Fiction:The Firmament/Grungirnur

"The other dwarves, the fools they are, forsook us and left us to die by the venom of the ratspawn. But we endured, we changed, and we have learned much... They and their gods have turned their back to us, and I say, we will not stand for it; the duergar will take their place as the rightful masters of dwarvenkind, and all others will be forced to kneel before us."

- Thalmur Krumthrun, Lord of Kharaz-Thalmur

Grungirnur is a mountainous region located in the southern potion of Dryadala. The homeland of the cruel and hateful duergars, it is a mysterious and feared land, as all those who cross paths with the dark dwarves end up being forced into slavery.

History
The region of Grungirnur was once part of the great kingdom of Khargramnir, with dwarves having lived in the region for over 3,000 years, centered around the great dwarven citadel-fortress of Kharaz-Thalmur. However, during the dwarves' wars with Skitterfall, a particularly malign lord of Clan Chemicus, Chant Spittlespark, ordered the passages of the subterranean Underway leading to Kharaz-Thalmur to be poisoned with a special concoction which was specifically created to cause as much pain and agony as possible to dwarves and then be closed off entirely, causing them to lose all contact with their homeland of Khargramnir, who believed them to be dead.

Most of the population of Kharaz-Thalmur died off from the poison, including all priests of the dwarven gods and all runemasters. This would only come to an end when Thalmur Roarie, Thane of the fortress and lord of his clan, pledged to the heavens for the aid of anyone who could have him and his people; and the demon lord Druacath answered, and gave these dwarves an immunity to all poisons of this world and beyond at the cost of tainting their souls with his vile energies, leading them to transform into the first duergars.

The duergars remained isolated until centuries later, where first contact was made by an expedition of Khargramnir who happened to find the tunnels of Kharaz-Thalmur mined clear of all rubble. The duergars reacted to their uncorrupted kin with hatred and slaughtered the expedition to the very last, leading the two races to become fierce opponents.

In the modern day, Grungirnur finds itself under war with the forces of Irkalla after the damned wyrm named Skuumuraveth was summoned into the world; the dragon now leads a legion of kobolds who are growing more and more warped by infernal energies with each passing generation.

Geography
Grungirnur is a mountain range located at the central portions of southern Dryadala, made up of a number of high peaks which become progressively smaller as they approach the neighbouring regions. It borders with the lands of Khalmartis, Okran, Amazq and Kultaurus, being located at the very center between the four.

Government
The Duergar Empire is a monarchy led by a Lord who is advised by the Council of Twenty Five, a group of aged and experienced duergar clan-leaders whose wisdom aids their monarch in taking decisions and maintaining the empire. Ruling over the fortress-cities are the Governants, who are roughly the duergar equivalent of dwarven Thanes, who have the task of keeping the fortresses in check and ensuring the bidding of the Lord is done. Slaves are considered property and have no say whatsoever in the Empire's day-to-day basis. The Lord's eldest son rules after his father, and a new family can only replace the Lord's own via a combat to the death, with the victors gaining rights over Grungirnur's crown.

The current Lord is the much maligned Thalmur Krumthrun, who seeks to conquer the neighbouring lands before moving north to fight the dwarves and rakash.

Religion
Grungirnur is notable for being the only nation of Dryadala to be strictly antitheistic; the duergars believe themselves to have been forsaken by the gods and do not see them as worthy of their worship, enough that revering any gods is looked down upon. Despite Druacatah's involvement in the duergars' current existence, the dark dwarves do not owe him any allegiance and rather believe demons such as him deserve only to serve under their rule.

Inhabitants
The duergars, a corrupted offshot of the dwarven species, are the dominant race of Grungirnur, though they are not the most numerous; an uncountable number of gnolls, minotaurs, goblins and amaz have been enslaved by the duergars and suffer under constant toil, almost no rest and little exposition to sunlight, with the dark dwarves often working most of their slaves to near-death. Grungirnur also has a very large population of kobolds, many who are now under the rule of the damned wyrm Skuumuraveth, who seeks to enslave the duergars themselves and turn them into an army to invade the lands of the north.

Relations
The duergars are considered the most malign force in southern Dryadala, though due to their remote location, the races of the northern half of the continent are only mildly aware of their existence. Only the most depraved would consciously attempt to contact the duergars, and even then, there is a great chance they will simply be enslaved or killed, for the dark dwarves have little patience for diplomacy.


 * Positive relations
 * N/A


 * Ambivalent relations
 * Khalmartis - The duergars leave Khalmartis alone for the time being, for they are too preoccupied in the south.
 * Mirseleth - Deals in slaves are done between the duergars and the dark elves, but the former know the latter cannot be trusted.


 * Negative relations
 * Amazq - The duergars see Amazq as potential territory for expansion and do not hesitate in enslaving the local tribes.
 * Khargramnir - Grungirnur will not rest until all dwarvenkind falls under their domain.
 * Kultaurus - The savage minotaurs are seen as good slave material thanks to their great strength.
 * Okran - While uncommon, the duergars have raided Okran at many occasions.
 * Skitterfall - The rakash are to blame for the duergars' current situation and are slaughtered on sight by the dark dwarves.

Notable inhabitants

 * Royals and nobles
 * Thalmur Krumthrun - Lord of Kharaz-Thalmur and leader of the duergar race


 * The kobold rebellion
 * Skuumuraveth - a demonic dragon who leads the kobold legion into war


 * Historical figures
 * Thalmur Roarie - last Thane of Kharaz-Thalmur before they became the duergar