Harv Taruhm

Harv Taruhm
Capital	Cinder Peak
Ruler	Shield-Queen Ruvodk
Government	Absolute monarchy
Demonym	Taruhmite
Adjective	Taruhmite
Languages	Taruhmite Dwarven; Sea-Speak
Religions	Taruhmite pantheon; ancestor worship; other faiths to lesser degrees

Harv Taruhm (pronounced HARV tah-ROOM) is a dwarven nation within the Wounds. From within their volcano-forged strongholds atop the peaks of the mountainous Grievous Islands, the warrior-nobility of Harv Taruhm rules over the surrounding sea. These territorial and warlike dwarves often raid settlementts on other islands for hostages and tribute.

Geography

See also: Grievous Islands

The Grievous Islands have an extremely mountainous terrain, rough and difficult to navigate aside from through the dwarves' many tunnels. While the coasts are distinctly tropical, the higher elevations of the interiors bring many changes, with cooler, more alpine environments. Isolated within the peaks and valleys, many animals can be found on the Grievous Islands and nowhere else, either on other islands of the Wounds or elsewhere on Kishar.

Several now-bleached coral reefs surround the Grievous Islands, intentionally destroyed by the dwarves to drive their locathah inhabitants away.

The islands of the archipelago are typically divided into two, Tamikor to the south and Tamikra to the north. These are not singular islands but rather smaller divisions within the archipelago. In general Tamikor is less populated and more rugged, while Tamikra has more inhabitants and is somewhat, relatively speaking, more hospitable to travel and the construction of cities. Both clusters of islands are the site of many volcanoes, dormant and active alike.

Far to the northeast of Tamikra lies the Lighthouse, one of the most active volcanoes of the entire Wounds.

The Grievous Islands are roughly 2000 miles south of the Protectors, 1600 miles north of the Angry Kings, 1500 miles northeast of the Wisps, and 3000 miles southwest of Ha-Rase-Metu.

History

The Taruhmite dwarves have lived on the Grievous Islands for many millennia - in their stories they arrived on the islands directly from the legendary Kingdom of Gold and Iron, fleeing the destruction of their utopia. Still, they were not the first inhabitants of the archipelago, for it was once seemingly the core territory of the Tomb-Builders, as the great many ancient ruins littering the islands can attest. By the time the dwarves reached the islands, however, the Tomb-Builders were long gone, seemingly for a great many centuries.

Demographics

The inhabitants of Harv Taruhm are almost entirely dwarven. Small numbers of Fanakara and Keleta-Ru, largely human and gnomish, visit the islands to trade or even remain for short periods, but the hostility of the dwarves leads few to stay for long.

Culture

Arts =

Government

Harv Taruhm is an absolute monarchy, ruled by a procession of Shield-Queens and Shield-Kings. While hereditary in nature, inheritance is not necessarily, or even typically, between members of a family related by blood, for just as the major families of Harv Taruhm often adopt their heirs so too do the monarchs.

Taruhmite monarchs are closely advised by the oracles of their gods, who interpret meaning from the omens and give advice on how to best avoid provoking divine wrath. Other members of the royal court and trusted lieutenants of the monarch are traditionally adopted into the king or queen's family, even if only temporarily while they hold their roles. This is done as a method of increasing their loyalty, as if they were to conspire against their leader and see them overthrown they would lose their prestige and standing in the process.

Shield-Queens and Shield-Kings are presented, in title and in ceremony, as temporary holders of their position, only occupying it until such time as the dwarven people are reunited in the Kingdom of Gold and Iron.

Economy

Compared to other surrounding peoples and nations, Harv Taruhm is far less integrated into the trade networks that cross the Wounds. In part this is due to the dwarves' hostility towards outsiders and their practices of raiding - as few wish to trade with those who have proven themselves prone to violence - but it is also a factor of the relative wealth of the Grievous Islands, full of valuable ores and minerals.

To a significant degree the Taruhmite economy relies on the raids and ransoms performed by its warrior-nobility.