History - According to the Dwarves
Dwarven written records extend back thousands of years. With the exception of the gnomes, they have the oldest written records. Almost all these records are centered on their tribes and the greater dwarven community. However, I managed to distill interesting information from the records that I was allowed to access that pertains to Prealith.
Dwarves claim to have been hammered out on Sertig's anvil before elves made an appearance - as the dwarven saying goes, "Rock before trees!". From the beginning, dwarves dwelt in underground communities in dross (courageous) rock (rock that had the strength to be delved and shaped). Dwarves were miners and craftsmen in metal and rock long before any other of the peoples. Their records chronicle the trade in metals with the other peoples before they discovered the secrets of smelting and working those metals. (Note: There was a bit of a gleeful nature to the high prices they could command to the 'unknowing'. Also, there were strict laws against sharing these discoveries with the 'surface dwellers').
Earliest records indicate the dwarves were driven out of their original homeland. The ancient dwarvish is a bit unclear as it implies two interesting concepts: the dwarves were driven out by an arch-demon and his minions who utilized a magic that absorbed all force and energy. Second, these earliest dwarves were united - one clan, one home, one leader. The location or even direction that homeland lies is not given.
What is clear is the desperate struggles these dwarves had to wage: a continuing struggle with the demon that pursued them after it crushed their homeland and the almost hopeless task of building a new homeland in the Dwarfmounts and wresting it from the terrible creatures that infested it on both the surface and in its depths. The demon was defeated with an alliance - the names mean nothing today though some appear to be elvish. Thereupon the dwarves set out on a task of thousands of years of building a new homeland in the Dwarfmounts. These early years in the Dwarfmounts are regarded as a Dwarvish golden age - deeds fit for truly great heroes, weapons and other crafts of incredible and unequaled power and beauty, and a smashing of horrendous opponents and monsters. Most of what follows is a truly imposing list of dwarven leaders, heroes, crafts people, artifacts, and other great works - all of which revolve around the surface and mostly the roots of the Dwarfmounts.
Of relations with the other elder nations, the dwarves note mainly trading relationships. Trade with the elves for thousands of years is noted; along with references to temporary alliances or hostilities between elves and dwarves. However, largely, the two existed in their own separate worlds. (Note: a strange reference was made to the "elven dwelling in stone" - a curiosity I hope to pursue). Gnomes receive a likewise brief attention. Records establish the gnomes picking out dross rock as well - but the gnome princedoms seem to be 'hills/small mountains' while dwarves staked out actual mountain ranges. Once these were established in agreements, the two races tended to keep to their own worlds as well. Of all the records, those involving gnomes were the most.... precise.
Of more interest to the reader is the relationship with humans. Dwarves record trading relations with humans as far back as any other race (an interesting tidbit). It also seems a much more involved relationship. Humans tended to trade raw materials in exchange for metal goods. The earliest trades were for bronze tools, goods, and weapons. I would venture to guess from the description given these were "Old Humans".
Later, but still several thousands of years ago (dwarf chronology is problematic at time, so any time/dates are an estimate), another group arrived (the dwarves had multiple names for them - flaming ones, water walkers....). These people arrived from the eastern ocean and brought human magic to the land and their own bronze goods. While a threat to the dwarven monopoly on bronze production, these new humans opened up extensive trade networks and, with magic, new crafting possibilities. This time period is regarded as the height of the dwarven golden age. Iron and steel were discovered and traded (though its secrets were not shared with non-dwarves). Mighty magical weapons and tools were crafted. The dwarves joined their human and elvish allies in a great crusade that banished a great evil but at considerable cost. The war and the magical backlash destroyed the human allies, caused the elves to flee to lands well behind the safety of the Dwarfmounts' protection, and left the dwarves as the shield for the civilizations to the south. I noted this part as the accounts suggest the human trade, settlement, war, and backlash took place mainly in Prealith and the surrounding area north of the Dwarfmounts.
There are hints that a shattered remnant of human civilization clung to Prealith and traded with the dwarves; but it took the arrival of a new people from the Ocean to reignite trade within Prealith. Side note: Dwarven sources indicate trade with Aare still existed and an increasing trade with Aarenis, but it was plagued by pirates and bandits.
Dwarvish sources are a bit confused on who these new humans were. They arrived from the Ocean about three thousand years ago with iron tools and weapons. They also brought magic, skilled seamanship, and a fierce fighting style (dwarven records seem to indicate a style of heavy slashing and cutting swords with little to no armour). What these people looked like - that's the confusing part of the records. The dwarves, who normally take no notice of what humans look like, were puzzled that there were three distinct clans - the water walkers (a 2nd wave of the first arrivals?), the land striders, and the death on the water. The last seemed to be the dominant group who rebuilt Prealith and utilized the weapons ordered from the dwarves. It is interesting to note it is shortly after this time we find the first records of a "Sea Prince" in dwarven accounts.
Dwarvish accounts of Prealith continue to record increasing trade with the Sea Prince down to present day - a trade that surges during certain periods. A little more than two thousand years ago, the people known as the Sea Wolves arrived; raiders who later became the people of Pargun and Kostandan and partially of the other kingdoms. Prealith would have seen such raiders as a threat. However, it also coincides with another human event noted by the dwarves - the crossing of the Dwarfmounts by the magelords who survived the fall of Aare. This group conquered Tsaia and Fintha and would have been seen as a possible threat to Prealith. A similar buying surge occurred 500 years ago at the time of the Girdish revolts when Prealith tried to expand its land holdings into the wilderness and failed (reflected in substantial weapons and armour buying followed by a considerable delay in repaying....).
Dwarvish records have little to add to Prealith's history (the names of many of the Sea Princes on trade agreements and the changing products of the kingdom over time that were then traded to the dwarves). Again, the Dwarfmount clans are not interested. As for the Seekers, they are unwilling or unable to grant access to any written records. In the records of the Dwarfmounts, there is not even a mention of the Seekers. It is also surprising that, given Prealith's trade connections with the dwarves and the presence of so many dwarves in the kingdom, there is a lack of detail or even dwarven interest in Prealith's history. If you, the reader, are able to gain me access to the Seeker records (if they exist); I would be deeply indebted.....
Dwarves claim to have been hammered out on Sertig's anvil before elves made an appearance - as the dwarven saying goes, "Rock before trees!". From the beginning, dwarves dwelt in underground communities in dross (courageous) rock (rock that had the strength to be delved and shaped). Dwarves were miners and craftsmen in metal and rock long before any other of the peoples. Their records chronicle the trade in metals with the other peoples before they discovered the secrets of smelting and working those metals. (Note: There was a bit of a gleeful nature to the high prices they could command to the 'unknowing'. Also, there were strict laws against sharing these discoveries with the 'surface dwellers').
Earliest records indicate the dwarves were driven out of their original homeland. The ancient dwarvish is a bit unclear as it implies two interesting concepts: the dwarves were driven out by an arch-demon and his minions who utilized a magic that absorbed all force and energy. Second, these earliest dwarves were united - one clan, one home, one leader. The location or even direction that homeland lies is not given.
What is clear is the desperate struggles these dwarves had to wage: a continuing struggle with the demon that pursued them after it crushed their homeland and the almost hopeless task of building a new homeland in the Dwarfmounts and wresting it from the terrible creatures that infested it on both the surface and in its depths. The demon was defeated with an alliance - the names mean nothing today though some appear to be elvish. Thereupon the dwarves set out on a task of thousands of years of building a new homeland in the Dwarfmounts. These early years in the Dwarfmounts are regarded as a Dwarvish golden age - deeds fit for truly great heroes, weapons and other crafts of incredible and unequaled power and beauty, and a smashing of horrendous opponents and monsters. Most of what follows is a truly imposing list of dwarven leaders, heroes, crafts people, artifacts, and other great works - all of which revolve around the surface and mostly the roots of the Dwarfmounts.
Of relations with the other elder nations, the dwarves note mainly trading relationships. Trade with the elves for thousands of years is noted; along with references to temporary alliances or hostilities between elves and dwarves. However, largely, the two existed in their own separate worlds. (Note: a strange reference was made to the "elven dwelling in stone" - a curiosity I hope to pursue). Gnomes receive a likewise brief attention. Records establish the gnomes picking out dross rock as well - but the gnome princedoms seem to be 'hills/small mountains' while dwarves staked out actual mountain ranges. Once these were established in agreements, the two races tended to keep to their own worlds as well. Of all the records, those involving gnomes were the most.... precise.
Of more interest to the reader is the relationship with humans. Dwarves record trading relations with humans as far back as any other race (an interesting tidbit). It also seems a much more involved relationship. Humans tended to trade raw materials in exchange for metal goods. The earliest trades were for bronze tools, goods, and weapons. I would venture to guess from the description given these were "Old Humans".
Later, but still several thousands of years ago (dwarf chronology is problematic at time, so any time/dates are an estimate), another group arrived (the dwarves had multiple names for them - flaming ones, water walkers....). These people arrived from the eastern ocean and brought human magic to the land and their own bronze goods. While a threat to the dwarven monopoly on bronze production, these new humans opened up extensive trade networks and, with magic, new crafting possibilities. This time period is regarded as the height of the dwarven golden age. Iron and steel were discovered and traded (though its secrets were not shared with non-dwarves). Mighty magical weapons and tools were crafted. The dwarves joined their human and elvish allies in a great crusade that banished a great evil but at considerable cost. The war and the magical backlash destroyed the human allies, caused the elves to flee to lands well behind the safety of the Dwarfmounts' protection, and left the dwarves as the shield for the civilizations to the south. I noted this part as the accounts suggest the human trade, settlement, war, and backlash took place mainly in Prealith and the surrounding area north of the Dwarfmounts.
There are hints that a shattered remnant of human civilization clung to Prealith and traded with the dwarves; but it took the arrival of a new people from the Ocean to reignite trade within Prealith. Side note: Dwarven sources indicate trade with Aare still existed and an increasing trade with Aarenis, but it was plagued by pirates and bandits.
Dwarvish sources are a bit confused on who these new humans were. They arrived from the Ocean about three thousand years ago with iron tools and weapons. They also brought magic, skilled seamanship, and a fierce fighting style (dwarven records seem to indicate a style of heavy slashing and cutting swords with little to no armour). What these people looked like - that's the confusing part of the records. The dwarves, who normally take no notice of what humans look like, were puzzled that there were three distinct clans - the water walkers (a 2nd wave of the first arrivals?), the land striders, and the death on the water. The last seemed to be the dominant group who rebuilt Prealith and utilized the weapons ordered from the dwarves. It is interesting to note it is shortly after this time we find the first records of a "Sea Prince" in dwarven accounts.
Dwarvish accounts of Prealith continue to record increasing trade with the Sea Prince down to present day - a trade that surges during certain periods. A little more than two thousand years ago, the people known as the Sea Wolves arrived; raiders who later became the people of Pargun and Kostandan and partially of the other kingdoms. Prealith would have seen such raiders as a threat. However, it also coincides with another human event noted by the dwarves - the crossing of the Dwarfmounts by the magelords who survived the fall of Aare. This group conquered Tsaia and Fintha and would have been seen as a possible threat to Prealith. A similar buying surge occurred 500 years ago at the time of the Girdish revolts when Prealith tried to expand its land holdings into the wilderness and failed (reflected in substantial weapons and armour buying followed by a considerable delay in repaying....).
Dwarvish records have little to add to Prealith's history (the names of many of the Sea Princes on trade agreements and the changing products of the kingdom over time that were then traded to the dwarves). Again, the Dwarfmount clans are not interested. As for the Seekers, they are unwilling or unable to grant access to any written records. In the records of the Dwarfmounts, there is not even a mention of the Seekers. It is also surprising that, given Prealith's trade connections with the dwarves and the presence of so many dwarves in the kingdom, there is a lack of detail or even dwarven interest in Prealith's history. If you, the reader, are able to gain me access to the Seeker records (if they exist); I would be deeply indebted.....