Pronunciation: ALL-din-stahd
Founding Date: 492 DA
Dissolution Date: -
Demonym: Aldinfir/Aldinfiran
Capital: Djuprheim
Racial Distribution: dwarf (86%), human (10%), other (4%)
Official Language: Juprall
The Drottinn, a dwarven king or queen, rules over the nation of Aldinstahd, and is advised by a parliament of representative from all the major Aldinfirin clans, who vote on laws and policies and collaborate on matters of national security.
Aldinstahd's main exports are metals and minerals, from the all-important iron to the most exquisite of gems. These resources may be sold in their raw state, heaps of ore and uncut stones, they may be processed into pure metals and cut stones, or they may be further worked into finished products such as armor, weapons, and jewelry. Aldinstahd also sells the stone they excavate in the process of digging space for homes, cities, and mines, to be used as a building material. Aldifiran stone is sturdy and good quality for such purposes, and if one is willing to pay a premium, more visually striking stone is available for purchase, shot through with streaks of color or studded with chips of crystal.
Roughly one third of the nation sits in the valleys of the Skyfang Mountains, where surface crops can be grown and lumber can be harvested. The remaining two thirds lie underground in the massive Onureth Caverns, where the roads wind from the surface to the darkest depths of the deepest mines. The western end of Onureth, where Aldinstahd is located, is largely barren compared to the eastern end, but does boast a variety of uncommonly large cave features. Stalactites and stalagmites grow taller than trees here, and deep pools of icy dark water hide cave fish and aquatic hunters.
Djuprheim: centrally located on the middle levels of Onureth, the capital city doubles as an impressive military bastion, dug entirely into a solid rock wall.
Rodunhall: the largest of the surface cities, Rodunhall is often called the "surface capital", and it serves as both a waypoint for trade and a first stop for foreign travelers into Aldinstahd.
Aldinfiran culture is based largely around the traditional dwarven clan structure. In all matters one represents their clan - the individual that is honored honors their clan, and the individual that is dishonored dishonors their clan. Aldinfiran tend to believe that the needs of the clan outweigh the personal wants and needs, and they have a strong sense of loyalty and duty to the leaders of their clans. Aldinfiran social hierarchy is based partly on what clan one belongs to and partly on what occupation one pursues, so clans will often push their youths to pursue more well-respected jobs in order to boost their own standing as well as that of the clan.
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