The Kingdom of Khaz-Merda

The dwarven kingdom of Khaz-Merda stretches throughout the upper and middle levels of the caverns beneath the mountains of the same name - the range the citizens of Meridia call the “Staggerpeaks”, on the eastern side of the continent of Manaris.

Government
The kingdom operates as a system of ruling clans, each led by a thane, that will meet as a Stoneguard Council to discuss, debate, and decide on nationwide matters or threats, overseen by the High Thane of the Stoneguard. Otherwise, the clans conduct their business as separate states.

High Thane: Duregard Stormbeard

 

Rockbrow Clan
Led by Thane Syldra Rockbrow.

Stormbeard Clan
led Thane Fergus Stormbeard

Stonespeaker Clan
led by Thane Ulric Stonespeaker

Brightaxe Clan
led by Thane Gildrin Brightaxe

A Kingdom Apart
The kingdom has largely endured the cataclysms and trials that have arisen in and around the dwarven lands with a hardiness and strength befitting of the dwarves themselves, though Khaz-Merda’s involvement with the surrounding peoples and their civilizations has fluctuated across the decades and centuries.

Khaz-Merda had kept largely to itself throughout the Frostveil and the Winterthaw that followed. But within the past few centuries, the Drow incursions from the bowels of the earth - culminating in the Underwars almost three decades ago - have forced the Khaz-Merdans to seek military aid from the humans, elves, and other local civilizations. While some of these alliances have flourished into great economic trade federations - notably with the ambitious humans of the kingdom of Meridia - other alliances have withered in the absence of the Drow threat since the Underwars’ end, and the Khaz-Merdans have reverted to their distrustful isolationism.