INTRODUCTION

The Dwarven Arsenal can be found deep in the mines of Nastiabach. Many Dwarves settled in the land centuries before signing an agreement with the rulers. The Dwarves can claim Nastiabach as their home, and the military of Nastiabach can benefit from the technology. Initially leaving Korozok due to a hierarchal class divide in the Dwarven way of life, the new Dwarves of Nastiabach found they could flourish in their new mines south of the mountain region. The Dwarves of Nastiabach have since developed a new territory for the new clans to thrive and their leader, Olrin works tirelessly to try and free the rest of his people who suffer from the harsh laws of the Korozok king.

CHARACTERISTICS

The Caste System of King Garad, Ruler Under the Mountains Noble Classes: Denerand (den-er-rand) Higher Caste: Dener (den-er) Higher/Middle Caste: Verishden (veh-rish-den) Middle Caste: Verishimam (veh-rish-ee-mam) Common Dwarves: Verishval (veh-rish-val) Low Born Dwarves: Valballion (val-ba-lee-on) Labor: Yeldanjagh (yel-dan-yarg) The dwarves are a hardy race of elite craftsmen who live beneath the mountains of Korozok. King Garad's ascension to the throne resulted in a radical change from a monarchy to a dictatorship. Under Garad, he centralized power, radicalized the original clan system that had existed within the mountains since the time of creation. In doing this Garad enforced a class segregation system that resulted in the enslavement of the lower classes and the elevation of the upper classes. Under King Garad class divides are of fundamental importance to the daily workings of Dwarven life. Beyond Korozok many Vathrian's feel the sting of the class divide as societies are often split into the commoners and the wealthier elites but with Dwarves, the divide runs far deeper. Garad was not content with a simple high, middle and lower class system. He wanted a system secure in the fact that every Dwarf would be in their rightful place with limited methods to move beyond. He built a strict caste system with six different levels of segregation to divide people of Korozok. He reasoned that the Dwarves deserved to be where they were and he was just in declaring an end to the system of Clans that had been the Dwarven way for thousands of years. To be a member of Denerand was to never know suffering. These were the nobles who curried great favor with Garad, always agreeing with him and standing up for his ideals. Most Dwarves of Korozok resented the Denerand for this, but secretly harbored desires to be one themselves. Far below at the bottom of the system are the Yeldanjagh a people considered worth less than property. These Dwarves are treated with disgust and disdain by all other classes and are forced to work endlessly in the mines digging up precious ores which go all the way up for the Dener and Denerand to profit from. Freedom for the Yeldanjagh seems all but impossible. As Dwarves live lives far longer the average human lifespan, the harsh systems in place by Garad cannot end without revolution. Lower class Dwarves of the Yeldanjagh and to a lesser extent, the Dener, are essentially slaves under the mountains, forced to work in terrible conditions with limited chance of escape their dreadful situations. These workers will routinely find themselves deployed to the most dangerous sections of the mountains to mine while the elites will reap the wealth that is extracted. They are looked down upon and spat on by those Dwarves deemed to be their ‘betters'. As the caste system moves up, society will find themselves well educated, wealthier, and generally happier with their lot in life. What holds the hope of the Dwarves down below is the lottery. A creation of Garad's to hold a yearly lottery where winners will be rewarded with the immediate change in position and elevation to high society with generous payment. The Low class Dwarves covet this chance, though when the winners are announced and leave they are never heard from again. Some say they are killed because no member of Yeldanjagh would ever be raised to Dener, while others believe they are just living their best lives higher up with no time or desire to ever come back down.

HISTORY

Age of New Kingdoms The dwarves signed a treaty with the newly renamed Sovereign Shores, agreeing to become a part of Vathria, and suddenly Dwarven craftsmanship experienced a boom. Many clans within Korozok found themselves wealthy overnight as their wares began to spread across the nation. Garad used this time of great wealth and bounty to negotiate secret deals with the Dreadqueen Yanella wherein he gave her the Shadow Gem and she facilitated the death of his family members, allowing him to ascend to the throne. As the King under the mountain, Garad's ascension to the throne resulted in a radical change from a monarchy to a dictatorship. He centralized power, radicalized the original clan system that had existed since the Age of Creation and enforced a class segregation system that resulted in the enslavement of the lower classes and the elevation of the upper classes. Less powerful clans and political opponents were now classified as ‘low-class' or made to ‘disappear' after two incredibly terrible purges. The low-class dwarves were forced to move to the lower districts to do the hardest work, usually mining. Olrin, a famed Dwarven Champion of the Yeldanjagh, grew up in rich circumstances, ignorant of the plight of the other dwarves until he began work in the mines where he was shocked by their conditions. One day, he witnessed a guard nearly beating a slave to death; Olrin attacked the guard but accidentally ended up killing him. Olrin escaped to Nastiabach where he used his experience in smithing to supervise a forge. He wished to change Korozok so began by enlisting other kinsmen who had previously escaped or been exiled from Korozok also. He allied with the former master smith of the Hairspring clan who had been made lower class because of his relationship with Olrin. Together they petitioned the ruling council of Nastiabach to provide sanctuary in exchange for technology. The rulers of Nastiabach accepted and a plan was put into place. Together, they created a tunnel from Nastiabach to Korozok and helped around 500 dwarves escape. They would later also use this incredible secret passage to go back and recruit expert dwarves, including the Champion Wundor. The Current Age The Dwarves that remain in Korozok are still divided via the class system and Olrin is seen, to many, as a champion of the people. Some refer to him as the King without a crown for his efforts in freeing so many of the lower caste Dwarves. Following the escape of the initial 500, more have since managed to use the tunnel to make a new life in Nastiabach until it was discovered and collapsed. A new Dwarven territory has been established in the southern land and unfortunately for those who stayed, newer harsher ways of life have been implemented on the lower class in Korozok and restrictions on freedoms as a punishment and deterrent. Olrin continues to work to secretly to try and bring as many low-class dwarves as he can to Nastiabach by any means possible but knows that he will need to eliminate the main problem of Garad. The King additionally plots to eliminate Olrin to prevent any more low-class dwarves from escaping. The Ages yet to come The histories of tomorrow are awaiting an author, one who would tell the stories of the heroes and events not yet known. More Dwarves attempt to make the escape every year for a life of freedom in Nastiabach away from the caste system and the oppression of King Garad. Those who make it to Nastiabach are welcomed with opportunity and stories with new beginnings. However those stories for now are unwritten and their outcomes uncertain as the looming threat grows larger across Vathria. . .