Dwar Fell
Before the The Starless Nights swept through the land, swallowing everything it touched, Dwar Fell was a region found to the northeast of Din'Lux. It was known as the home of the dwarves, though it was inhabited for thousands of years by a fairly diverse group of peoples that included dwarves, orcs, humans, and a small population of elves.
Dwar Fell grew to be a sizable kingdom with an impressive metropolis at its center. Within the last century, they were also able to gain a foothold in the territories of the Luminated Alliance, winning victory after victory in the ongoing Great War.
On the night the Darkness returned, the military forces of Dwar Fell were launching an attack on the fortified city of Din'Lux. When the Darkess fell, they found themselves trapped outside the city walls, at risk of being swallowed by this mysterious storm. They had no choice but to arrange a hasty peace treaty. What remained of Dwar Fell's people were given refuge under the protection of the Great Lighthouse of Din'Lux.
Like the many other lands of Atios, the fate of Dwar Fell itself is unknown.
The Origins of the Dwarves
Architecture
The design of the city of Dwar Fell was primarily intended to be functional. The hexagonal building known as the Forge was located at the geographical center. The rest of the city expanded outward from the Forge like spokes of a wheel.
Most structures in Dwar Fell were constructed of durable stone and designed with straight lines and sharp angles. Only sparse ornamentation was used with the exception of statues and carvings intended to immortalize great thinkers and innovators of Dwar Fell's past along with scenes of historical importance. The most prominent sculptures were erected around the central building, the Forge, with the largest and most conspicuous pieces displaying Cadmus Godforger, the human who developed Communion (the process of kinfire ingestion that led to the evolution of the dwarves).
Population
Before the evolution of dwarves, Dwar Fell was primarily populated with a mix of humans and orcs along with a small population of elves. Over the centuries, however, the makeup of Dwar Fell changed dramatically. Once dwarves evolved through the practice of Communion, the majority of residents in the city were dwarven, while the orcish and human populations migrated outward to villages and farming communities.
Humans in Dwar Fell
Though Communion became widely accepted as safe and beneficial, there were still many humans who either chose not to take part in it or didn't have access. Some saw the eventual effects of Communion, the glowing red eyes and boiling hot blood, as frightening. Others believed that kinfire was a magical substance from the gods that wasn't meant to be ingested by mere mortals.
As Communion grew in popularity, many of the humans no longer felt that they belonged among the kinfire-touched dwarves. While some chose to remain in the city, a good number left and settled in the many villages and farming communities of the Dwar Fell region.
Orcs in Dwar Fell
The majority of orcs in the Dwar Fell area have mostly resided in the villages and farming communities scattered around the region. Before Communion, there were a still sizable number of orcs in the city, but over time their numbers have lessened somewhat.
When Communion was developed, it was quickly discovered that orcs were unable to survive the process. While many scholars attempted to develop methods for orcish Communion, none were known to have succeeded.
Elves in Dwar Fell
Before the development of Communion, when the relationship between Dwar Fell and the Luminated Alliance became strained, elves began to leave Dwar Fell. This was in part due to growing hostilities with other locals, as well as a desire to escape a war that seemed inevitable.
As a result, elves in Dwar Fell became few and far between. Those who did remain suffered mistreatment due to prejudice and intolerance. These elves often spent a good deal of time loudly decrying the Luminated Alliance for its unfair regulation of kinfire in order to make it clear that they were on Dwar Fell's side, in the hopes of avoiding abuse.
In truth, many of the elves in Dwar Fell cared nothing for the war and were only looking to lead a long and healthy life away from battle and fear. Others, though, truly did oppose the Luminated Alliance and its control of kinfire. Some even joined Dwar Fell's military ranks to fight for their homeland.
It is also believed that several small groups of elves defected to Dwar Fell in order to escape the theocracy of the Luminated Alliance.
Religion
See The Ancestral Cult.
History
It is unknown from where the humans in Atios first originated. It is theorized by some historians that they were once gathered in a single location east of the Great Sea and that they split off into several groups which migrated elsewhere. One of these such groups developed a culture that placed great emphasis on knowledge and science. They settled in the area that came to be known as Dwar Fell, where their society flourished.
Unlike the followers of the Temple of Ziva, the humans of Dwar Fell applied no religious significance to kinfire. They began to study and manipulate it in order to understand more about its magical properties. A process known as Communion was developed, in which participants ingested kinfire. This process was found to extend lifespans and enhance a connection to magical energy. Over the course of several generations, most of the human population of Dwar Fell had undergone Communion. As a result, their entire physiology had transformed into what are now known as dwarves.
In the lands to the west, however, the religious Temple of Ziva had spread. For those who served the goddess Ziva, kinfire was believed to be holy and sacred. The city-states in these lands, including Din'Lux, organized the Luminated Alliance in order to fight against the desecration of kinfire. A sect of Flame Keepers was sent out with the sole intention of removing kinfire from any city that did not hold kinfire as sacred and holy. A conflict began that became known as the Great War, a war that transformed both sides forever.
Commerce & Trade
Many of Dwar Fell's resources were collected by laborers from the mountains and fields around them. Farming villages supplied the city with food and wood. An aquaduct system brought fresh water into the city. For the few things that Dwar Fell was without, they were able to trade for with neighboring lands. To the north, a vast forest grew with trees the height of mountains. Within these trees lived a mostly-human community who were skilled at gathering herbs and plants essential for certain potions. For many years, Dwar Fell exchanged goods with these tree-dwellers until their sudden disappearance. Dwar Fell sent scouts out into the forest, but to no avail. They were unable to find any trace of their villages and to this day, the fate of the tree-dwellers is a mystery.
While Dwar Fell was not in need of many resources, they did trade away technology and other goods in exchange for gold in order to fund the war. The Berian Empire was their largest trading partner, a deal that the Empire kept quiet in order to maintain their profitable relationship with the Luminated Alliance. In fact, it is believed that the Empire purchased weapons and other supplies from Dwar Fell that they then sold for a profit to the city-states of the Alliance.
Society
While marriage exists in Dwar Fell, it is not as common as in some other areas of Atios. Because residential districts are separated by occupation, most married couples share the same career. Marriage has no financial or practical benefits in Dwar Fell but is carried out by some as a sign of devotion to one's significant other.
Parenting is a communal undertaking in Dwar Fell. If a child is born to parents who live in different districts, they will often split their time between the two homes until they are old enough to attend the Forge. This should not imply that family is not important in Dwar Fell, when, in fact, one's bloodlines are part of one's identity. The more well-known ancestors one has in their family lineage, the more respect one commands in various social circles and institutions. Many carry a lengthy copy of their own family tree with them at all times so that they might reference their own heritage whenever needed.
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