Didion
“Stone holds memory, and we are its last voice.”
Nestled in the windswept peaks of the Dugonak Mountains on the continent of Seradestina, Didion sits atop the shattered ruins of Khôrdarhal, once one of the three mighty underground dwarven cities of Pharus. Its crumbled gates and broken halls stretch deep beneath the surface, their mysteries buried by time and war.
Demographics
Life in Didion is harsh, but the people are proud. They wear the past like armor and speak in low, thoughtful tones. Their craftwork—though less ornate than in ages past—is precise and resilient. Young dwarves are rare, and every birth is celebrated like a new gem uncovered.
Government
Didion is an oligarchy, ruled by The Groht Council, a council made up of three elders—survivors of the old world, chosen not by birth but by wisdom, labor, and sacrifice. Each Elder oversees a vital aspect of village life: Stone, Steel, and Spirit. No decision is made without consensus.
Defences
The ruins below Didion are a dangerous labyrinth. Ancient tunnels once home to dwarven glory are now overrun by collapsed stone, lurking monsters, and arcane anomalies left from the wars of old. Some whisper that darker things dwell below—forgotten horrors sealed during the cataclysm.
Industry & Trade
Though poor, Didion survives through mining the rich earth beneath its feet. Iron ore, quartz, marble, and other valuable stones are painstakingly extracted from the deep veins that run through the mountain's heart. The village trades raw materials to passing caravans and merchants in exchange for food, tools, and supplies.
History
The dwarves of Didion are the remnants of a fallen civilization, their numbers diminished by the Century of Cataclysm and The Great War. Many of their kin now wander Pharus, integrated into other societies or lost to time. Those who remain are fiercely protective of their traditions, crafting their stories into stone and song.
Didion is one of only two remaining dwarven settlements in the world—the other being Gimion, located deep in the eastern mountain reaches. The two share a solemn kinship, though travel between them is rare and perilous.
Points of interest
- The Cracked Anvil: The central forge, fueled by deep vents of geothermal heat, still burns from the days of Khôrdarhal.
- Hall of Dust: A sanctified ruin where dwarves go to remember their ancestors and leave offerings of stone.
- The Deep Road: A sealed gate leading into the Undercity, guarded day and night by the Ironwardens.
- The Elder Stones: Three carved monoliths in the village square, each representing one of the Council's domains.
