### **Forgehold [[Durgrun]] – The Heart of the [[Icerime Peaks]] Dwarves** --- ## **Basic Information** - **Name:** Forgehold [[Durgrun]] - **Type:** Dwarven Stronghold & Grand Forge City - **Region:** Deep within the [[Icerime Peaks]], nestled in a **massive cavernous valley**, hidden from surface threats. - **Scale & Population:** - **Largest dwarven settlement** in the region, home to approximately **8,000 dwarves**, with **smaller mining and outpost communities** in the surrounding tunnels. - **Closed to outsiders**, though trusted merchants and emissaries are allowed under **strict escort**. - **A military-industrial hub**, sustaining a large **standing army** to defend against giants, trolls, and external threats. - **Primary Inhabitants:** - **Dwarven Artisans & Smiths** – Masters of **adamantine, mithral, and rune-etched weapons and armor**. - **Warrior Clans & Honor Guards** – The **Iron Vow**, elite warriors sworn to defend [[Durgrun]] and its forges. - **Runesmiths & Enchanters** – Dwarves who **inscribe magical properties into weapons, armor, and machinery**. - **Miners & Stonecutters** – Harvesters of **precious metals and gems** from deep beneath the peaks. - **High Priests of Torag** – Religious leaders overseeing **rituals, the forge temples, and the Hall of Ancestral Hammers**. --- ## **Geography & Layout** - **Key Features & Landmarks:** - **The Anvilheart Citadel** – The **seat of dwarven power**, where High Thane [[Hrogar Stonefist]] and his council rule. - **The Grand Forge of Torag** – An **immense, ever-burning forge** said to have been **blessed by Torag himself**. - **The Adamantine Gates** – Massive, **rune-enchanted gates** that guard [[Durgrun]]'s entrance, impervious to siege weaponry. - **The Hall of Ancestral Hammers** – A **sacred hall lined with the warhammers of past kings and heroes**, each carrying the legacy of its wielder. - **The Deep Mines** – A vast **underground network**, where **mithral, adamantine, and rare gems** are extracted. - **The Iron Vow Barracks** – Home to [[Durgrun]]'s most **elite warriors**, trained in **giant-slaying, dragon-hunting, and rune-forged combat techniques**. - **Notable Districts/Areas:** - **The Forge District** – The industrial heart of the stronghold, where the **clanging of hammers and glow of molten steel** are ever-present. - **The High Priest’s Keep** – A **temple-fortress dedicated to Torag**, where weapons are consecrated before battle. - **The Merchants’ Tier** – A bustling **trade district**, where **gemcutters, armorers, and runesmiths** barter their crafts. - **The Deep Vaults** – A series of **hidden chambers and armories**, said to hold **forbidden artifacts, war golems, and powerful relics** from pre-Thassilonian times. - **Connections & Accessibility:** - **Underground Tunnels to Other Holds** – **Secret roads** link [[Durgrun]] to other dwarven strongholds in the [[Icerime Peaks]]. - **Trade Routes to [[Restov]] & [[Issia]]** – Limited but **highly valuable trade routes**, providing elite arms and armor to select human allies. - **The Sealed Eastern Passage** – An ancient **collapsed tunnel** rumored to lead to **the lost halls of Karrag-Dûm**, but dangerous creatures now infest its depths. --- ## **Culture & Society** - **Local Governance:** - **Ruled by High Thane [[Hrogar Stonefist]]**, a **battle-hardened leader** who values **tradition, craftsmanship, and military discipline**. - Governed through a **Council of Clans**, where the most **influential smiths, warriors, and priests** hold sway. - Outsiders must adhere to **strict laws**; breaking dwarven traditions can result in **banishment or indentured service**. - **Economy & Trade:** - **Mithral & Adamantine** – The **strongest metals in the world**, crafted into **legendary armor and weapons**. - **Runes & Enchantment** – Inscribed upon **weaponry, fortifications, and even living warriors**, binding **ancestral magic** to steel. - **Mechanical Crafting** – Experimental dwarven **war machines**, **automated forge devices**, and **golem-like sentinels** patrol the halls. - **Exclusive Trade with Select Humans** – [[Durgrun]]’s smiths **rarely sell weapons to humans**, but exceptions are made for **trusted allies or noble houses with dwarven lineage**. - **Religion & Beliefs:** - **Torag (The Forge Father)** – The **heart and soul** of dwarven life in [[Durgrun]]. - **Trudd (God of Strength)** – Honored by **giant-slayers and warrior clans**. - **Magrim (The Taskmaster)** – Keeper of dwarven souls and **judge of warriors** who fall in battle. - **The Ancestral Reverence** – Each forge carries **ancestral hammers**, believed to guide current craftsmen. - **Laws & Customs:** - **The Anvil Oath** – Every citizen must dedicate **at least 50 years of their life to the forge, military, or mining**. - **No Weapon Leaves Without Purpose** – **Selling weapons** to unworthy hands is considered **an unforgivable betrayal**. - **The Deepforged Ritual** – A coming-of-age ceremony where young dwarves **forge their first weapon or tool**, marking adulthood. - **No Outsiders in the Deep Vaults** – **Severe punishment** awaits any non-dwarf caught in restricted areas. --- ## **History & Lore** - **Origins & Founding:** - **Forged before the fall of Thassilon**, [[Durgrun]] has existed **for thousands of years**, surviving **earthquakes, invasions, and wars**. - Some claim **its forges were first lit by Torag himself**, when the dwarves **first emerged from the Darklands**. - **Major Historical Events:** - **The Giant Wars** – [[Durgrun]] led the charge **against frost giant warlords**, solidifying dwarven dominance over the peaks. - **The Battle of the Burning Anvil** – A **legendary siege**, where a dragon attempted to **melt the great forge** but was **slain by dwarven heroes**. - **The Fall of Karrag-Dûm** – [[Durgrun]] lost **many warriors and priests** when the undead overran a neighboring hold, cutting them off from ancient allies. - **Current Conflicts or Issues:** - **Political Struggles in [[Brevoy]]** – [[Durgrun]] is **carefully watching the power shifts**, wary of alliances with **humans**. - **Encroaching Frost Trolls & Wyverns** – Rising numbers of **monstrous invaders** threaten trade routes and outer mines. - **Rumors of a Living Machine** – Some whisper of a **forgotten dwarven war golem** buried in the depths, **awaiting reactivation**. --- ## **Notable NPCs & Factions** - **Key Figures:** - **High Thane [[Hrogar Stonefist]]** – A **military leader**, hardened by war, devoted to protecting dwarven interests. - **Forge-Master [[Helga Firebeard]]** – The **most skilled smith in the hold**, rumored to be crafting **a weapon to slay a god**. - **Runelord [[Baldric Emberborn]]** – Master of **dwarven enchantments**, always seeking lost runic knowledge. - **Factions or Power Groups:** - **The Iron Vow** – [[Durgrun]]’s **elite warriors**, **troll-slayers, and dragon-hunters**. - **The [[Deepforged Syndicate]]** – A powerful **merchant guild** controlling **access to rare dwarven weaponry**. --- ## **Adventure Hooks** - **A rare audience with High Thane [[Hrogar Stonefist]]**—what **alliance, warning, or demand** does he offer Rivermarch? - **An ancient dwarven relic is lost in the ruins of Karrag-Dûm**—but what **unholy horror** guards it now? - **A rival dwarven faction seeks to overthrow the High Thane**—who will **Rivermarch** support?