Tir Urdun

Tir Urdun is the name of the ancient dwarven empire. Meaning the 'Land of the True House,' Tir Urdun was comprised of the Hundred Clans, who all descended from an 'august ancestor.' The first of the these ancestors was Kanlin, who served as the model for all dwarves. The empire stretched across northern Altea and also had colonies in Alba. Under the guidance of the giants, the Hundred Clans produced many marvels and founded great cities both below and above the ground. The greatest of these cities was Talamon, which was located in Bawn Vindo-Bona, the 'Enclosure of the White Foundation.' Vindo-Bona was the first and largest of the fifteen provinces of Tir Urdun. The sprawling realm was connected via 'cloud gates,' doorways that allowed instant movement between them, no matter the distance. These cloud gates were built on whorls, rifts that opened into the Seeming. The cloud gates could bridge the space between whorls, creating stable passages to move goods and people through. Each cloud gate was opened by a unique series of tones. The knowledge of how to open the gates was long lost, and even the location of most gates is unknown. 
The Hundred Clans met at the Hall of Colossi, carved by the giants themselves, to debate matters of import and decide on a direction for the empire. The two most important roles were that of Warmaster and Forgemaster, the chiefs of the empire’s military and economy, respectively. These leaders were advised by Ogma the Shining. Scattered human tribes dwelt in the shadow of mighty Tir Urdun, and the dwarves claim they attempted to teach humanity the ways of civilization. But the humans scorned the hard work and effort expected by the dwarves, and were seduced by the easy, empty pleasures of the maedi. When the Azlan invaded Tir Urdun, the human barbarians aided them in looting the empire. The maedi repaid humanity by enslaving them. 
Tir Urdun was aligned with the Endani giants, those Voru who believed that it was necessary to shape and refine Vala to separate the pieces of Asur from the world. This brought the empire into conflict with the Azlan and their Ilani creators, who considered the world a blasphemous aberration. The maedi empire of Zakhema clashed with Tir Urdun at the opening of the Night Wars, but both nations quickly turned on a common foe: the hesha. This resulted in the corruption of Nyx, who together with ravan hordes unleashed her wrath on both empires. While ravan scoured Zakhema, Nyx struck at the heart of Tir Urdun. The dwarves gathered in a great host upon the Plains of Brax and there they halted Nyx's advance. With the aid of the newly arrived Outsiders, Nyx was cast into the Void, but Tir Urdun was broken. The Azlan advantaged themselves of the dwarves' weakness and attacked, sweeping north to claim the capital. Yekkat destroyed Kanlin, and without his guidance the Hundred Clans began squabbling over succession. This only hastened the empire's demise. The freezing of Alba sent waves of migrants south in the Great Passage, the newcomers clashing with the dwarves and forcing them into the mountains. By the middle of Age Zero, Tir Urdun had disintegrated and the Hundred Clans dwindled in number. Today, only two of the fifteen imperial provinces survive: Bawn Arkanta and Bawn Uxar. The Hundred Clans have been reduced to just 23. The dwarves largely blame the maedi for the destruction of their realm, but from the start Tir Urdun was riven by disputes and political rivalries. Only Kanlin prevented the Hundred Clans from turning on each other in civil war, and without the Giantson, the empire soon broke apart, the maedi only speeding its demise.
Category:History
Category:Nations