Krouin's Forge
Capital of the Dwarves of the Mountain
"Brother, what possessed you to settle in the heart of a Super Volcano"
"Where else am I going to get a fire this hot?"
Krouin's Force is an ancient location that was built in the heart of a semi-active Super Volcano on the Northwestern side of the Central Continent. It is here that the Earth Eldrin made his masterpiece alongside the Dwarves, a fast forge capable of manipulating almost any material, including the only known place to reforge Elven Steel.
The Dwarves of the mountain settled around their father/deity figure, and over the millennia, the capital city was born. However, being in the center of a volcano comes with some risk, and the Dwarven inhabitants of the Mountain have long gotten used to dodging lava flows and rebuilding melted sections.
Geography
The geography is fantastic for forging and working with minerals, but it is not conducive to much else. Several underground springs provide fresh water both for the nourishment of the Dwarves and for their forge work. Some crops can be planted at the base of the mountain, but much of the food is transported into the capital city using ancient pulleys developed over the centuries.
Localized Phenomena
Volcanic Activity
Being in the heart of a semi-active Super Volcano, there is plenty of volcanic activity that those in the center of the city need to be aware of. Krouin's Forge pulling energy from the volcano has made it nearly impossible for it to erupt fully, but mini eruptions inside the volcano are the consequences. Only a few enchanted areas, such as the main forge, some key dwellings, and the Dwarven Great Hall, have been fully reinforced against this activity. The Dwarves have become quite adept at digging and reestablishing pathways through the mountain due to this.
History
Age of Light
During the initial migration from the World Spring, Krouin headed into the mountains with the majority of the Dwarves, and after some time, discovered a super volcano about to erupt. With the help of his brother Kellener, the Eldrin of both Earth and Fire were able to contain the eruption, and Krouin was amused by the idea of creating a forge here. Thus became the centuries-long effort to terraform and excavate the inside of the mountain into a Great city.
Most of the early parts of the city began as mining tunnels, with the volcano and earth beneath having several deposits of Mithril, Adamantine, and Orichalcum. This allowed the Dwarves a head start on the other races in developing technologies around these magical materials.
By the close of the First Age, a vast underground and partially above-ground city had emerged around the Forge.
Age of the Storm
While the Fallen sent numerous armies into the mountains to weed out his brother, Krouin, the Forge provided natural defenses that impeded the majority of these invasions. Thus, the Dwarven city became a hub for crafting weapons that were sent down the river to the Elemental Enclaves and then to the front lines of the conflict. After six centuries of war, the Maiden Mauri worked with her brother to craft a cache of legendary weapons in his forge to aid the Free Races.
Despite his desire for peace, Krouin was roused from his Forge when his sister was nearly killed during the Siege of Mauribon, and joined her marching East. Unbeknownst to him, he would not return to his forge for a long time.
Age of Restoration
After the death of Krouin at the climax of the Great Storm, the Dwarves sought to keep the fires of the Great Forge going in preparation for his prophesied return to life in the distant future. Without Krouin, the Dwarves were limited in creating new protections from the lava, but found other ways to deal with the changing landscape of their home.
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