyes, Kanarrak is not just a nation but the last untainted stronghold of Dwarvenkind, where ancestral purity and tradition endure.
Government
The Council
The Kazram'Dhurn, or Elder Council, holds absolute authority over Kanarrak. These wise and revered leaders enforce the realm’s strict laws, rooted in martial discipline and ancestral reverence. Their word is seen as the will of the ancestors, and to question them is to defy centuries of sacred tradition. Few dare to challenge their authority, for the penalties are as severe as their rule is unyielding.
Caste System
Kanarrak’s society operates under a rigid caste system, wherein every individual is bound to the role of their birth. It is believed that each caste embodies the legacy of its ancestors, with bloodlines carefully preserved to honor their skills and traditions. To stray from one’s caste is considered a grave dishonor, not only to the individual but to their entire lineage.
The castes:
- Kazdan'zhur (Noble Caste) - Nobility who oversee regional governance and enforce the mandates of the Council of Elders. They include landholders, administrators, and prominent stewards of the realm.
- Thar'kharn (Warrior Caste) - Defenders of the Elderhalls, tasked with protecting the realm from internal and external threats. They include elite soldiers, ordinary guards, and wise strategists.
- Kazim'vok (Forge Caste) - The master artisans and blacksmiths responsible for crafting weapons, armor, tools, and the intricate runic engravings the Elderhalls are known for.
- Durn'khar (Miner Caste) - Miners, stonecutters, and those who delve into the depths to extract valuable resources like mithril, gold, and gemstones.
- Mor'dhuran (Priest Caste) - "Honored Custodians of the Dead" in the Elderhalls, they are responsible for honoring the ancestors through worship, conducting sacred rites, and maintaining the vast catacombs where the honored dead rest. They act as intermediaries between the living and the spirits of the departed.
- Thar'vok (Brewer Caste) - Masters of brewing, fermentation, and nourishment. They are responsible for crafting the ales, meads, and spirits that sustain and celebrate life in the Elderhalls. Beyond this, they also prepare food and manage the fungal farms that form the foundation of Narraki sustenance, as well as brew medical potions and ointments.
- Handrath (Crafter Caste) - They are responsible for producing a wide variety of goods, from the practical to the decorative. They are the carpenters who shape wood into sturdy furniture, the tailors who weave and sew intricate garments, and the potters who mold clay into both utility and art.
- Huz'ruk (Servitor Caste) - General laborers who tend to day-to-day operations such as farming, maintaining infrastructure, and serving in households.
- Var'zul (Outcast) - Those who have been exiled or disgraced for breaking sacred laws or showing disregard for tradition. The word also extends to criminals, those who stray too close to outsiders, and foreign Dwarves.
Geography
Kanarrak exists entirely beneath the surface, sprawling into vast subterranean chambers and crevices that house entire cities. Above their rock-hewn homeland lies the unforgiving overworld, a frigid and desolate region at the edge of the Frost Wastes. The Iglophian Mountains, towering and treacherous, shield southern Arboria from the eternal frost to the north.
These mountains are nearly impassable, with few known passages into their heart. Even these remain largely unexplored, as few dare to venture into this harsh expanse. In the deepest valleys, geothermal vents occasionally break through, creating pockets of steaming water that thaw the frozen landscape and allow sparse plant life to survive. Snowmelt trickles into central lakes, which remain frozen most of the year. Only a few rivers manage to carve their way out of these icy peaks, such as the mighty Runelva, which cascades in majestic waterfalls before flowing into Hvelgermir in Heimerland.
Despite its desolation, the Iglophian Mountains are sacred to the Narraki Dwarves, who claim the range as their ancestral homeland. Every inch of this terrain is fiercely protected. Even the Var'thul - the exiled outcasts - play a role in this defense. Though banished from their subterranean kin, they guard the mountain passes and entrances to Kanarrak with unwavering loyalty, believing it their duty to protect their kin below. Over time, these exiles have built a network of fortified strongholds above ground. Though they know they will never return to the Elderhalls, they remain bound by their pride and duty.
In rare acts of acknowledgment, the Narraki provide food and supplies for the outcasts, leaving them halfway to be retrieved. On rare occasions, these exchanges even permit brief and bittersweet reunions with family members, moments of gratitude amid a life of exile.
People & Culture
The Narraki are fiercely proud, deeply isolationist, and profoundly superstitious. They take immense pride in their kin, their homeland, and their storied history, and they brook no challenge to their traditions or authority. Having lived under strict societal order for nearly a millennium, the Narraki regard this way of life as natural and immutable. They are traditionalists to the core, resistant to change and slow to accept innovation, even when it might benefit them. This cultural rigidity has led to a degree of stagnation, but it has also preserved their identity and way of life.
Despite their stern and isolationist nature, the Narraki retain the characteristic joys of Dwarvenkind. They take great pleasure in hearty meals, fine ales, and mead. Festivals, though rare, are marked by boisterous celebrations that offer a glimpse of the warmth and camaraderie beneath their somber exterior. Even within the strict confines of their society, the Narraki find moments to celebrate life and honor their ancestors.
Religion
The Narraki practice Ancestral Worship, their sole and deeply ingrained faith. They believe that the spirits of their ancestors watch over them, guiding their people with collective wisdom. These ancestors are seen as both protectors and judges, capable of bestowing blessings or curses based on the honor and deeds of the living. To honor the ancestors is paramount, while to bring them dishonor is a grave sin.
The reverence for ancestors is most visible in their vast, labyrinthine catacombs that stretch deep beneath their cities. These sacred places are adorned with intricate carvings that recount the sagas and exploits of those who came before. Here, the dead rest, their memories preserved in stone and their spirits venerated in daily life.
Rituals of ancestral worship are solemn and communal. Candles are lit, chants echo through the halls, and offerings are made to seek the guidance or forgiveness of the departed. These ceremonies serve as a reminder of the unbroken chain that connects the living Narraki to their forebears, anchoring their society in a tradition that transcends time.
Military
Doctrine
The Elderhalls of Kanarrak maintain a purely defensive military doctrine, rooted in their isolationist principles and mastery of subterranean warfare. Their strategy revolves around entrenchment and defense, leveraging the natural advantages of their environment to deter and defeat any would-be invaders. With their true home buried deep beneath the earth, they rely on controlling the narrow and winding passageways that lead to their caverns. Above ground, the Exiles defend the outer approaches to their mountains, manning outposts and small fortresses from which they rain fire on trespassers.
In dire situations, the Narraki demonstrate a grim ingenuity by using the mountains themselves as a weapon. Avalanches can be triggered with precision, burying entire armies under tons of snow and rock, and permanently sealing off critical passageways. This calculated destruction ensures that even if enemies breach the outer defenses, they are left with no path to the heart of Kanarrak.
Specialties
The backbone of the Narraki military is their ingenuity, adaptability, and reliance on elite warriors and cunning tactics.
The elite soldiers of Kanarrak, the Graybeards, are clad in masterfully forged plate armor and possess decades, if not centuries, of combat experience. These fearsome warriors are revered as living legends and exhibit an unyielding resolve in battle. Tasked with defending the Elderhalls' deepest reaches, they face off against relentless underworld threats such as goblins, kobolds, and giant spiders. Their reputation for fearlessness and unshakable discipline strikes terror into the hearts of their enemies.
The Narraki are unparalleled in their use of traps and defensive mechanisms. From falling boulders, concealed spike pits, and automated bolt-launchers, they deploy a wide array of ingenious contraptions designed to maim, confuse, or halt intruders. These traps allow them to defend key passageways with minimal manpower, freeing up their warriors for more critical tasks. Against dimwitted adversaries, such as underworld pests, these traps are often all that is needed to secure a perimeter.
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