Kal'Azgaryum and you: A travel guide

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Written by Jorvin Kazrinkadan Starbreaker

 

Hello weary traveler! If you are reading this, then clearly for one reason or another you wish to travel to the lands of the Dwedmar. Having lived in this realm for the better part of a decade, I have explored most, if not all within the borders of this fine nation, and am happy to impart my wisdom upon you. However, one must remember when traveling, just like any long trek, it poses it’s dangers. This guide will help you to on your way, instruct you on the dangers, the local niches one must avoid, and particular attractions once you enter within these lands. 

 

PART 1:  What the **** is an Agnarum?

 

The Kingdom of Agnarum lies nestled within valleys and hitherlands of the southwestern regions of Atlas, bordered by the Yatl Wastelands (Often referred to as the Fennlands) to the southeast, the Duchy of Barrowmount to the North, Curon to the Northeast, and the ocean some twenty miles to the west. Agnarum is not a large nation by any means, though its population is larger than one would think at first glance. Many villages surround the mountains, but underneath the hills of rock and gravel, and windswept hitherlands lie miles and miles of cityscape below. It is a long and sometimes difficult journey to reach these lands from the North, but once one does they will be greeted with he hospitality of the Dwarves, as these conservative-minded Dwed have not forgotten the old tradition of treating a guest warmly. Once a minor hold, Agnarum now bustles as many Dwarves, and sometimes even entire clans have moved here from the north.

 

Part 2:  The Surface

 

Congratulations! You’ve reached the borders of the Kingdom, and now you begin the journey from the hitherlands to the keeps below! While you trek your way through our lands here are a few things to be aware of, and be prepared for.

 

• Local Wildlife

Being just on the borders of the tundra, many species of wildlife call this region home. Deer and moose reside in the forests to the east, and mountain goats climb along the rocky spires. If you are not a hunter, and fishing is your profession, the river running through our lands provides ample trout and salmon to those who know how to gather them, be warned however, as it is not just Dwedmar which hunt them. Packs of wolves from the south can often be found in the valley, and bears of all manner, from the harmless black, to the terrifying polar war bear prowl the region. While easy to avoid these lumbering beasts have claimed the lives of many an unfortunate traveler who was not prepared for the challenges of the land. 

 

• The Climate

Agnarum is a beautiful land, but one cannot expect to travel there without facing adversity in one form or another. Simply put, Agnarum is a cold realm, though hardly arctic like our Fennic neighbors, even our summers are considered temperate by some. Always be prepared for the cold, as the temperature plunges even further during the night, warm clothes are a necessity three seasons out of the year, and during winter it is ill-advised to leave the mountain home. However, in almost ironic fashion the actual city of Kal’Azgaryum is one of the warmest locations in the southern realms of Atlas, being buried hundreds of feet under ground, insulated naturally from the weather. Even during the coldest of winters, when life on the surface could be all but barren, the lava flows underneath the earth keep the city well heated, never dipping below sixty degrees. (Which is why it is not unheard of to see Dwarves shirtless, even in our cold climate.)

 

• Crime

In regards to illicit activities, I am proud to say that despite our troubles (which all realms possess) Agnarum has one of the lowest crime rates among major nations, in no small part due to the constant vigilance of Dungrimm’s Legionaries, who serve as both the military and policing force of the kingdom. Recreational use of drugs is legal, and not particularly stigmatized, though use in excess is frowned up. Unlike the Empire of the Humans, magic is not shamed, nor illegal, excluding for obvious reasons that of a dark nature. Racial laws are also unheard of, despite some of our number being unfriendly to outsiders (mind you this is not the norm). So long as one behaves, they are welcome within our halls. When on the road, be careful of banditry, as the Curonites to the north have been suffering from highwaymen for some time. Similarly, the exiled Frostbeard (Often referred to as Blackfists by older Dwarves) have also attacked citizens of Agnarum on the road, though they have for the most part, been kept at bay.

 

Keep your wits about you, and you will be fine.

 

Part 2: Kal’Azgaryum

 

If you have made if this far, your journey is over, and you survived, I knew you would! Now the real fun begins! You will find the Dwarves of Agnarum a friendly, fun-loving folk! Our taverns bustle as men and women brag over their most recent hunt, and our libraries possess the knowledge of ancients, gathered by the dutiful Remembrancers. You will find the information available here rivaling even that of the Eternal Library of the High Elves, and only surpassed by the Great Library of Draugr itself. If it is a party you seek, you have come to the right place, as our folk like nothing more than a song, a party of friends around the hearth, and a damn good drink, produced locally of course. If you have come seeking a smith, you will find one, as our craftsmen are rivaled by none, save perhaps the Elves of Aegothrond, if only for the fact they themselves, are as Dwarven as Elves can get!

 

If you require a smith, the clans Metalfist and Starbreaker are your best bet, specifically Gimli Metalfist or Stromnikar and Kazrin Starbreaker, feel free to ask around, as to contact them is hardly a difficult task, the stereotype that all Dwarves know each other often proves true among the residents of the Kingdom. Likewise, if you need a chef, you will find no better than the Cottonwoods, specifically Bjor, who reside on the surface, in the shadow of the mountain. If you have come seeking shelter, you will find it here, and if you require a blade, you will find the many a warrior in our halls, though do not mistake our kind for common mercenaries, Dwarves are always willing to fight for a righteous and just cause.

 

And, if you come with a king’s ransom, you could perhaps commission even the Runesmiths of yore, whose craft is finer than none.

 

And perhaps, if you are an adventurer, one might wish to delve into the ancient tunnels and ruins that can be found within the cavernous mountain chambers? Though be mindful to respect the dead in your spelunking, as Dwarves will not tolerate the disrespect of their ancestors.

 

In conclusion, we are a stubborn, unwavering folk who are not prone to leaving our mountains, but do not mistake this as anything but a harsh exterior, for once you have made friends with our people, it will not soon be forgotten, as Dwarves have long lives, and even longer memories. If you come as a visitor, you will be welcomed with the open arms of the Dwedmar, and if your intentions are fowl...Well, if the wildlife doesn’t kill you, you will find the Dwarves just as ready to cast you beyond our borders.

 

Good luck on your journey! I hope this guide will help you in your travels, and I hope to see you soon.