The Kingdom of Grom Karaz

Capital: Garak Vorn
Population:  82.780 (94% Dwarves, 2% gnomes, 2% humans, 2% other)
Government: Hereditary Monarchy
Imports: Grain, Wheat, Meat, Corn, Animals, Wood.  
Exports: Steel, Mithril, Gold, Coal, Weapons, Armours, Ale

Life and Society:

The dwarves of Grom Karaz are an industrious and friendly people. Having never been in any serious wars they have grown accustomed to many other races and are friendly to them. They have learned the skill of trade for many years and the road to and from both the cities is well traveled but also well kept after. Although the largest part of the population lives in the cities there are some mining outposts throughout the region.

Geographical Locations

Plains of Valnar: The plains of Valnar is a slighty sloped grass land. It has been settled by human farmers that have seen the massive trade of the two  cities and their demand for food supplies. Most of the farmers are near the fortress of Barak Draz to stay under its protection but there are a few farming communities further off.

 Lake of Valaya: The huge lake under Mount Dafnar, it is the ancourage and port of Garak Vorn. It closes in small river that runs little more than a mile until it reaches the sea. The river is just wide enough for two ships to pass each other but all of them are piloted by Dwarven pilots from the Dwarven Lighthouse fortress of Barak Vanur.

Important Sites:

Garak Vorn (Metropolis: 36,245): The city of Garak Vorn is unique amongst its kind its build into a mountain, Dafnar, very near to the coast line. When the dwarves first arrived here they found a huge cavern lake and an underground river to the coast. Because of this Garak Vorn is one of the few dwarven cities with a harbor. To protect their harbor and coast line the dwarves of Garak Vorn have build twelve Ironclads. These massive armoured ships are powered by great paddles at the rear of the ship and contain a great amount of weaponry. The city also houses the throne of the King, King Thori Gundrikson. The king has seen many a year and under his rule Garak Vorn has continued blossoming. He is kind towards outsiders.

Temple of Valaya (inside Garak Vorn): The Temple of Valaya is a massive structure that can be seen from many a place throughout the city. Inside the temple there are two places every person looks for. The Master Rune struck in the bedrock of the mountain. A beautifully crafted glowing rune that seems whose lines never seem to stand truly still. Past the rune there is a huge stair that goes down one floor. There stands a door with two guards, whose helmets completely cover their eyes. Past this door and one will be judged by Valaya and receive either her blessing or her curse. Valaya is a kind god and the curse is mild, a lock hair of the person who failed turns orange. There are dwarves who have entered the room multiple times and failed all, turning all of their hair bright orange. These dwarves give up all their belongings and either become monks of the temple or seek death in glory.

 Garak Minar (Metropolis: 24,467): Garak Minar is also known as the city of stars, this is due to the amount of mithril dwarven crafters have used to light the city. Ruled by an cousin of Thori Gundrikson, Thagor Gundrikson, the cities are forever linked. The finest master mithirl crafters can be found in city together with  with a great number of other craftmanships. From here a large group of miners is busily constructing a tunnel to Garak Vorn.
 

Barak Draz (Fortress: 1000): The fortress of Barak Draz is an ancient fortress build very quickly after the founding of Garak Minar. Her patrols scour the lands to protect the trade between the two cities and every day it is busy with merchants and mounts taking a rest in the famous inn of Barak Draz, the “Golden Glow of Ale”.

 Barak Vanur (Fortress: 450): The lighthouse of Barak Vanur stands at the sea and the beginning of the river to Lake Valaya.  From it Dwarven pilots travel to the ships to guide them to the harbor.

 
Regional Facts and History:

The History of the kingdom starts when the Dwarven deity of Magic, Valaya, walked amongst the dwarves and helped them in finding a place to settle. Guided by her skills they found the mountain Dafnar and started to build a city. In the middle of the city Valaya struck a Master Rune to forever protect this city. The rune dampens all magic that is not made in Garak Vorn. After striking the Rune, she also build a passage where many pilgrims go to be judged and gain her blessing. Valaya left quickly after that and the Dwarves build a huge temple around it.  With the protection of Valaya the city soon became too large for her population so a group of Dwarves left to find richer lands. They didn’t have to go far. After defeating the dragon of Mount Dufnar they discovered very rich Mithril deposists and so the city of Garak Minar was founded. Although the Dwarves are building a tunnel to run between Garak Minar and Garak Vorn the normal trade way is over land. To protect the trade the Dwarves have build a fortress half way, Barak Draz.

 
Military and Defence:

Grom Karaz has a powerfull, well trained, well equipped standing army. They are circulated between defending Garak Vorn, Garak Minar and Barak Draz to combat boredom and keep the army sharp. All the soldiers are well armoured in both mithril full plates and well crafted axes or hammers.

 The other defence of Grom Karaz are her Ironclads, twelve, with a thirteenth currently under construction they can take on the biggest Men of Wars of the Human races. Although not as fast as a sailing vessel under full sail they can keep going if there is no wind.