Dwarves of Tel-Raiq
Origins
Known to themselves as Girusheru (Imperial Wythian: Children of The Mother Flame) and to the Erzihari, to whom they are most familiar, as Ahul Ahl-Kanath (Wythian: Men of the Channels), the Dwarves of Tel-Raiq are culturally and religiously distant from their other kin. Many of the dwarves of Tel-Raiq settled there while in flight from the chaos of the Dwarven-Draconic War, but small populations of their kind had already been long established deep in the desert. Having practiced a heretical variant of traditional dwarven beliefs, these dwarves had been exiled into the desert by a particularly pious king centuries ago. Over generations, their traditions became influenced by the scarcity of the desert, leading the Girusheru to become extraordinarily insular, and influencing the creation of well hidden and protected underground complexes, each centered around and supported by sophisticated systems of water infrastructure. When the news of the fall of the mountain kingdoms reached the desert, many among their number rejoiced, believing it a sign of both their righteousness and the kingdom’s impiety. Now considering themselves the true inheritors of the dwarven legacy, leaders of their holds commanded their kind to seek out their displaced kin, offering shelter and protection so long as they inducted themselves into the Girusheru’s faith, and swore lifelong fealty to the petty-lords of the desert holds. Despite the severity of this demand, many of the unprepared, unmotivated, and weak making the journey across the desert saw no choice but to assent. (STUFF ABOUT THE IMPACT OF THE REFUGEES) Today over half of the Girusheru are verified to have descended from refugees of the Dwarven-Draconic War.Architecture
The Dwarves of Tel-Raiq maintain the largest and most ancient cisterns in the wasteland, living in cool, moist chambers carved alongside these immense reservoirs, and ventilated with square towers with yawning vents, often the only visible part of a dwelling at a distance.Relations
The Girusheru rarely permit outsiders to settle near their water hoards, though they send their water barons to make small trade on busy roads, sating thirsty travelers. Although no men are permitted to enter their domains, it is not uncommon for holds to have a long standing relationship with a particular Erzihari clan, permitting them to maintain a small trading camp on the surface. Although certainly insular, the Dwarves of Tel-Raiq have traditionally kept a representative present at the Emir's court, and some adventurous souls attend and contribute to academies and businesses outside of their enclaves. Some poor, or desperate enclaves turn to banditry or mercenary work, although such practices are looked down upon by wealthier holds.Religion
Every night the light of the world dies. Our great Lady, who is both the forger and the flame, consumes its corpse, and forges a new star in her holy body. The sun rises with her birthing, and it is through her sacrifice, that we are blessed by its rays. For she is the Forge of the Sun, the Shaper of What Will Be. Through imitation of her burning womb we learned of the refinement and shaping of pure metals. Through supplication to her nurturing magnificence we learned joy and love. And through suffering under her great blistering radiance we learned humility and strength.The culture of the dwarves of the desert is inseparable from its faith, for it was through its practice that they were exiled to Tel-Raiq, and it was through strict devotion to its tenants that its people survived the stresses of the desert. The faith's fundamental break from the orthodox Dwarven belief was both in uplifting the importance of the god Riemel above the other gods, and interpreting him as a feminine force, rather than a masculine one.
Encompassed species