The Iron Road

The dwarven underground road network is an awe-inspiring feat of ancient engineering, stretching for miles beneath mountains and valleys, linking the four great dwarven cities: Hallanar, Bor Todir, Bern Maldur, and Therbor. Carved by master dwarven artisans centuries ago, the roads are wide and spacious, with ceilings towering high enough to allow even the largest caravans and carts to pass unhindered. The architecture of the roads reflects the dwarves' unparalleled stoneworking skills. The walls are smooth and intricately chiseled, adorned with runes of protection and ancient craftsmanship. Towering stone columns, cut to resemble mighty dwarven warriors or revered ancestors, line the passageways. These statues seem to watch over travelers, their eyes glowing faintly with long-forgotten enchantments. The floors are paved with seamless stone slabs, worn smooth by centuries of use. In some places, veins of glittering minerals snake through the rock, adding a faint, eerie luminescence to the darkness. Massive gates of engraved iron mark the borders of each city's domain, once heavily guarded but now left unpatrolled in some forgotten stretches of the network. Bridges span underground chasms, while vast tunnels cut through the earth, illuminated by crystal sconces still flickering with magical light in the active parts of the roads. However, large sections of this network have fallen into disrepair. The roadways closest to the cities remain well-maintained, bustling with dwarven merchants, soldiers, and travelers. But deeper into the system, where the paths diverge into forgotten byways, the roads are abandoned and treacherous. Entire sections are collapsed, blocked by landslides or submerged under underground rivers. In these desolate areas, the stone is cracked and crumbling, with walls overtaken by fungus and moss, hiding deep pits and ancient traps left by dwarves of old. Strange creatures, drawn to the long-forgotten tunnels, now lurk in the shadows, preying on the unwary. Legends speak of hidden passages, ancient vaults, and forgotten relics buried within the maze-like roads, and only the bravest adventurers dare venture into these dangerous, unexplored depths, hoping to find treasure—or their doom.