No edit summary |
No edit summary |
||
| Line 16: | Line 16: | ||
== History == | == History == | ||
The Urkhaim have not always lived in the mountains, and in fact only moved to their current homes several hundred years ago. Previously they lived in lodge-villages within the foothills of the western [[Cage]] and along the [[Hethalak River|Eastern Hethalak River]], where they made their living through hunting | The Urkhaim have not always lived in the mountains, and in fact only moved to their current homes several hundred years ago. Previously they lived in lodge-villages within the foothills of the western [[Cage]] and along the [[Hethalak River|Eastern Hethalak River]], where they made their living primarily through hunting. But this same land was also claimed by the [[Xuldorai]] giants, and after many centuries of conflict between the two peoples the dwarves were left with only a handful of scattered communities in the lands up against the mountains. | ||
Eventually it became clear to the dwarves that staying in their remaining villages, under constant threat from the giants, was untenable. Leaders from their largest tribes held a summit in the late ninety-sixth century to determine what course of action their people should take, but their decision ultimately tore the dwarven communities in two. | Eventually it became clear to the dwarves that staying in their remaining villages, under constant threat from the giants, was untenable. Leaders from their largest tribes held a summit in the late ninety-sixth century to determine what course of action their people should take, but their decision ultimately tore the dwarven communities in two. Emerging from their secretive retreat, they declared the Urkhaim would counter-attack the Xuldorai in force, a display of strength that would dissuade any future aggression. As the leaders went about organizing their warriors, others within the dwarven tribes covertly made other plans. Many saw the planned attack as doomed to failure, and themselves inevitable targets of retributive raids, and instead began efforts to flee. When the day of the planned attack came and the dwarven warriors ventured forth to meet the giants, much of the remaining tribespeople set off as well. | ||
They traveled for months, passing by many potential new lands to settle, each of which they discarded for already being home to someone else. By now the dwarves had lost any trust in others, as their once-allies amongst the [[targai]] and [[gatai]] of Tomb Lake had long since stopped responding to their calls for aid against the giants. Eventually they found their way to the Northern Wall, where, seeing a rugged and easily defended land with no signs of habitation, they decided to remain. | |||
As for the Urkhaim warriors, many of the exact details of their last battle with the Xuldorai are unknown. What is certain, however, is that they lost decisively. The few survivors scattered, some finding their way in time to their kin in the Northern Wall after first returning to their now-abandoned old villages, while others fled elsewhere across the steppe. | |||
== Demographics == | == Demographics == | ||
Effectively the entire population of Urkhaim is dwarven. | |||
== Culture == | == Culture == | ||
Revision as of 20:39, 22 October 2023
Urkhaim (pronounced URK-aim) is a dwarven realm within the Northern Wall. The hardy dwarves that live in this frigid land are largely isolationist and rarely leave their mountain homes, only venturing forth into the Aban Steppe during their great hunts and to carry their dead to Tomb Lake.
Geography, flora, and fauna
Urkhaim lies entirely within the snow-capped mountains of the Northern Wall, north of the Khindushar Basin and Mhakan's Trials. The region is cold year-round. There is enough seasonality, however, that in the summers some plants manage to grow around small streams and ponds in the rocky valleys, enough to support small populations of animals like mountain goats and hares, which then provide food for bears and a handful of other predators. At higher elevations up the mountains, where the dwarves live, effectively no wildlife is found, the snowy and icy environment too hostile to support life. Temperatures never rise above freezing, or even get close to it, at the peaks of the higher mountains.
History
The Urkhaim have not always lived in the mountains, and in fact only moved to their current homes several hundred years ago. Previously they lived in lodge-villages within the foothills of the western Cage and along the Eastern Hethalak River, where they made their living primarily through hunting. But this same land was also claimed by the Xuldorai giants, and after many centuries of conflict between the two peoples the dwarves were left with only a handful of scattered communities in the lands up against the mountains.
Eventually it became clear to the dwarves that staying in their remaining villages, under constant threat from the giants, was untenable. Leaders from their largest tribes held a summit in the late ninety-sixth century to determine what course of action their people should take, but their decision ultimately tore the dwarven communities in two. Emerging from their secretive retreat, they declared the Urkhaim would counter-attack the Xuldorai in force, a display of strength that would dissuade any future aggression. As the leaders went about organizing their warriors, others within the dwarven tribes covertly made other plans. Many saw the planned attack as doomed to failure, and themselves inevitable targets of retributive raids, and instead began efforts to flee. When the day of the planned attack came and the dwarven warriors ventured forth to meet the giants, much of the remaining tribespeople set off as well.
They traveled for months, passing by many potential new lands to settle, each of which they discarded for already being home to someone else. By now the dwarves had lost any trust in others, as their once-allies amongst the targai and gatai of Tomb Lake had long since stopped responding to their calls for aid against the giants. Eventually they found their way to the Northern Wall, where, seeing a rugged and easily defended land with no signs of habitation, they decided to remain.
As for the Urkhaim warriors, many of the exact details of their last battle with the Xuldorai are unknown. What is certain, however, is that they lost decisively. The few survivors scattered, some finding their way in time to their kin in the Northern Wall after first returning to their now-abandoned old villages, while others fled elsewhere across the steppe.
Demographics
Effectively the entire population of Urkhaim is dwarven.