Iron Hall
Carved out of the mountains, the broad halls and passages of Iron Hall stretch and wind their way beneath the surface. The city branches its way beneath the mountains where some massive caverns and halls demonstrate the skill of the dwarven stonemasons and architects. The Ironskull clan that calls this home possesses a diversity and a calm confidence that most other enclaves of mountain dwarves do not demonstrate. This has allowed all to prosper here, and that prosperity enables the dwarves here to deal with other races with the conviction that their knowledge, skill, and kingdom shall endure all challenges.
History and People
When the subclans of the Ironskulls initially joined forces to form the Iron Kingdom of Dorriden, they had many small settlements throughout the Blackrock Mountains, which made them easier prey for dragons, giants, and other creatures. The decision to move all of the subclans to the hold of the royal Ironskull subclan provided greater strength and safety to the fledgling kingdom. One underground city was easier to defend and easier for the dwarves to expand. Initially, the city was subdivided into different areas for each subclan, but as the centuries have gone by, they have become closer and work together on a more even basis so these divisions are often in name only.
Shafts extend in a variety of directions deep into the mountains and allow access to mining areas as well as providing venting for the various forges that are hard at work near the city center. The protection afforded by the underground city, and the peaceful conditions at work, allowed the city and the kingdom to flourish and grow. The underground nature and strange manner in which it has grown and spread into the mountain makes it almost impossible for outsiders to gauge the true size of Iron Hall, but it is undoubtedly one of the largest cities in the Lost Lands, something the dwarves prefer to keep a secret from outsiders.
The strange history of the formation of the Blackrock Mountains provides the opportunity to mine a variety of metals and gems. Most of the mines can be reached through tunnels, but some dwarves do still travel overland to mine more distant areas. Iron Hall is known for some of the finest weapons and purest metals throughout the land. The situation of relative peace here has allowed dwarven smiths and craftsmen to focus entirely on their art creating unequalled metalwork that others can only strive to match. Stoneworkers and masons here are equally skilled and often called upon to fulfil contracts in other nations while also expanding and supporting the ever-growing underground city.
While officially the city and the Iron Kingdom are welcoming to all races, almost all non-dwarves live in a region just off the central artery through the city in a neighborhood that was originally for the clanless. Other races receive very little outright discrimination otherwise and are allowed free passage through all safe areas of the city.
Capital
Iron Hall, City of (Capital)
Type
Capital
Owning Organization
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