The Subterranean Struggle

Military action

After the Great Schism, the Drow withdrew into the Underdark, and there discovered the mines of the Dwarves. Conflict was inevitable.

For many long years the Dwarves had mined the earth beneath the mountains of the world. At Koldor's Hold they refined their findings into gems, armour and other items of unparalleled beauty and craft, which they sold to the inhabitants of the world above ground.   Then, around AtD 5655 the Drow incursion of their mines began. The world above ground would not know the true story of the struggle of the Dwarves, for they shut the huge adamantine gates of Koldor's Hold and withdrew to fight their war, for their very existence was under threat.   The subterranean struggle continued for many years, the battle lines moving back and forth through the warren of tunnels under the mountains. At times the Drow were on the verge of taking the Hold for themselves, but thanks to the actions of the great dwarven hero Kramic Chainbrew the Dwarves were eventually victors.   They deliberately sabotaged some of their most precious and productive mines, blocking the path of the Drow beneath miles of rockfall. Kramic Chainbrew was lost in the destruction, but they were finally safe.   Whilst the great bulk of their resources were lost to them, the Hold and their settlements were safe once again. They once more opened up the gates to the Hold and re-emerged into the dealings of the surface world, some 60 years after they had disappeared into the mountains.