NationStates Jolt Archive

The Dwarves of Tidan
Tidan's Folk

Singular/Plural: Tidani/Tidani

Physical Characteristics: Dwarves are sturdy and hard. They are naturally more resistant to disease and poison. They also have a naturally increased resistance to magic, being somewhat different than the other races. They generally live around 250 years, and are unable to lengthen or shorten their lives through the use of magic. Most dwarves range in height from 4' - 5'. Male dwarves normally grown long beards. Female dwarves are said to look and sound very similar to males. This combined with the fact that female dwarves rarely leave the safety of their underground cities except for in times of great need has lead to the impression among other races that there are no female dwarves.

Nature: In nature, the typical Dwarf is stubborn and secretive. Though they make loyal and good friends, they are also a proud and stern race. They do not suffer grievance or insult, and their enmity is long-lasting. They are said, though, to be quick to learn new skills. Probably the best known aspect of the Dwarvish character, though, is their strong instinctive skills in the working of metal and stone.

Government: Each hall is ruled by its own Baron. These Barons are part of a lineage which is traced back to the creation of the dwarven race at the beginning of the world. This gives each hall some independence, however, they are all united under the banner of Brakhadur where the King of all Tidan's Folk sits.

Society: Dwarves reproduce slowly as only about one third of their population is female. Dwarves take only one partner for life so at all times this leaves a full third of their population unmarried. This large unmarried workforce allows the dwarves to be very productive and very dedicated to their work. Much of dwarf society is not known to the other races as they tend to be very secretive.

Great Halls:

Brakhadur - King Tarin; Baron Korin; 250,000 dwarves; 10,000 guards/30,000 max army

Thainetor - Baron Kaz; 200,000 dwarves; 10,000 guards/30,000 max army

Hammer Falls - Baron Grell; 200,000 dwarves 10,000 guards/30,000 max army

Khethor - Baron Haldar; 50,000 dwarves; 2,000 guards/5,000 max army

Terranor - Baron Rhor; 100,000 dwarves; 5,000 guards/20,000 max army

Trade: While dwarves do grow some of their own food in valleys, protected plains, and terraces the riches they mine allow them to import much of the food they require. Dwarven hunters bring in most of the meat in their diet.

Technology: Dwarves are expert smiths, they are able to create finely crafted weapons and armor, as well as tools. They are very adept at construction, capable of digging out and reinforcing vast underground halls and tunnel networks, aswell as building large towers and forts and even massive bridges to span rivers and valleys.

Religion: Religion does not play a very large role in the daily lives of the dwarves. They know they were created by Mahal at the beginning of the world to learn his crafts and help him form the world. They know that when they die they will go to Mahal's great hall and wait with him until the world ends and he once again needs them to rebuild it.

Population: ~ 800,000 dwarves

Military: 39,000 standing (~5%); 115,000 maximum army (~15%)

Geography and Locations:
http://images1.filecloud.com/634105/tidan_detail_pt.gif

1. South Gate of Brakhadur.
2. Echo Valley Gate of Brakhadur.
3. South Gate of Thainetor.
4. Echo Valley Gate of Thainetor.
5. South Gate of Hammer Falls.
6. West Gate of Hammer Falls/Hammer Falls Canyon Port.
7. Khethor Canyon Port.
8. North Gate of Khethor.
9. West Gate of Khethor.
10. East Gate of Khethor.
11. Orin Gate of Khethor.
12. Orin Gate of Terranor.
13. North Gate of Terranor.
14. South Gate of Terranor.
15. Orin Span.
16. Keystone Dam.
17. Brakhadur Tower.
18. Thainetor Tower.
19. Hammer Falls Tower.
20. Norin Tower.
21. Khethor Tower.
22. Goldun Tower.

History: Tidan is one of the Dwarf Great Fathers crafted by Mahal and finally given life to help him finish the world. When his work was complete he settled with his kin and built the great hall of Brakhadur. Tidan lived much longer than dwarves do today and saw Brakhadur into an era of prosperity and wealth. Tidan's line has lived in the halls at all times during several prosperous times since then the dwarves of Brakhadur spread out into the mountains digging larger mines and founding the great halls Thainetor and Hammer Falls.

When it was discovered that the deep and wide Rakhaz river, which flowed through the canyons of Hammer Falls, ended at the sea the dwarves followed it south. When it passed again through mountianous canyons before reaching the sea they founded Kethor. The canyon port became the gateway to the kingdom and it too became prosperous, connecting the dwarves with all corners of the Elven Empires.

With the return of Orin, son of Gron, and the survivers of Terradun, King Dain welcomed his cousin's son with open arms. Dain offered Orin and his people a home in any hall they wished. Orin was grateful but he wished to keep his people together and one day rebuild their hall elsewhere. Dain understood and promised the support of all Tidan's Halls in building them a new home where ever they chose. Orin investigated many locations before he finally settled on the peak south of the Vala Strait. The area to the south was ideal, as the elves there were not very numerous and were heavily distracted with keeping their human slave states in order. Further missions turned up evidence of large deposits of a wide variety of ore in the mountains and the digging of the hall began shortly after. Orin named the new hall Terranor in memory of his old home and all that his people had been through since its destruction.

To connect the new hall with the others across the strait Orin started a massive construction effort to build a large bridge connecting the slopes of Kethor to those of Terranor on the opposite shore. Together with the dwarves of Kethor it took almost 100 years to finish. The massive bridge stands nearly 500 feet above the strait at its height, and it is wide enough to let four siege engines cross together abreast. The falsework alone required the felling of half the forested areas of Terranor and Kethor, the stone was much more easily gathered and much of it was from the excavation of Terranor itself. Orin died only 22 years short of its completion and his son Bron continued the work. To honor his father for all he had done to find his people a new home and the work he had started Bron named the bridge the Orin Span.