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Dwarf Hold

History

Dválin, called "Strongarm", was the mightiest-ever hero of the Gabilkhazâd (Mountain Dwarves).  Undefeated with the Broad Axe and the greatest Paladin of SARAN, he dared ask Her where or how he might acquire an Axe worthy of both him and Her.  She replied that if he really wanted such an Item he would have to come and collect it.  Dválin's climb of Mount Anar is a Legend in itself, but suffice it to say that at last he walked into the High Temple of SARAN in Heaven itself and was then given 'Visintrel' the legendary Axe of Dválin Strongarm. The Goddess of Law then told him of the Task for which the Axe had been forged and he had been born and trained.  This last adventure had been the final test.  He was to found a Stronghold on the slopes of Mt. Anar itself, and from there lead his Dwarves on adventures into the Dungeons beneath the Mountain, their Purpose the greater glory and power of the Dwarven race and of SARAN Herself.  "My Lady, I obey", said Dválin, and at that he was Teleported to the Great Rift, and he stood on the site of the future Fort.  Anchored below was the fair ship with the Golden Sun of SARAN on the sails which had brought him to the Great Rift to begin his climb.  This he sailed back to his people's lands to begin his Task.

Gathol-Dválin (Dwarf Hold) was founded at the foot of the Great Rift on the North Eastern side of Mount Anar in the Year 1383.  Many and great were the adventures of Dválin I Strongarm, First Lord of Gathol-Dválin, his Axe and the Dwarves of Gathol-Dválin, but at last Dválin met his Doom.  In the Year 1510 he stood on the Stairway to Heaven, fighting off the Armies of ZAKEL almost single-handed.  He was near beaten but kept going, for he knew Sunrise was near as the Evil/Chaotics were dispersing.  Then CAERULAS shot up the Shaft, and Dválin and his Axe were lost, but ZAKEL and His Armies were stopped.  Dválin Strongarm thus died undefeated.

Many years later in the Year 1910, Dúrin the Reckless, greatest Hero and Paladin of SARAN since Dválin I himself, and then Lord of Gathol-Dválin, stormed the Gates of Hell at the head of a Dwarven War Band, slew Cerberus itself and personally retrieved the Axe of Dválin from the Treasure House of HALKI.  He hacked his way back to his party through an army of Balrogs, but he was mortally wounded (by Fire Damage) and beyond the aid of even the Axe itself.  He was buried in the Hold and the Dwarves fled back over the Sea to Gabilkhazâd-Dûm, there to withstand a great Siege by ALTIS and ZAKEL.  The intervention of SARAN and ESCUS forced the lifting of the Siege of Gabilkhazâd-Dûm, and a few years later (in the Year 1917) the Dwarves returned to their now ruined Hold, rebuilt it and recommenced the Task of the Axe, which was from then borne by the current Lord of Gathol-Dválin.

On 21 IX 2500 the Wave of Terror in Dwarf Hold culminated in the assassination and Spectreing (using a Dagger of SOROK) of Lord Dválin XII by the terrorists Mork and Toplop in the Dungeons.  The Axe of Dválin was once again lost, taken by the Forces of Evil. But on 25 XIII 2500 in a Raid on Hell by CAERULAS, Prince Kostof II of Valdran, Harrek, Lord Protector of the North and others, the Axe of Dválin was recovered for a second time from the Treasure House of HALKI, though at the cost of the loss of the Axe of Cold of the Northern Kings to a Sphere of Annihilation.  The Axe of Dválin was then returned to the Lord of Gathol-Dválin.  But on 3 XIV 2500 the Wave of Terror returned briefly to Dwarf Hold, and the Axe of Dválin was stolen for a third time.

Organisation

Dwarf Hold is a fiefdom of the Kingdom of All the Dwarves, held by its Commander, the Lord of Gathol-Dválin (Gatholkhâl-Dválin), for the King.  The Commander is the mightiest SARAN Paladin, appointed by the King to continue the great Task of Dválin I.

The Commander appoints his Deputy Commander, who in turn appoints a team of Administrators to run the Hold.

Each of the two Dwarf Kings also sends a unit of 50 Guards to protect the Hold, who are rotated each 7 months.  The 100 Professional Guards are supplemented by 100 Amateur Guards, who are paid volunteers from amongst the resident Dwarvish Adventurers.  The senior Guard appointed by the Mountain Dwarf King is Captain of the Guard and the senior Guard apppointed by the Hill Dwarf King is Lieutenant of the Guard.

The Commander usually convenes a Council to discuss and advise him upon matters of Hold business.  This consists of the Deputy Commander, Chief Administrator, Captain and Lieutenant of the Guard, the High and Second Priests of the Temples (SARAN, ESCUS, BUDIF/WACON, FIDAR, PAREL, KOROS and SHELDA, Trade Representatives, the Head Cook, Storekeeper, Treasurer and Master of the Chambers of Summoning.

For many years there was a Secret Temple of LOFIR, and then of SOROK and WAGREN, deep within Dwarf Hold, reachable only by Teleport or by a Spell to transfer one's mind into that of a Zombie there.  However it was exposed in the defeat of the Wave of Terror in the Year 2500.  A tunnel was constructed to it (it lies 2500 ft East of Level B of the Adventurers' rooms) and it was subsequently re-Sanctified to SARAN and became a Shrine to Dválin XII and the other victims of the Wave of Terror.

Services

There are regular supply ships from Barrakizdîn which carry passengers to the Hold, leaving Barrakizdîn on the 1st of each month and arriving at the Hold on the 19th, and leaving the Hold on the 22nd of each month and returning to Barrakizdîn on the 15th.  The service is operated by two contractors sailing in turn, with each maintaining a second ship, that wil sail at the same times if there is demand.   Many adventurers Teleport there if possible, if necessary by paying a Planist.  The Keragund also maintain Organisms in secret caves for use to Transport, or a few hardy trees may be found in the Rift.  The Keragund and their Organisms (the "Creeping Death" feared by the Orcs) played an active role in the latter part of the War in the Dungeons from 2503 to 2504, when their Organism breeding caves in the Old Dungeons at the foot of the Rift outside Dwarf Hold were massively expanded, and their caves still form an important resource of the Hold and for the King.

Dwarf Hold is a Dwarvish Adventurer Fort and most of its occupants are Dwarves (Mountain, Hill and a few Gnomes).  Non-Dwarvish Adventurers are permitted (so long of course as they are not Chaotic or Evil), but few stay for long.

Accommodation (inclusive of board) at the Hold costs 1GP/Cd, payable in advance.  A room may be retained whilst the occupant is in the Dungeons by paying this cost sufficiently far in advance.  Spare cash may be banked with the Treasurer (though no interest is paid).

Each of SARAN, ESCUS, BUDIF/WACON, FIDAR, PAREL, KOROS and SHELDA has a Temple in the Fort, and there are also the usual shops, including an Alchemist (Vagen in the Year 2500), a Poison Dealer and a Magic Item Dealer (established by Kâko from Tekrim 2504 in response to Nima's shop in Fort Venture).  MIthril-tipped weapons will only be sold to (or are permitted to be wielded by) Dwarves holding a Royal Mithril Licence.  The official Thieves' Guild at the Hold is the Grey Rats, which also holds the Ratcatching contract and supplies Rat meat to the kitchens.

 Demon Summoning is only permitted in the official Chambers of Summoning, on pain of permanent Exile.

Dwarf Hold does not operate "Training Dungeons" such as those available at Fort Venture, but has for some years run a mentoring programme, where experienced Adventurers can be hired to provide training and backup to junior Adventurers on Dungeon Expeditions.

The Lower Rift	The Upper Rift

The Hold provides ready access via the Great Rift into the Dungeons of Mount Anar.  Mules are not used by the Dwarves, but Giant Goats may be hired for journeys up and down the Rift (though they will not go into the Dungeons).  The cost of hiring Goats is 1GP per Caeriad per Goat plus 1CP per Caeriad per Goat for fodder.  A deposit is payable of 60GP per Goat (refundable if returned alive and undamaged).  At least one week (6 Cds) of hire must be paid upfront.

There is a network of Camps along the steep path up the Rift, from Fjord Camp (where there is a small wharf for ships) up to Rift-Cloud Camp at its top.  Fort Venture also maintains 12 Waystations a day's march apart along the steeply-descending passage from Rift-Cloud Camp to the Fort.  Each such Waystation provides a room for Adventurers and a stable for Mules.  Most Camps and a few Waystations have water supplies, and all have water cisterns where spare water may be left for other parties.

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