Grimgolir

The predominantly dwarven society of Grimgolir prizes fine metals, finer craftsmanship, and proven skill on the battlefield, and their culture drills these values into every young dwarf, gnome, and halfling born in their city. Since days long past, the people of Grimgolir have waged eternal war on the monstrous denizens of the lightless caverns, in order to mine the precious mineral veins that suffuse the Stonecage Peaks.
All soldiers from Grimgolir have stories of their first patrol along Cavern Domhainn. Every new recruit's first station is deep within the mountains at the border between the Underdark and the surface world. The Grimgolir reputation for martial excellence soon reached the ears of the Wynarn military, and the crown made overtures to the ruling elders of the Grimgolir dwarves, inviting them to peacefully become citizens of the empire. The negotiations were nearly spoiled by the crown's simultaneous courtship of the humans of Korth, but a concordance was eventually reached. The empire granted Grimgolir an extremely generous trade agreement and all the benefits of imperial citizenship, along with unprecedented autonomy for an imperial vassal state, in exchange for the ability to marshal the Grimgol warriors to fight for the empire.
However, when the revolution started and the War of the Five Nations broke out, Grimgolir sided with the halflings of the Talenta Plains, along with fighting beside Korth and Felderwin. Grimgolir now took on the name of the Fifth District being classified along with nine others under The Ten Districts. Putting their past behind them, Grimgolir and Korth have a strong relationship, both militarily and economically, and the dwarves are close allies with the Talenta Halflings.

A Society of Service

Life under the mountain has never been easy. Every bountiful cavern is home to a deadly beast, and ancient tunnels once used by the armies of the Dark Sovereign now are haunted by lingering evils. This has shaped the core value of Grimgol society: to succeed is to struggle. Worth in oneself is measurable by what one has to overcome. This has built a philosophy that breeds generation after generation of dwarves seeking ways to challenge themselves and prove their capability. Everyone born within the city learns the basics of armed and unarmed combat as a child - often making outsiders, merchants, and travelers somewhat uneasy with the knowledge that any native Grimoliran could take them in a fight.
Early combat training combined with a cultural reverence for wars of ages past creates immense pressure for native-born Grimgolirans to join the city-state's military: the Monoliths. This is especially true for the Grimgol dwarves, for most can trace their family lineage back to a famous warrior or two. However, other Grimolirans find their calling as storytellers and artisans. Those unable to make a living as a warrior or as an artisan often find themselves as laborers in the Bleeding Stone Syndicate, a massive business enterprise that controls the entire pipeline of ore excavation to weapon manufacture. The Bleeding Stone maintains mining facilities beneath the Stonecage Peaks, a network of railcart lines between the mines and Grimgolir, a cutting-edge blast furnace for ore smelting, and an army of smiths hammering ingots into blades, shields, and mail.

A Waste of Time

Culturally, denizens of Grimgolir genuinely believe that crime is a waste and a dark mark on one's life's work. If someone struggles, others lift them up until they can walk on their own. As such, it is very rare for an individual raised in Grimgol society to turn to a life of crime unless absolutely necessary. There is some criminal activity within and around the city, but most of it is helmed by foreign, outside forces.

Caverns of Old

From outside, Grimgolir is an impressive series of battlements and crenelations built into the side of the Stonecage Peaks, with granite staircases and bridges adjoining them. Within the mountain, the city is divided into two massive, cavernous wards, one sitting at an angle above the other in a gradual grade.
The interior cavern of the top ward, known as the Cage Ward, resembles a giant, angle ribcage. The Cage Ward contains numerous levels of structures that house civilians, businesses, and guard posts for Monoliths to watch over the area. Farther down the slopping tunnels lies the Heart Ward, a gargantuan, spherical cavern with dozens of elevated walkways crossing at multiple heights, connecting throughout the mountain, surrounded by Monolith barracks embedded in the outer edges of the ward. Many barracks adjoin wide tunnels that breach the surface at the base of the mountain, with the exit point heavily guarded and shrouded in illusory stone to prevent discovery.
At the deepest points of the city are carved tunnels that the Grimgol dwarves did not make. These tunnels lead further down into the Underdark. They are heavily guarded as creatures from the depths tend to wander to close to the city. The largest of which is named Cavern Domhainn.

Population: 19,090 (81% dwarves, 8% gnomes, 6% halflings, 5% other races)
Government: Underbaron Brock Dummaroff rules the city with a council of dwarf lords and ladies
Defense: The impressive dwarf soldiers known as Monoliths protect the city. House Deneith provides a company of soldiers to the city as a show of good faith from Korth. House Medani bodyguards are also hired privately by those who can afford them.

Underbaron Brock Dummaroff

Founding Date

714 PDE

Alternative Name(s)

The Fifth District

Type

City

Owning Organization

Talenta Plains