Kaark'Krazul

Deep in the Second Age, the long oppressed race of dwarves managed to escape their captivity and slavery by the foul orcs of the Horde. Deep within the crags and crevices of the Gongen Mountains, the dwarves utilized their notorious mining skills to burrow out a new home within the massive rock, maintaining it as a surprisingly effective stronghold against the Horde itself. As time went on, the dwarves formed a fully functioning community called Kaark'Krazul, with some groups focusing on basic engineering, while others spent much of their time mining the ore-rich rock of their surroundings. A nearby underground lake provided the community with fish for sustenance, though the occasional whispered rumour told of a creature that lived deep within the lake, reaching up from time to time to snatch an unsuspecting dwarf.

Since that time, Kaark'Krazul has become something of a curiosity for visitors, being both a nearly impenetrable stronghold, as well as a joyous town full of bustle, laughter and gentle dwarven debauchery. Many races are now welcome among the towne, so long as all are willing to take up arms to defend Kaark'Krazul, and indeed the world itself, from the continual onslaught of the Horde.

History

In 428 AD, a mysterious explosion led adventurers deep into the Gongen Mountains to find a series of previously undiscovered mines, empty save for the presence of a dwarven ghost named Garhun. He explained to the adventurers that he had been slain many years earlier during an invasion by the Horde, and his home was sealed away in order to protect themselves from the orcs. Adventurers made it their mission to find this entrance and managed to open it, finding themselves inside the lost dwarven city of Kaark'Krazul.

Inside, the Elders of Kaark'Krazul demanded to know how and why the outsiders had come to their city. For hours, emissaries from some of Aetherius' most prominent organizations negotiated the terms of a protection agreement. It was the Justicars and the Orders of Illuminas and Vahin that convinced the leaders of Kaark'Krazul to open their borders, but only after a massive tentacled beast was slain under the depths of a nearby underground lake.

Notable Denizens

• Eota Shalebolt, Elder of Kaark'Krazul - Truly an amazing sight amongst dwarves, Eota stands at a height quite a bit over his dwarven kindred. Still short to most races, he still makes for an imposing figure decked out in his full Defender gear. Shined armor covers him from head to toe, leaving no entry for the enemy blade and causing his every movement to be accompanied by an orchestra of clanking metal. At his back is strapped a bardiche taller than himself, slung low for easy retrieval, as are the other various swords and such strung around his waist. Truly the perfect example of the Defenders, Eota stands strong and proud within his shell of metal, ready to perform his ancestral job.
• Nek Deepsmith, Elder of Kaark'Krazul - Built like a classic dwarf, Nek is stocky and of a short comparative height. His shoulders are widely set, and hold up an elaborate set of robes and armor, each crafted to blend with the other in an excellent display of craftsmanship. His face sports a long beard, and his eyes are a striking brown beneath his furrowed brow. His hands are heavily callused and scarred, and at his belt is set a large, worn hammer. His hair is brown and hangs long down his back, though it is streaked with gray, displaying his age. He walks with an air of pride, that truly befitting his station, Elder of Kaark'Krazul.
• Ruha Firehand, Elder of Kaark'krazul - Built like the typical dwarf, Ruha is short and stocky, with powerful arms. Unlike the typical dwarf he wears on his nose a pair of spectacles, and at his waist he wears a scrollcase. His hands are stained from ink, remainders from his job working with designs in the Engineering Hall. Around his chin he bears a full, respectable beard, colored red like his hair, making him appear young to be of the Elders of Kaark'Krazul. An enigma among dwarves, Ruha does not look like he wields the hammer, instead he appears to be more like a scribe.