The Steinhar Empire
Birthplace of the ice dwarves, the Nomrolda Peaks are a dangerous place for the unaccustomed. During the Age of Creation, it is said that Emon, the Inspired Reveler, raised the lands of the cold north in the shape of mountains and placed inside her children for safekeeping. Here she placed ice dwarves to harvest minerals and man the forges; halflings to provide sustenance and warm the hearth with merriment; and gnomes to tinker with metal and spread laughter. Though the people of the Nomrolda Peaks enjoyed early days of peace and success, the hateful eyes of Uzotl, the Burning Vengeance, soon fell upon the Inspired Reveler’s creations.
In the early days of the Age of Strife, tales tell of Uzotl, scaled and hideous, slithering unnoticed deep into the untouched recesses of the Nomrolda Peaks. There, he hatched an army of kobolds, lizardfolk, and scaled raptors to wage war against the people of the mountains. Knowing he would be cornered in the mountains if discovered by the Prime Deities, Uzotl hatched one more servant, a general to lead his armies: a massive horned dragon, with flaming scales of black and red, a true mockery of all dragons and Aether itself. For centuries, the forces of Uzotl battled those of Emon. Though both sides suffered extreme losses, with the Inspired Reveler’s blessings and the absence of Uzotl himself, the people of the Nomrolda Peaks managed to push back their enemy deep into the tunnels of the mountains. Nearing the end of the conflict, as all the gods began fading into slumber, it was the Burning Vengeance’s forces, shattered and broken, that eventually routed. While a small population of kobolds, over time, were eventually peacefully integrated into their former enemy’s society, the remainder of Uzotl’s forces fled deep into the mountains and surrounding arctic region. His dragon general, Ixtyl, was said to have broken free of the mountains and fled south, far beyond the continent of Elix.
During the False Age, those of the Nomrolda Peaks, honoring an ancient martyred hero, named themselves the Steinhar Empire and placed Queen Nordula Icebraid, a boisterous but determined woman, on their throne. Under her role, and those of her successors, the empire would thrive and expand with a lightning pace. Though formidable and stalwart, the Steinhar Empire made easy friends with all their neighbors, who were eager to trade in the rare and strategic materials the former was able to gather. While the people of the Nomrolda Peaks would ultimately lose a city and war to the Tierysian Empire, they knew that a people that could withstand Uzotl and the unforgiving landscape of the north would withstand the occupation of a foreign nation. Though the Tierysians would impose heavy taxes and material tithing requirements on the Steinhar Empire, they did endure. At the dawn of the Trial for Existence, Emon ushered the people of the Steinhar Empire into the mountains, and sang a note to inspire the rock to hold firm. For two weeks, the people of the Nomrolda Peaks closed their massive gates, bunkered down, and prepared for the return of Uzotl and his scaled horde. Yet, in the fearful and still nights, while the rest of Tel’Drannar and Elix faced potential calamity, no threat of harm ever came to the people of the Steinhar Empire. Come the collapse of the Tierysian Empire, the people of the Nomrolda Peaks opened their gates and set forth again to expand their lands, crafts, and trade with renewed passion.
Cities & Locations
Mur Turum: The Empire's capital and largest city, Mur Turum is, to the newcomer, an impressive and overwhelming sight. In the center of the city carved of stone, suspended from the top of its carved dome, hangs a large artifice contraption. Seemingly created from a massive gemstone and decorated with golden filigree, the device, nicknamed Aldir's Radiance, resembles that of the sun. Mimicking the day-night cycle outside the Nomrolda Peaks, Aldir's Radiance glows brightly during the day and dims at night. While it provides necessary light in the otherwise dark caverns, it primarily offers the people of Mur Turum the opportunity to grow otherwise impossible produce within their mountain home. Mur Turum is the center for trade and culture within the Steinhar Empire; it is said, that all the carved roads of the Empire eventually lead to Mur Turum, the heart of the mountain nation. Flanked by temples dedicated to Emon and Aldir, the royal palace, situated at the center of the city, directly beneath Aldir's Embrace, serves as the home and seat of government for King Lognik Icebraid, who is said to be a proud and warm dwarf, even by non-dwarven standards.
Khilgan: Considered the twinned city of Mur Turum, Khilgan is massive and bustling. Also carved from stone amidst a massive dome, another artifice contraption hangs from its center; though this one, named the Grace of Phimos, depicts the twinned moons of Tel'Drannar, one orbiting the other. The twinned moons, Eyora and Suvora, emit a dull white and reddish-orange glow respectively all day long. It is, however, during the night, that the domed-roof of Khilgan inspires awe; tiny, drilled holes, some a mile long, with the help of mirrors, allow the soft light of the moons to trickle deep into the mountain. Each hole is specifically placed so as to allow the illumination of constellations within the city of Khilgan. Within this mountain city, underneath the light of the real stars, sits a large temple complex dedicated to Phimos, the Twinned Moons. Though most of the Steinhar Empire would consider Emon to be their patron deity, the protective and mysterious nature of Phimos has drawn many new worshippers in Steinharan lands since the False Age. Besides the Grace of Phimos, Khilgan is also famous for its master and artisan armorsmiths and weaponsmiths; equipment made here is known as some of the most beautiful and sturdy in all the lands.
Tholarum: Tholarum, once the frontline of conflict against the Burning Vengeance during the Age of Strife, is an ancient and historic city. Because of its history, Tholarum was designed as an impregnable fortress, with varying tiers of walls, curtains, and bridges to prevent Uzotl's forces from breaking through and gaining access to the tunnel networks that connect the rest of the Steinhar Empire. Due to the centuries of bloodshed at this location, the city of Tholarum is considered a holy city by worshippers of Emon. One of the many large fortresses in the city has been transformed into a church of the Inspired Reveler; here, her teachings of duty, protection, and sacrifice are especially poignant. In this fortress-temple, sits a large forge and foundry; it is said, at the dawn of the Age of Strife, to serve her creations, she bellowed a single breath cavernous walls of the city. As she did, rock turned to magma. As long as the fires ran hot, she promised, her creations would be able to craft the weapons and armor needed to defend themselves. While the forge is still active and used today, it is largely for ceremonial and religious purposes rather than commercial.
Nogdoral: The only port within the Empire, Nogdoral is a behemoth in and of itself. After the destruction of Kirahm, during the Great War, Nogdoral sheltered a majority of the refugees from the destroyed city. During the late False Age, but especially after the Trial for Existence, the Steinhar Empire made great strides in reinforcing the port of Nogdoral, transforming it into a formidable fortress capable of warding off even the mightiest of maritime assaults. Because maritime travel is more efficient than that by land, the Nogdoral ports see much trade and commerce. As a result, small fleets of military vessels begin their routine patrols from this city, seeking to prevent and thwart any attacks by the Drowned on the trade routes running the length of the eastern coast of Elix.
Holrig, Nelaruhm, & Balduhm: Holrig, Nelaruhm, and Balduhm serve as mining centers for the Steinhar Empire. Though they do see some minor gathering of rare gems and precious metals, these cities primarily produce large amounts of iron, coal, tin, copper, and other commonly-useful metals. While a majority of this metal is used within the manufactories of the larger Steinharan cities, much of it is exported and sold to the other nations of Elix.
Hunbadur: Born out of necessity, Hunbadur was established as a traveler's rest stop between Nogdoral and the rest of the Empire at large. While it is the smallest of the Empire's cities, its existence as a crossroads into the Nomrolda Peaks and the civilization that exists within means it sees an immense amount of travelers and merchants. In fact, it is believed that some three-quarters of people within Hunbadur on any given day are not permanent residents of the city, but rather those that are seeking respite and resupply from long and cold journies.
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