Chronicles of Astravara

Where gods whisper and empires rot.

Name: Dwarven Kingdom (Khar’dûrath)

Type: Subterranean kingdom / Mountain confederation

Region: Eastern Astravara, bordering Eldoria and Daemon Territories

Capital: Durath’Khar

Major Fortresses: Thol-Moradin, Tirol-Moradin, Vireth-Kael

Symbol: Hammer and anvil over erupting peak

Dominant Race: Dwarves (Stoneborn, Emberblood, Deepkin)

GEOGRAPHY

The Dwarven Kingdom stretches beneath the Ironback Mountains, forming a deep network of strongholds, tunnels, and subterranean cities:

Durath’Khar – capital and political center
Thol-Moradin – religious and artisan heart
Krag’Dun – fortress-forge of the war clans
Vireth-Kael – frontier bastion bordering Daemon incursions
Surface outposts include Stonewatch, Anvilridge, and lost Dwarrowdeep

CULTURE & TRADITIONS

Deeply honor-bound, oath-driven, and clan-focused

Religion: The dwarves worship Vulkanar, the God of Fire, Forge, and Stone — their divine father and eternal master of craft and resilience.

Temples to Vulkanar are carved deep into volcanic stone, with ever-burning braziers and walls engraved with molten runes.
Priests of Vulkanar are smiths, war-priests, and rune-masters. Their sermons are sung with hammers and sealed in steel.
To forge is to pray; to fulfill one’s oath is to rise in Vulkanar’s flame.
The Hammer of Vulkanar, a legendary relic lost in the cataclysm of Ghor’Nazruk, is believed to return only when the dwarves face extinction.

Calendar: Based on forge cycles, celestial lava-rune alignments, and oath anniversaries

Craftsmanship: Renowned for rune-etched weapons, clockwork armor, sacred golems

Stonewriting: History is engraved on load-bearing pillars and sealed vault-doors

MILITARY

Stoneguard Legions – elite armored infantry with shield-walls and war axes
Ironbound Bastions – rune-powered defense towers at tunnel chokepoints
Forgepriests – warrior-clerics who channel divine fire through molten weapons
Tunnelwatchers – scouts and saboteurs trained to fight in narrow darkness
Golemforged Units – rune-powered constructs and armor suits used in Vireth-Kael

POLITICS

Governed by the Council of Hammers, including:

High Forge-Lord/Lady of Durath’Khar
Clanmasters of Thol and Tirol
Speaker of the Flame (Vulkanar’s high priest)
Warden of the Eastern Wall (Vireth-Kael)

The council’s rule is based on oath-binding, stone law, and generational memory.

RELATIONS

Faction	Standing
Eldoria	Strong allies (Treaty of Vireth-Kael)
Caltheron	Cautious trade; skeptical of the Inquisition
Sylvaran	Limited contact, distant respect
Norvhar	Shared ancestry with highland clans
Daemon Realm	Mortal enemy — constant threat at the eastern tunnels

NOTABLE LOCATIONS

Durath’Khar – The Ember Throne, Vault of Vows
Thol-Moradin – Cathedral of the Seven Hammers
Tirol-Moradin – War-Bellows, Hall of Steel Sons
Vireth-Kael – Eastern Wall, home of the Runeguard
Dwarrowdeep – Ancient forge-city lost to darkness
The Abyssal Gates – Forbidden tunnels sealed by divine rune chains