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What My Father Told Me. Life in Thorbardin
Who are you?
I am Arghexur, son of Drakgar, son of Gethik. I am a weapon-karl of the Hylar, Protector of the Third Dock.
Who are we?
We are the Hylar of Thorbardin.
What makes us great?
We are the oldest of the clans. It was the Hylar who founded Thorin back when the world was young. It was the Hylar who founded Thorbardin, and our sister colony of Kaolyn. Our clan has ruled Thorbardin for thousands of years.
Where do we live?
The Zhakalax, the Life-Tree, is a great stalactite grown in the very centre of the Kingdom of Thorbardin. From there, the cable-boats lead to all the other warrens and caverns of Thorbardin. We live on level 1, right at the tip, where we can be ready to protect the docks from invaders.
How do we live?
Our food is fungus grown in the West Warrens by Klar farmers, sometimes supplemented by the finest cave cricket meat. Our clothes are made from the fibrous Helix fungus, our armour from steel forged by the skilled Hylar craftsmen. The wealthy amongst us wear adornments of gems mined by the Daewar. We pray at the temple of Reorx every morning and keep our weapons polished. The Life Tree is a finely crafted machine, where every dwarf knows his place and his duties.
What is important to us?
To keep our traditions alive, that have served the Hylar well for centuries.
Who rules us?
Our Kalil (Thane) is Hornfel, and he rules us with honour. Once there was a Kytil (High King), but since the death of Derkin that position has not been filled. Because of this, there is no clear leader of Thorbardin. Hornfel has the support of the Daewar, but he is opposed by those derro, the Theiwar. They have the support of the Daergar, other degenerate derro. The Klar nominally support Hornfel, but they are kin to the Neidar and their loyalty is dubious. As for the Aghar, well, their opinions matter little.
What makes a person great?
To live according to his station and to fulfill his purpose in life. If he is a soldier his purpose is to lay down his life for his fellow dwarves. If he is a farmer his purpose is to grow food for his fellow dwarves. If she is a smith her purpose is to construct tools and armour for her fellow dwarves.
What is evil?
To turn against your fellow dwarves is evil - we are the Chosen of Reorx. Those derro, the Theiwar and the Daergar, weaken our kingdom because they refuse to acknowledge the rightful rulership of the Hylar. Some amongst us claim that the Neidar, the hill dwarves, are evil, but the fact is that the Dwarfgate War was a great tragedy. It was necessary for the survival of our race to shut them out, and it was the hardest decision Derkin, the Last High King, ever had to make. Humans bought about the Cataclysm - they are driven by greed and pride, and it was they who drove our Neidar cousins to attack us.
What is my lot in life?
You will be taught the ways of war, and hone your skills as a warrior. I hope you will never need to use them, but the Theiwar are becoming bolder in their incursions to our realms. They have claimed the North Hall of Thanes as their own, and prey upon our roads.
How do we deal with others?
Fortunately we shut the gates of our kingdom in the time of my father Drakgar, and so outsiders cannot bother us with their treacherous ways.
Who are our enemies?
The Theiwar and the Daergar are enemies of the Hylar. Beware the Aghar - they are too stupid to pose much of a threat, but they are cunning and cannot be trusted. The Klar are nominally our allies, but everyone knows that they were closest to the Neidar and may still be harbouring a grudge on behalf of their old allies.
Who are our gods?
Reorx is our god, and he is the only true god. Other races know Reorx by other names, or place other gods above him, but we know that they are deluded. Thak is the god of the elves, Mesalax and Kijo the gods of the humans. Because people do not always act according to Reorx's wishes, evil beings can enter the world and destroy it. We know of Tamex the False Metal, Sargonnax the Bender, Morgax the Rust Lord and others. Be wary for their works.
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