Dominion of Gorunn
A young Dwarven Empire at roughly 2,405 years old, it was established and settled by the Gorunn Clan after it left Niðavellir under the leadership of it Elder at that time, Hetrebela. It was during the first 400 years after being established that it grew to encompass most of its territory and it was only stopped after encountering a equally powerful opposition. Each major population center is known as a Thaig with the the architecture being reminiscent of ziggurats with large courtyards and housing built into the stone directly with inlaid reliefs. Battle hardened from several conflicts with the Bleak from the Blight Zones to be found near the Under Roads that they use to travel. Even though they have endured loss and hardship in the intervening centuries, they have not been broken and continue to live the code established by the founder. Friends of the Wild Elves that live on the continent and neutral to the Noble Lands Humans, they have heard of the newcomers to the continent and have yet to had contact but are hopeful.
Public Agenda
Preservation & expansion of the prestige and power of the Dwarves of the Gorunn Clan. It strives to be a new homeland for the Dwarves in the Noble Lands where they can live peacefully and master their crafts in their own lifetimes.
History
Established when Clan Elder Hetrebela wanted to build a new Kingdom for her people beyond the realm of Nidavellir. Through the discovery of a planar rift to an unknown land, Hetrebela gathered all those of her clan that would follow her and journeyed with them to this new land. Arriving at the the foothill of a majestic, grand mountain range. With the 6,000 members of her clan who followed her, they quickly set to work building the starts of the first Thaig city. Taking nearly 300 years to build the Gorunn Hold ziggurat and defenses, it was finally considered established and a fine home for the Dwarves to start with. It was at 600 years old that Elder Hetrebela passed away, with her dying wish to gain dominion over the entire mountain range.
Following her decree, her only remaining descendant & daughter, Hesdrulda Gorunn sent out several dozen expeditions. Tunneling within the mountain range itself and along the ridges, each group was allowed to choose their own direction for where they would settle new branches to join to their burgeoning homeland. Many of the smaller groups settled on the service to develop towns to support the growing population by granting surface access and food production. Others established towns and a few Thaigs beneath the mountain range on strategic resources or points that would provide great defensive points. During the next 600 years, the Dominion grew to the height of its power having established several cities, thaigs, and towns. These populations centers were interconnected by what they called the Under Roads & overland routes. Small forest were also cultivated within a days journey of many entryways so that a steady supply of timber would always be accessible for the various settlements and the needs they could have for it.
At nearly a millennium old, war came to the Dominion in the form of Duergar breaking into the Under Roads seeking riches and slaves. Their full might was not enough to even scratch the Dominion and instead brought ruin to their own kingdom as the forces that came against them were beyond what they could muster from within their stronghold. Over the next three years, the Duergar were hunted down for the hennious invasion and subsequently wiped out from the areas. Known as a war in the written histories of the Dwarves, it was consider quite short and a decisive victory in the long run. Not one to take captives, the warriors opted to demolish the strongholds and scatter those that remained after the destruction they suffered. All of the wealth that was kept within the walls was dispersed amongst both the warriors and their relatives as rewards for a successful war. (Sundering of the Duergar)
But it was during this time the Dominion came into contact with the Bleak and the Blight Zones that they reside in. Thinking that these could wiped out and cleansed, the leaders sent severa armed patrols to clear them out and secure the area. When the first patrols did not return, follow ups were sent and it was soon discovered that those they sent previously had joined the ranks of the Bleak. When this reached back to the population at large, they were horrified at the prospect of not being able to return home upon death and continuing to linger afterwards. This led the monarchy to declare the first purge and hundreds of soldiers were sent to fight and lay waste to both the Bleak and Blight Zones. What occurred in this time has various tellings but the official recording is that during the initial strike into the known Blight Zone they advanced swiftly and wiped out several Bleak permanently only the appearance of an Alpha to turn the tide against them swiftly. Hundreds of warriors were wiped in the counter attack and the subsequent forays into the closest settlements and garrisons in the following months as a result of the Alpha leading them on the battlefields. And as suddenly as it had appeared, it was known to be gone leaving the areas that were decimated under it leadership to become new Blight Zones. The First Purge
Recovery took over one hundred years (year 2705) with fortifications and access to the new Blight Zones that were previous settlements being cut off entirely to prevent the Bleak from attacking again. These fortifications proved valuable during the next three hundred years (year 3010) as thousands of Bleak attempted to get past the fortifications for unknown reason. Everytime they were defeated with casualties and the loss of some to the Blight itself, but they were always replenished in short order to keep the guard healthy.
May the Elder's Sleep Soundly
Founding Date
1600
Type
Geopolitical, Empire
Capital
Alternative Names
The Dominion
Training Level
Professional
Veterancy Level
Decorated/Honored
Government System
Monarchy, Constitutional
Power Structure
Federation
Economic System
Mixed economy
Location
Controlled Territories
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