Tethyamar The mines of Tethyamar were once home to one of the greatest dwarven communities in the North . Geography . The mines of Tethyamar were very deep , following the long vertical veins of ore that lay beneath the Desertsmouth Mountains . Along these descending ore - veins chains of chambers were constucted that made up the housing , forges , tombs and storage areas of the dwarves of Tethyamar . This design resulted in a far more widespread dwarf hold compared to others of its kind . Trade . Early trade in Tethyamar was primarily with its nearest neighbouring realms . These included Anauria , Asram , Avaeraether , Cormanthyr and Hlondath . After a few centuries its trading connections had expanded to include Cormyr , Hlontar , Myth Drannor , Merrydale , Northkeep and Teshar . With their forged goods , ore and riches , Tethyamar prospered from its ever - growing trade until the founding of Flostren ' s Hold in 747 DR . After Flostren ' s Hold under the sway of a consortium of wizards , known as the Zhentarim , fierce competition between the two mining nations erupted . Defences . Due to Tethyamar ' s scattered design made the kingdom much harder to defend as enemies could target isolated areas easily . However the dwarves tended to be much more self - reliant and hardy because of the far - flung nature of their home . Culture . In Tethyamar culture it was common for dwarves from many different clans to live and work together . Thus comportment and solidarity as a " Tethyamar dwarf " tended to be more important than bloodlines or heritage . History . Early history . Located in the northern Desertsmouth Mountains , these wondrous mines and caverns were founded in the Year of the Depths Unknown ( - 145 DR ) by Roryn , blood of Thordbard , of the Iron House of fallen Oghrann . Generations of dwarfs carved out magnificent halls and looted the earth of her valuables , selling them to humans and elves , sending rafts of riches down the River Tesh to the Moonsea and beyond . During this early period , Tethyamar was continually beset by attacks from orcs , hobgoblins and ogres as they carved out their kingdom . Despite their resilience Tethyamar briefly fell to orcs from the Dragonspine Mountains in - 88 DR before the dwarves reclaimed their halls in - 86 DR . This close defeat caused the Tethyamar dwarves to sponsor the construction of the the fortress - city Rulvadar , to protect against further attacks . The Fall of Tethyamar . Tethyamar perished , however , in the Year of the Dark Dawn ( 1104 DR ) . After more than a decade of resistance , Tethyamar was overrun by a “ legion of orcs , bloodthirsty barghest s , and demons summoned by the circle magic of orc adepts and an archmage claiming to be the Great Hlundadim , wizard leader the ancient goblinkin kingdom of Hlundadim . ” The surviving dwarves of the Iron House fled to the dwarven communities of the Far Hills and Storm Horns of Cormyr . Of the royal family , only the king ' s youngest son , Ghellin had survived . In the Year of the Wave ( 1364 DR ) Borlin , blood of Ghellin , mustered a dwarf army , known as the Mithril Legion , to reclaim Tethyamar for the Iron House , but the force was defeated . Ghellin died in exile , reportedly in the Far Hills , of a wasting disease that resisted all medicinal and clerical cures . With the death of Ghellin , the leadership of the Iron House passed to his twin sons Tasster and Teszter . Nevertheless , dwarves in the lands around the Sea of Fallen Stars still speak of and work towards the day when “ the king shall take his throne again . ” As of 1372 DR , the Zhentarim , under the command of Kara Chermosk , have occupied one of the upper fortresses of Tethyamar and reopened mining operations .