Verstgaur
The Verstgaur are dwarves which primarily inhabit the mountains of the Hálendhara, DeshꜤwarak, and Arndzvord regions of Ærellion. Minorities can also be found in Berīt Narūm, Khŭlmozhi, Sahal Sahira, and Sahib Khasaal, while the dwarves of Telgren are descended from Verstgaur migrants. Thanks to their wide diaspora, the Verstgaur are widely known as archtypical dwarves, characterized by their stubbornness, extensive wealth, and unparalleled metalworking skills. Despite inhabiting their mountains for thousands of years, since before recorded history began, Verstgaur strongholds have only been broken into a few times. One of these incidents, that of the dragon Rakkaz the Black, sowed discord from Hálendhara to the coast of Sahib Khasaal and resulted in a long break between the humans of the region and the Verstgaur, which provided the spark to provoke most of the dwarves of the region to migrate to Telgren. However, since this incident, the dwarves and humans have returned to peace and Verstgaur have since spread throughout the region once more, although in lesser numbers than before. Event during the rise of the Jafarid Empire of the Holy Successor, the Verstgaur were respected as minorities by the Jafarids and were not pressured into conversion, although a small minority have done so. The arrival of the Orcish conquerors has not been quite as kind to the Dwarves, as Orcs pushed through the mountain passes during the late 1800s and dislodged the dwarves from many of their aboveground territories. The Orcs had been denied passage through these passes, contributing to their enslavement by the centaurs and giving rise to a grudge between the two races. To the Dwarves, the Orcs simply could not be trusted due to their frequent raids against the Dwarven lands from the steppe. Pushing into Sahal Sahira, many of these Orcs treated their new dwarven subjects harshly, prompting them to flee. Even after converting to the Illahic faiths, these orcish conquerors have continued to stoke the grudge between the two races.
The Verstgaur can be divided into Hálendharan, Bronsar, Arndzan, Yfirbjar, and Hathaúr subcultures, all of whom have slight differences in their societies, most notably in architecture. The culture can also be divided into subterranean and aboveground cultures; Hálendharan, Bronsar, and Arndzan being subterranean and the latter two being aboveground. Typically the aboveground Verstgaur are considered more open to outsiders, and their reclusiveness can be seen as disrespectful to those not aware of their cultural distinctions.
This is most obvious in the Hálendharan. Residing in the vast peaks of the Hálendhara and living there uninterrupted since long before written records, the Hálendharan are a developed and cosmopolitan dwarven society. They claim to have arisen from the stones of the mountain at the dawn of time, and worship the gods related to this supposed act. Consequentially, the Hálendharan are the center of the Rósteinot faith, and have numerous holy sites and grottos throughout the mountains. The Hálendharan are the primary dealers of iron and steel alloys in western Ærellion, making high quality goods which tend to outcompete local sources, except where the Yfirbjar proliferate. They have often been described as stern, though not dour, lovers of order but holding a strong hatred for tyranny. Their holds are usually barred to non-dwarves, which has caused friction in the past. Following the Rakkaz incident, all Hálendharan dwarven holds iwere upgraded with anti-dragon defenses and wards, and they are generally considered unbreakable. The Hálendharan are also responsible for starting the dwarven side of their grudge with orcs in recent years.
The Bronsar culture is a similarly ancient culture to the Hálendharan, who live primarily in the southern reaches of the Hálendharan mountains, past [tbd] pass; this region's mountains have a different composition to the northern range. They are notable for being the first race to have recorded bronzeworking, between 4000 and 5000 BC. The alloy's name, bronze, is typically assumed to be connected to the Bronsar, but evidence is inconclusive as there are no records from so long ago. Before the use of bronze, the Bronsar made extensive use of copper and brass, both of which are still commonly seen in their architecture today. The Bronsar were responsible for spreading several artifacts across western Ærellion during this period, most notable of which are their small bronze mirrors, also known as Bronsigil. These were prized as luxery items by the Ægyians and Ursumar during antiquity, as their quality was notable superior to local imitations. Since the mirrors are made of bronze, vampires are able to see themselves in them, making them still useful to this day. The Bronsar are also responsible for the early spreading of bronze coinage. Although still called copper coins, most coins of the sort are actually replaced by bronze, and have been since the invention of the alloy, though to the Bronsor these sorts of coins have different values. Modern day exports of bronze are often used for shipbuilding purposes, though the landlocked Bronsor have no experience sailing. Their vast exports of Bronze are also now beginning to be used extensively for cannons, and demand is expected to rise ever more in the future. The Bronsor are generally considered more friendly than the rest of the subterranean Verstgaur, and their halls are often open to visitors, although they have a tendancy to brag about the wealth on display. Their magnificent architecture fills the mountains, with various halls being many stories deep and almost all peaks having some sort of hollowed chambers or passageways within them, many dating back thousands of years. They are also the only culture of the only race on good enough terms with the Djinn to have the distinction of Djinn communities within their halls. To accomodate them, the western caverns are often more open to the air, though protected from desert storms. These western holdings also function as trading posts for the Alḫamis, who bring numerous goods, most infamously slaves, throughout the desert. Due to their association with the Djinn, the Bronsar do not allow slavery in their lands, so the Alḫamis who stop in them primarily work as middlemen for their western exports, and are not part of the clans involved in the slave trade.
The final culture of subterranean Verstgaur, Arndzan dwarves live within the highlands and mountains of the same name. Much like the former two, their settlements in the region have a rich history and many ancient secrets can be found in their halls. Unlike the Hálendharans and Bronsar, however, the Arndzan were surrounded by tribal peoples and therefore the market for their goods was lesser. Thus, they entered an exile for many years, although this was broken after the rise of the Ursumar Divinites, as the Arndzan, alongside the Bronsor, often payed tribute to these empires. More so than the Bronsor, the Arndzan are dependent on these empires for resource demands and to keep the tribute system running smoothly so that the shipment routes are safe from raids. The recent struggles of the Divinity of Bēlqūašdu have caused great harm to their economy. Usually such pressures would be alleviated by flooding the eastern markets of the Jungyu, reducing profits but ridding themselves of surplus goods, yet the recent centaurs conquests have thrown this avenue into even more turmoil. Should these regions right themselves, the Arndzan should once more return to prosperity, but at the present their situation seems grim. For now, they have resigned themselves to bunkering down once more. As the furthest eastern Verstgaur the Arndzan have also had the opportunity to meet the Jade Dwarves through the regions of Junyeong and Bakatyeong. Although there are very few Arndzan in these regions, the discovery of other dwarves ignited a flurry of state visits and trading relations, which, although they have since cooled, mean that the cultures see one another as brothers and not enemies, and have agreed to not oppose one anothers' economic ventures in the region.
In contrast to the preceding races, the Yfirbjar are primarily dwarves who live aboveground, although technically some do reside underground. Descended from migrants from the Hálendharan range, Yfirbjar are present as a minority throughout the Sahal Sahira and Sahib Khasaal regions, although in the past century many from Sahal Sahira have fled Orcish violence, migrating to Sahib Khasaal or back into the Hálendharan fold. Unlike their fortified mountain-dwelling cousins, the Yfirbjar have struggled to maintain their status in the region, dating back centuries. While Yfirbjar relams once ruled several kingdoms in the mainly human Sahal Sahira and Sahib Khasaal, many of these were disbanded in the wake of Rakkaz the Black and the subsequent persecutions of dwarves. Never as secure as the massive mountains, these realms were conquered and their population dispersed, eventually prompting their migration to Telgren. While there were some remnants of dwarven control and even a few microstates, all of it was brought under the control of the Jafarids during their conquests, definitively ending the sovereignty of the Yfirbjar. Under the Jafarids, the dwarven population was once again respected and participated in economic activity, prompting a new wave of migrations from Hálendhara and a flourishing of dwarven culture. Following the collapse of the final Holy Successor Empire, that of the Fatimi, their standard of living declined slightly, though not enough to prompt a new exodus, in contrast to the later orcish invasions mentioned previously.
The final and smallest group of Verstgaur are the Hathaúr, who live primarily in the Berīt Narūm region, although small communities can be found in the solar elven states. Descended from a mixed population primarily of Bronsar but with a minority of Arndzan ancestors, the Hathaúr are tightly integrated into the Ursumar clulture, and many of them have converted to the Alwatian religion, abandoning their tradtional faith. The Hathaúr primarily work as metalsmiths, liasons for the other dwarven cultures, or as engineers within the military. They have played a major role in shaping the various fortifications that have thus far kept Bēlqūašdu safe from the Teltar menace in the north, littering the foothills with walls, bastions, and other strongholds. Hathaúr communities have technically existed since the earliest days of the Bronsar trade with the Ursumar, but they did not develop their cultural distinctions until many years of living amongst humans and the arrival of the Arndzan into the region.
The Verstgaur can be divided into Hálendharan, Bronsar, Arndzan, Yfirbjar, and Hathaúr subcultures, all of whom have slight differences in their societies, most notably in architecture. The culture can also be divided into subterranean and aboveground cultures; Hálendharan, Bronsar, and Arndzan being subterranean and the latter two being aboveground. Typically the aboveground Verstgaur are considered more open to outsiders, and their reclusiveness can be seen as disrespectful to those not aware of their cultural distinctions.
This is most obvious in the Hálendharan. Residing in the vast peaks of the Hálendhara and living there uninterrupted since long before written records, the Hálendharan are a developed and cosmopolitan dwarven society. They claim to have arisen from the stones of the mountain at the dawn of time, and worship the gods related to this supposed act. Consequentially, the Hálendharan are the center of the Rósteinot faith, and have numerous holy sites and grottos throughout the mountains. The Hálendharan are the primary dealers of iron and steel alloys in western Ærellion, making high quality goods which tend to outcompete local sources, except where the Yfirbjar proliferate. They have often been described as stern, though not dour, lovers of order but holding a strong hatred for tyranny. Their holds are usually barred to non-dwarves, which has caused friction in the past. Following the Rakkaz incident, all Hálendharan dwarven holds iwere upgraded with anti-dragon defenses and wards, and they are generally considered unbreakable. The Hálendharan are also responsible for starting the dwarven side of their grudge with orcs in recent years.
The Bronsar culture is a similarly ancient culture to the Hálendharan, who live primarily in the southern reaches of the Hálendharan mountains, past [tbd] pass; this region's mountains have a different composition to the northern range. They are notable for being the first race to have recorded bronzeworking, between 4000 and 5000 BC. The alloy's name, bronze, is typically assumed to be connected to the Bronsar, but evidence is inconclusive as there are no records from so long ago. Before the use of bronze, the Bronsar made extensive use of copper and brass, both of which are still commonly seen in their architecture today. The Bronsar were responsible for spreading several artifacts across western Ærellion during this period, most notable of which are their small bronze mirrors, also known as Bronsigil. These were prized as luxery items by the Ægyians and Ursumar during antiquity, as their quality was notable superior to local imitations. Since the mirrors are made of bronze, vampires are able to see themselves in them, making them still useful to this day. The Bronsar are also responsible for the early spreading of bronze coinage. Although still called copper coins, most coins of the sort are actually replaced by bronze, and have been since the invention of the alloy, though to the Bronsor these sorts of coins have different values. Modern day exports of bronze are often used for shipbuilding purposes, though the landlocked Bronsor have no experience sailing. Their vast exports of Bronze are also now beginning to be used extensively for cannons, and demand is expected to rise ever more in the future. The Bronsor are generally considered more friendly than the rest of the subterranean Verstgaur, and their halls are often open to visitors, although they have a tendancy to brag about the wealth on display. Their magnificent architecture fills the mountains, with various halls being many stories deep and almost all peaks having some sort of hollowed chambers or passageways within them, many dating back thousands of years. They are also the only culture of the only race on good enough terms with the Djinn to have the distinction of Djinn communities within their halls. To accomodate them, the western caverns are often more open to the air, though protected from desert storms. These western holdings also function as trading posts for the Alḫamis, who bring numerous goods, most infamously slaves, throughout the desert. Due to their association with the Djinn, the Bronsar do not allow slavery in their lands, so the Alḫamis who stop in them primarily work as middlemen for their western exports, and are not part of the clans involved in the slave trade.
The final culture of subterranean Verstgaur, Arndzan dwarves live within the highlands and mountains of the same name. Much like the former two, their settlements in the region have a rich history and many ancient secrets can be found in their halls. Unlike the Hálendharans and Bronsar, however, the Arndzan were surrounded by tribal peoples and therefore the market for their goods was lesser. Thus, they entered an exile for many years, although this was broken after the rise of the Ursumar Divinites, as the Arndzan, alongside the Bronsor, often payed tribute to these empires. More so than the Bronsor, the Arndzan are dependent on these empires for resource demands and to keep the tribute system running smoothly so that the shipment routes are safe from raids. The recent struggles of the Divinity of Bēlqūašdu have caused great harm to their economy. Usually such pressures would be alleviated by flooding the eastern markets of the Jungyu, reducing profits but ridding themselves of surplus goods, yet the recent centaurs conquests have thrown this avenue into even more turmoil. Should these regions right themselves, the Arndzan should once more return to prosperity, but at the present their situation seems grim. For now, they have resigned themselves to bunkering down once more. As the furthest eastern Verstgaur the Arndzan have also had the opportunity to meet the Jade Dwarves through the regions of Junyeong and Bakatyeong. Although there are very few Arndzan in these regions, the discovery of other dwarves ignited a flurry of state visits and trading relations, which, although they have since cooled, mean that the cultures see one another as brothers and not enemies, and have agreed to not oppose one anothers' economic ventures in the region.
In contrast to the preceding races, the Yfirbjar are primarily dwarves who live aboveground, although technically some do reside underground. Descended from migrants from the Hálendharan range, Yfirbjar are present as a minority throughout the Sahal Sahira and Sahib Khasaal regions, although in the past century many from Sahal Sahira have fled Orcish violence, migrating to Sahib Khasaal or back into the Hálendharan fold. Unlike their fortified mountain-dwelling cousins, the Yfirbjar have struggled to maintain their status in the region, dating back centuries. While Yfirbjar relams once ruled several kingdoms in the mainly human Sahal Sahira and Sahib Khasaal, many of these were disbanded in the wake of Rakkaz the Black and the subsequent persecutions of dwarves. Never as secure as the massive mountains, these realms were conquered and their population dispersed, eventually prompting their migration to Telgren. While there were some remnants of dwarven control and even a few microstates, all of it was brought under the control of the Jafarids during their conquests, definitively ending the sovereignty of the Yfirbjar. Under the Jafarids, the dwarven population was once again respected and participated in economic activity, prompting a new wave of migrations from Hálendhara and a flourishing of dwarven culture. Following the collapse of the final Holy Successor Empire, that of the Fatimi, their standard of living declined slightly, though not enough to prompt a new exodus, in contrast to the later orcish invasions mentioned previously.
The final and smallest group of Verstgaur are the Hathaúr, who live primarily in the Berīt Narūm region, although small communities can be found in the solar elven states. Descended from a mixed population primarily of Bronsar but with a minority of Arndzan ancestors, the Hathaúr are tightly integrated into the Ursumar clulture, and many of them have converted to the Alwatian religion, abandoning their tradtional faith. The Hathaúr primarily work as metalsmiths, liasons for the other dwarven cultures, or as engineers within the military. They have played a major role in shaping the various fortifications that have thus far kept Bēlqūašdu safe from the Teltar menace in the north, littering the foothills with walls, bastions, and other strongholds. Hathaúr communities have technically existed since the earliest days of the Bronsar trade with the Ursumar, but they did not develop their cultural distinctions until many years of living amongst humans and the arrival of the Arndzan into the region.
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