History
Sundabar was originally Citadel Sundbarr, a primarily subterranean dwarven citadel of the Delzoun empire, built around the year -500 DR. The hold garnered its strength from massive foundries built around the underground inferno known as the Everfire. The citadel's most skilled metalworkers and forgers could craft massive works and work with alloys that were typically too volatile without such intense heat.
In the Year of the Black Unicorn, as the great underground northkingdom of Delzoun fell around them, Citadel Sundbarr was saved by the ingenuity of its master forgers. They created a massive, molten wall that protected the dwarven stronghold.
Over the years to follow, however, Sundabar's influence and strength waned as its population lessened. In 329 DR, the surface fortress was assaulted and plundered by orcs. Continued monster attacks would plague the city for over the next 500 years, though it never fully succumbed to the onslaught.
In 882 DR, one of the High Captains of Ascalhorn, Prince Simberuel Astalmé, fled his city with a group of refugees to Sundabar Vale, pursued by vrocks. The refugees were saved at the last minute by the Forgemaster of Sundbarr. Astalmé gave his life to save the Forgemaster, and in return, the humans were allowed to settle in the abandoned surface portion of Citadel Sundbarr.
A city reborn
The next 500 years would be much more fortuitous for the citadel. As the new human inhabitants settled in and united with their dwarven brethren, the reconstruction of the stronghold led to the birth of a new city. As dwarven craftsmanship became perfectly interwoven with human mercantilism, the newly-named Sundabar flourished into the symbol of strength it would become in the North.
In the 13th century DR, the foundries and workshop closest to the Everfire rift were destroyed by a surge of fire and never repaired. Since then, the fires burned without any control by the dwarves.
In 1355 DR, Helm Dwarf-Friend became the sixth Ruling Master of Sundabar after the previous Master died defending the city from orcs.
In 1369 DR, fiends from Hellgate Keep attacked Sundabar, burning much of the city before being forced out. Just four years later, in 1373 DR, Kaanyr Vhok attempted to take control of the city because of a rivalry he had with Helm Dwarf-Friend. He first used Aliisza to infiltrate Helm Dwarf-Friend's house, then allied with Zasian Menz and Banite priests. His plan ultimately failed.
In 1369 DR, Sundabar was one of the city-states to join together in the League of the Silver Marches, later renamed "Luruar", alongside
Silverymoon, Citadel Adbar, Deadsnows, Jalanthar, Quaervarr, Citadel Felbarr, Everlund, and
Mithral Hall. The goal of the alliance was to protect the North from the growing hordes of orcs in the mountains.
In 1488 during the War of the Silver Marches Sundabar was conquered by an orc army commanded by the warlord Hartusk and renamed Hartusk Keep. The survivors retreated into the undercity and lived in seclusion for ten years, until a mercenary company drove the orcs from Sundabar and rescued the survivors in 1498 DR. Sundabar struggled to return to its former glory.
In 1536, following the defeat of the League of the Silver Marches, Sundabar came to be the only provider of Dwarven wares in the region. Trade boomed, but the city also came to be the sole protector of the eastern Silver Marches. Without the support of the Knights in Silver, protection of the region from the orc hordes of the north fell on Sundabar and the Dwarves of the fardrimm. Facing orc attacks from the north and Drow and Duergar raiding parties from the underdark, Sundabar came to rely even more on Mercenary Companies and adventurers for defense. Rumors of strange creatures from the underdark abound, and patrols have been going missing at an increasing rate.
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