Lore : Chapter 3
Dwarfs and their Stone
From the small fortress in the South west. Located on the foothills of Black Tip Mountains. To the large community living in the City of Farfell , and even the farmers to the south-west of the city. The dwarfs seem to thrive in this second age. Leaving their deep mines carving out stone and working the fields. With comically large machines plowing the endless fields.
No one knows more than the dwarves what happened in the first age. But rule number one in the dwarven community is not easily broken. secrets are everything to the dwarven community. What is known of the dwarfs in the first age is that they were the masons of the world. carving stone, retrieving gemstones, silver and gold from the deep soils of the earth. Some say the dwarfs ventured deep in the earth to retrieve these precious items. but none were allowed in these sacred halls.
Same in the second age as the first . The home of the Dwarfs lies in the Black tip Mountains. This sole surviving remnant of the old world has been a closely guarded secret. Some say there are thousands of dwarves living in these halls. Others talk about a dwindling dynasty. and a mere handful of guards at the gates persist.
When in 421 in the second age a scripture was found in the northern lands. It described a visit by a high Elven custodian to the Dwarven fortress. Calling it Black Hold. The Elven custodian described large halls made of marble , engraved with the native tongue. Markings of several other chambers were noted on walls and signs. but he wasn't allowed to look, or enter any other halls. The only other description was given about the Kings Seat. The Dwarven King Dhorsilum Honourheart had apparently constructed a large chamber filled with gold statue’s and marble seats to settle its senators. But mostly the description was given around the King's throne. Spoken were the words : ‘’The 5 feet high king occupies a 10 feet high seat. Surpassing my belief in magic, this seat was filled with gemstones. Some larger than my fist.’’ ‘’All of the marble was inscribed with dwarven tongue, some of which translated in : the Master of Earth’’ . This made believing in the elves the dwarves' empire was much larger than presented to the custodian. The last remaining remarks on the page describe an encounter on the way out of the ‘’Black Hold’’.
The scripture reads : ‘’Last have my days here end , and finally as i'm walking to the exit , my eyes are focussed on a bright red light emanating from a chasm. I turn to look , as I turn I see 3 dwarfs covered in soot. Red light beaming behind them. A guard pushes me , and forces me to move’’. further notes have been burned off the pages. After the discovery of these scriptures questions were asked to the dwarf council members of the King. ‘’What red light ? What did this mean?’’ But never was a real answer given. The secrecy of the dwarf prevailed that day.
Nowadays there is still much trading going on too and from ‘’Black Hold’’. but it's no longer Gemstones , silver or gold. Mostly it's marble statues , tokens , food (since the dwarfs took it upon themselves to farm the land). and a lot of small jewelry pieces. It seems like the glory days are over for the dwarfs of old. Many have claimed the riches in the earth are gone , and fully mined out. Some have said the dwarves don't dare to touch the deep earth of something happened in the first age. Others have claimed the dwarfs keep it all to themselves. But who will know the truth ? since the dwarfs keep everything so close to heart.
The Dwarfs south of Farwell fare much better than their counterparts in the mountains. living from the land. They cultivate it with meticulous precision. Riding their large machinery made of plows , cultivators and other ingenuity. These fair folk have often been referred to as the feeders of the world. with large crops being harvested each year. And providing many of the citizens of Farfell with a good meal. These dwarves have completely turned their back to earth and stone. And focussing on tending the top soil as best they can.
Living in small communities made of 20 to 50 Dwarfs, these farms are located between the northern forests, western city, and southern mountains of Lasszan. Since all off their cottages have been made from wood and material found in the fields. None feel the need to contact their counterparts in the southern fortress of Black Hold. But nonetheless not a word comes out of these dwarves about them or their family's past.
Even a larger difference can be found in the Dwarves living in the City of Farfell , this band is a close knit community made of masons , craftsmen and metalworkers. Nothing more satisfies them more than working the large hammers of the forge , or carving large structures out of stone. They can't seem to get enough material to quench their thirst. Proud of production , the two councilmen of the King are the main provider of arms for the city. Altho not at war , the king has a decent stockpile of arms locked away. Advised by his father , the now King Raimlad has heeded the words of his father. Never to let his guard down and face the future prepared. And the dwarves are happy to help him in this.
Even the Trade Union has had its share of difficulties with the dwarves, many of the dwarves accuse the Union of favoritism towards the elves. Since the Elves ask for much more valuable resources than the dwarfs. According to the Dwarfs : ‘’nothing makes an elf happier than a large stick. We dwarfs need marble … And lots of it !’’. Not even the influx of marble out of the Eastern coast made the dwarves happy. Tons of marble made its way towards the city in the great revamp of the city by the old King Thalanil. These are still called the great days of old. Since after the City was finished. Lots of dwarfs' craftsmen hammers felt still. and the City according to the dwarfs didn't feel the same.
Some artisans of the mason craft went to the north , in trying to find some luck. some of them banded together in founding a new town of Fandor Fort. In a place where a large mine was found filled with marble. They now have created a small fortress town made entirely out of marble. and even the streets are made out of marble cobblestone. Even tho relations are friendly , most of them resent the fact they ever had to leave from the City of Farfell. With one of the masters even exclaimed : ‘’I've devoted fifteen years of my life to the Northern Infinery. Most of those days slaving away on my knees. Never again will i slam my hammer for an Elvish King.’’
As regards for the rest of the dwarven band that left the city, not much was heard. Some seem to venture in the Northern Mountains, others even beyond those same mountains. Nothing was ever heard of them. Nothing more than a whisper or a rumor. A whisper that dwarves had shown up in the fields south of Farfall , blackend. Soot across their shoulders and face. And glowing eyes. Deep red … glowing eyes..
