The Duroth Commonwealth

Duroth is an ancient and mostly forgotten region in the middle of the Mercurian wastes, on the continent of New Hermertia. It’s capital Tazhahall lies a short distance east of the coast of the Mercurian sea, but the borders of the region inside of the Mercurian Wastes are vague. It does not by any means take up the entirety of the Mercurian wastes, as is noticeable due to the presence of the foreign-controlled Keep Blackforge nearby. However, the region does extend at least as far eastward as the Caloris Sea.

Year founded: 186 A.I.

Capital: Tazhahall

Estimated population:

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Dwarves have inhabited that Mercurian Wastes since before the fleeing, when they were not wastes. Whether they had relations with the Humans who also lived there during the time is unknown, but certain artifacts possessed by the eldest Mountain-Lords would suggest so. However, events that they still refuse to reveal drove them into seclusion around the time of the Fleeing – undoubtedly these events were related to the Fleeing itself.

Before the Fleeing, The Ancestral King of the Dwarven kingdom was Durthul Frozenhearth, Son of Durmgul. The Dwarves are very secretive about the times and manner in which their royalty passes, but it can be assumed that Bormul Frozenhearth, the then Reigning Prince, passed during the events of the Fleeing, becoming the Ancestral King; his son Duroth Frozenhearth, became the new Prince in his steed.

Duroth, being already a full grown man with his own holdings, was feared by many of the mountain lords who believed that he would attempt to unjustly increase his influence despite his Father's ultimate control. In the Dwarven way of things, they exerted pressure upon Duroth by seemingly allowing trade agreements to fall apart, and unjustly raising prices. Despite being the Reigning Prince, his hold struggled, as this position does not actually hold any direct power besides being the first to speak with the king.

It was during the early 2nd age that an Orc WAAAAGGGHHHHHGHGHGH struck from the south. Duroth was quick to scramble forces and set up defensive positions in the many mountains of the Mercurian Wastes, but as we all know, the Orc attacks are swift and unpredictable, and due to the state of Duroth's hold, his own forces were vastly unprepared. The grand hold of Duroth's Brother In-Law Daren son of Aeroth, which was one of the southernmost city-states, was the brunt of a devastating counter-attack after another attack elsewhere was deflected. Duroth, recognizing the dire state of affairs, lead his personal bodyguard to a relentless flanking maneuver, cutting through countless Orc lines just as their forces tore down the front gates of Daren's hold. Duroth lead his force directly to Daren's aid, brave dwarves dying tragically all the way. As the last ragged surviving group of Orcs stormed towards the last of Daren's men, Duroth single-handed engaged them, slaying 11 of the hulking beasts with his Hammer and Pike. Despite dispatching the last of the Orcs just in time to prevent them from slaughtering Daren's family, Duroth had taken a mortal wound. Daren, one of the only Mountain-Lords who had fully trusted Duroth, was devastated. As Duroth wheezed his last breathes, Daren cried out, and gave his oath that forever onward, Daren's line shall be sworn to protect Duroth's heirs. Forever onward, Daren's lineage was named Oathbearer. As Duroth died, his young son Durthen was raised to the position of Reigning Prince. His childhood friend Aerathal was made his life-guard, and the greiving Mountain-Lords delayed the rebuilding of their own city-states to create the grandest of them all, Tazhahall, as the personal hold of their new prince. Duroth, the new Ancestral King, felt no disrespect for the Mountain-Lords, and has lead Durthen and the rest of the kingdom through a quiet era of rebuilding and reclamation.

During a summer in the 3rd era, the glaciers in the many mountains throughout The Duroth Commonwealth melted much more than in the last thousand years – overwhelming the infrastructure that was still being rebuilt after Duroth's war, and doubly so the ones damaged in the Civil war with the Rogue Orc Popret. Floodings are the most dangerous and feared occurrences to Dwarven communities. Winding tunnels turn any influx of water into torrential currents sucking the unwary down into the heart of the mountain mines. Furthermore, due to their dense structures, all but the strongest Dwarves cannot manage to swim for long. Thus, many perished. Once again The Duroth Commonwealth was forced underground, tending the infirm, rebuilding vital structures, and finding whatever precious items were swept away by the water.

The Duroth Commonwealth is lead by the Ancestral King, a lingering spirit able to communicate with the living Dwarves. Each Reigning Prince gains this title upon death. In the afterlife Dwarves are freed from mortal feelings of greed, vengeance and pride. However, all Dwarves have an incredibly strong cultural inclination towards Ancestral Loyalty, meaning that revolts, coups, and upheavals rarely happen.

Although the Ancestral King has the last say in all region-wide and foreign affairs, every Mountain-Lord has control over his or her own realm otherwise, and it is more common for the coalition to come an agreement as a whole. The Reigning Prince acts as the first liaison between the Mountain-Lords and the Ancestral King and the ambassador in international affairs, but does not have any express powers beyond that of the other Mountain-Lords.

The Duroth Commonwealth has no standing army, and has been solely economy focused for the past age. However, all Dwarves are stalwart combatants with strong arms from swinging picks, and their armor-smithing ability should never be underestimated.

The Duroth Commonwealth is founding member of MAPS (Mercantile Alliance of Patrioted States). Dwarves are notoriously reluctant to trade any precious metals or gems, but are incredibly open about trading all other resources. Most of the Dwarven economy is still based around mining however, as they trade stone, coal, and various other non-precious ores. However, with the raising of Gramesh to the rank of Mountain-Lord, many other items are likely to be traded.

Dwarven stonecrafters are very skilled, and conserve all of the stone mined in their mines. The Duroth Commonwealth sells its expertise in masonry in addition to providing construction materials. Very often coal is also available for trade, but the Dwarves do make extensive use of it in their great forges. The Mercurian Waste also has much snow and ice, and the Dwarves have started collecting these resources for trade after each blizzard. Gramesh also has a large store of potions and alchemical ingredients for trade.

The dwarves of the Duroth Commonwealth live primarily underground, but hold no real reservations for exploring the surface or heights (they often frequent mountaintops for fresh air). It is not quite understood to Men why dwarves insist on building and living underground. Similarly, dwarves do not understand many of Men's quirks, such as privatization within a community.

These dwarves are not provoked easily, but are tireless and stalwart warriors, making up for their typically slow marches with brilliant resource and force allocation, as well as a large industrial backbone to grind out the necessities of war when needed.

The Capital of The Duroth Commonwealth, Tazhahall was constructed after Duroth’s (Former Reigning Prince) fall in Duroth’s War to act as a source of decision making and strength in times of crisis. Inside its walls lies a Great Forge, The Chaftan Reserve (an international bank), an industrial farm, Khorbilia’s (the Dining Hall, named after it’s most famous chef), and two separate Dwarven housing departments. A Grand Hall is still in construction, as well is an observatory tower.

Wolvertome Cliffs was known for it’s natural beauty, appreciated by Dwarves, Dorfs, Men, and Cats alike. Thus, when Durthen decided that more international relations were necessary, construction on The Embassy was begun. Currently this location has a small multi-purpose Embassy, the only Nether Portal in Duroth, and also Duroth’s official Imperial Parliament, were voting on any subject may be held.

Located on the temperate island in the middle of the Caloris Sea, this is furthest east Dwarven settlement currently revealed. It acts as a fortress securing the eastern reaches of Duroth, as well as a lively port for trade on the ocean, and a prime location for freshwater fishing.