Dwarves: Difference between revisions

 

== History ==

The precise origin of Dwarven society is unknown, with much of ancient Dwarven history being lost due to dead or dying oral histories. Regardless, it is commonly accepted that the Dwarves originated from a small valley in the Mar Mountains; the Bormar Vale. Some sources state that they traveled there from parts unknown, whilst other accounts merely have them begin in the Vale itself. With the resurgence of the Low Kingdoms, the origins of the Dwarves are hotly debated, but, no matter the particulars of a theory, the details remain the same.

 

Over time, small groups of Dwarves, often bonded by blood or pacts, would work together or compete for territory and resources. Often referred to as clans, kinfolk, or similar terms, these groups held their bonds towards each other as strongly as if they were family. Some clans would clash in skirmishes or even full-out wars, though few of these events are remembered today due to the lack of reliable written accounts. Some clans still hold their own records of such encounters, but they are often skewed towards the clan itself, regardless of the actual outcome. Slowly, the humble homes that dotted the nearby hills, valleys, and mountainsides, grew into towns, which would eventually become some of the greatest cities in the known world.

 

With the Mar Mountains sitting at the heart of the known world, no one could go from North to South, or East to West, without first passing through them. This often caused great disruption to the relatively peaceful lives of the Dwarves living in the mountains. At some point during these ongoing skirmishes, a collection of clans discovered the profitability of building large holdings along the border crossings of the Mar Mountains. Between charging tolls for passage, offering paid services for military escorts through dangerous regions, and building large centers of commerce within these heavily fortified mountain regions, these clans began forming fabulous stores of wealth in nearly unassailable locations. Eventually, other clans began to take notice that their attacks were leaving them ever weaker and more depleted of resources, whilst the peaceful clans–collectively referred to as the Passkeepers–were growing strong and wealthier without the dangers of combat.

 

Over time, these clans dissolved from their previous state of massive groups owning vast swathes of territory to their current state; either small groups of Dwarves clinging to an ancient aspect of their hometown, or simply a family that takes great pride in their name. These clans shifted towards a more peaceful mercantile lifestyle, seeking to share in the bountiful wealth the Passkeepers had discovered.

 

At this point, however, the Mar Mountains were split into countless smaller regions and territories, controlled by various families and Passkeepers. A vast array of Dwarven settlements soon realized that their prosperity could only be maintained through stability. Combining their strength into one, forming a unified nation was the next step.

 

It is believed, or at least widely held, that the first region to posit this idea was the spiritual home of the Dwarves; Bormar Vale. Shortly after this, other regions further away did the same, and the countless shards of the Mar Mountain regions slowly coalesced and grew into much larger Dwarven nations. Some regions joined their neighbors willingly, whilst others did not. The fighting that ensued lasted for decades until the Mar Mountains were encompassed by a handful of much larger regions, each of which held massive amounts of wealth and power.

 

An explosion of technological and societal developments followed, eventually resulting in the founding of Bormar, though as a much smaller region than it is now. The adoption of the Bormar calendar and the founding of the [[Government of Bormar#The First House|'''First House''']] were some of the first signs of Bormar establishing itself as a foremost world power. It was at this time that Bormar began to utilize Outposts to further expand its reach.