Khaz-Lorhal
National Symbol: Steel circular crest with a forge fire emblem in the middle.
National Colors: Bronze
68% Dwarf
22% Gnome
2% Halfling
60% Ancestor Worship
40% Pantheon
(Monarchy System of Government) The Steel Dwarves are ruled by a royal family. With many of the King’s sons overseeing the various forms of government. Rule is hereditary and has always been that way. Law and order is enforced through constables that report directly to the royal family. Mining is the most important industry and heavily regulated by the King’s sons. A lot of their financial wealth comes from them sitting on some of the richest raw material veins in all the world. Silver, lead, iron, copper, and other such sturdy metals are all available in abundance to the King and are hoarded by the royal family. Fiercely protective of the land that sits above their underground strongholds, they have active military patrols that rotate above ground to ensure nobody is encroaching on, or settling in their territory. The only races they will share the land with are Halflings and Gnomes at the borders. They are, however, very keen on trade with the other nations and the King has a heavily regulated trade post set up at the main entrance to their city, overseen by one of his sons.
Badlands: Hostile
Cenovia: Friendly
Commonwealth of Dail: Neutral
Eldarian Union: Hostile
Elven Triumvirate: Neutral
Empire of Grundar: Friendly
Golden Dwarves: Friendly
Grand Duchy of Montia: Neutral
Granelian Protectorate: Neutral
Hassarian Oligarchy: Friendly
Highlands: Friendly
Ichi Shogunate: Neutral
Idelan Republic: Neutral
Iron Dwarves: Friendly
Kingdom of Aldania: Neutral
Naga’s Landing: Hostile
Orc Horde: Hostile
Sahalan Sultanate: Neutral
Shaneier Elves: Neutral
Taisan Khanate: Neutral
The Dark Covenant: Hostile
Theocracy of Vespa: Friendly
Undying Lands: Hostile
Wolven Marches: Hostile
Currency is minted with a Hammer icon on it
Gold (gp) is used to buy luxury goods and high-end services
Silver (sp) is used to buy common quality goods and skilled labor
Copper (cp) is used to buy basic supplies goods and food
Average costs
Basic Food items: 1-3 copper
Luxury Food items: 10-15 copper
Basic Drinks: 1-3 copper
Luxury Drinks: 5-10 copper
Basic clothing: 25-50 copper
Average clothing: 25-50 silver
Luxury/High End clothing: 10-15 gold
Basic Lodging (Common Inn): 5-10 silver per night
Comfortable Lodging (High End Inn): 20-25 silver per night
Luxury Lodging (Private room with bath): 50-100 silver per night
Opulent/Noble Lodging (Private suite with multiple rooms): 10-15 gold per night
Transportation (Rented wagon/carriage): 10-15 silver per km
Weapons and Armor: Use Item costs
Steel Dwarf architecture is completely underground, and they do not allow any structures to be built on the land above them. It is treated as a kind of nature preserve and buffer zone between them and other nations. Every structure in the Steel Dwarf kingdom is located inside one mega-city underground and is massive in scale. Stone and granite are the primary building materials but unlike most of the other dwarves they also have an abundance of wood to use in their construction. They heavily favor colossal statues made of bronze or copper and their city is open and expansive, using giant pillars to support large open halls.
Steel Dwarf clothing is a mix of utility and protection. When mining or performing trades they like hardy leather and wool clothing that allows them freedom of movement. When not working they like simple clothing made of wool, cotton, leather, and furs. The wealthier or upper-class nobles incorporate bronze or steel bracelets, banded beard clips, and circlets to showcase their status.
Typical Steel Dwarf cuisine includes heavy use of goat meat and pork products with cheeses and mushrooms supplementing it. The most popular meals are smothered in cheeses and herbs. Drinks are usually dairy or tea leaf based. Alcohol is a large part of their culture so they go to great lengths to trade for it with other countries. Steel dwarves favor strong mushroom based liquors, imported ales, wines, and fermented dairy spirits.
Music: Steel Dwarf music favors horns and drums. Given the underground nature of their living both of these instrument types echo and carry throughout the vast caverns very well and when harmonized is very motivating to the crafters as they work. Deep resonant drums are often used during festivals so the whole city can participate.
Literature: Steel dwarves have access to the most paper products and therefore have extensive libraries of written texts. Highly skilled at trades there is also an abundance of literature available in regards to schematics or manuscripts on how to make something.
Entertainment/Theater: Steel Dwarves are big on athletic events that involve strength such as weightlifting and boulder tosses. They are also very heavy drinkers and consider it the ultimate way to let off steam. Most of their entertainment revolves around massive beer halls and taverns that get rowdy after work hours. Gambling and prostitution are also forms of entertainment and there are entire casino style establishments and industry dedicated to it that is overseen by one of the King’s sons.
Steel Dwarf technology is steampunk in nature but unlike the other dwarves it is only used for quality of life underground and not as advanced. They have rudimentary harnessed electricity and plumbing. Most of their technology is limited after that, because they have a more traditional hard work ideology and hold on to the ‘old ways’ of how things should be done. They are also talented magical users and are masters at imbuing runic enchantments on their weapons, armor, and tools. Steel Dwarf magic users are also very adept at healing magics and their clerics are revered in their society.
Elves and dwarves were the first races to appear on the continent, and the dwarves were digging out cities and mastering technology from the very beginning. The Steel Dwarves are the most diplomatic and magically educated of the remaining dwarven kingdoms. In centuries past tensions between the dwarves and elves boiled over into a massive worldwide war, where entire kingdoms of dwarves were wiped out by the High Elves. In return the dwarves began a scorched earth campaign against the High Elves. Unlike the other dwarf cultures Steel Dwarves were mostly surface dwelling at the time, and lost the most territory and lives in the war. In the aftermath, Steel dwarves became hyper focused on the politics of the surface kingdoms, and very focused on moving underground to avoid suffering that fate again. Creating their underground mega-city of Khaz-Lorhal, they have become industrialist miners and are very focused on digging out a larger underground presence there. This has opened up a newfound wealth for them as they have tapped into some of the riches ore sources in the world. But as an homage to their former surface kingdom, the lands around their city-state are kept mostly uninhabited, and treated as a natural preserve and buffer zone between them and the other kingdoms. With the exception of Halflings and Gnomes, who are the only other races the Steel Dwarves will allow permanent settlement rights above ground. The Steel Dwarf kingdom is home to the largest populations of Gnomes who the Steel Dwarves consider their smaller kin. Being more diplomatic means that the Steel Dwarves are naturals at trade, and they have a strong affinity for most humans. Steel Dwarves in general view humans as a better alternative to share the continent with than elves, because of the shared love of technology or rune crafting many of their nations possess. Although some they are more wary of than others. They even have let go of some of the old grudges with elves in a divided way. Wood Elves they treat with guarded neutrality, since they do not view them as responsible for the war. High Elves on the other hand, Steel Dwarves will naturally become hostile towards, since every Steel Dwarf remembers the loss of their vast surface kingdom, and the hatred there still runs deep. The Steel Dwarves as they stand today are a nation of practicality, industrialization, and proud heritage.