Mzundelft

Mzundelft, also known among Dwarves as the Golden Hold (Gendelft), is the eldest hold of Dwarvenkind. Its capital is the majestic city of Tzand, the City of the Thousand Vaults, and the supreme achievement of Dwarven architecture. Khordin Rockheart, the Golden King, rules the Elder Hold.
Historically, Mzundelft's powerful army and fabulous wealth have given it a preeminent role in the politics of Erideon. Recently, however, its rule above ground has been contested by Aldia and the wood elves, and its hold on the Deepfell contested by hordes of Greenskins and legions of Deep Elves.
This is a challenging time for the Sons of Mzund, and only time will tell if the Eldest Hold will reclaim its influence of old, or if the efforts of its warriors will yield nothing but new grudges for the Dammaz Kron.
== Culture ==
=== Demographics ===
Almost the entirety of Mzundelft is comprised of Dwarves. While there may be a few Dwarf-friends around various holds, these are a small minority of the overall population. Among the Dwarves, ~90% of them are Mountain Dwarves, while the remaining ~10% is comprised of Hill Dwarves. These Hill Dwarves are often found along the border of Mzundelft or in various holds that are closer to the surface. 
=== Languages ===
The Primary Language of Mzundelft is Dwarvish. However, many Dwarves pick up a secondary language, like Aldian, if they engage in frequent trading with outsiders. 
=== Religion ===
The Dwarves of Mzundelft worship the Dwarven Pantheon. There are many temples to the various deities, and the largest one is dedicated to Mzund, the Dwarf Father. A clan will often worship one of the deities that corresponds to their trade above the others. For example, smithing clans will worship Ysenunde, the goddess of the forge. 
== Economy ==
=== Ore Production ===
Mzundelft has the largest mining network out of the other Dwarven holds. This network has been rapidly expanding over centuries in order to fuel the raw materials needed for the great Mzundian forges and various crafting guilds. Excess materials or especially rare ores may be shipped to other Dwarven holds through the underground rail network. 
=== Arms and Armor ===
The numerous crafting guilds and massive forges of Mzundelft are constantly at work producing both tools for work and for war. Wars on the surface and with the denizens of the underdark ensure that there is a constant supply of weapons and armor being made for Mzundian soldiers and shipped to other Dwarf holds.
=== Brewing ===
There is no respectable Dwarf hold without the presence of a brewing guild. Fortunately for the Dwarves of Mzundelft, there are numerous such guilds producing a variety of drinks only fit for a Dwarf to consume. These guilds wield considerable influence as any threat to the production of alcohol is a threat to the entirety of the hold. The Brewing guilds have close relationship with various farming guilds as they demand various crops or mushrooms for their stills. 
=== Food Supply ===
Mzundelft has become self sufficient over the past millennia in order to rid themselves of any external vulnerability. During these efforts, the hold has been substantially increasing the ways it is able to feed its numerous citizens. There have been numerous hidden mountaintop pastures for goats carved out, and hillside farming has been increased in order to supply the hold with numerous grains. As the underground reach of the hold expands, new areas of magma flow are revealed and made safe of goblins or drow to plant hardy underground crops. These newly made magma farms serve as a great and reliable source of food for the hold. 
=== Trade ===
Mzundelft has a large underground rail network that allows for rapid exporting and importing of goods all over the continent. Mzundelft has a number of smaller holds within the mountain range that are able to supply raw materials and other goods to Tzand. This allows for a number of the Mzundian holds to specialize in one way or another and fuel the industry of Tzand. There are always those willing to buy the well crafted Dwarven tools and weapons. However, trading with the surface world has become threatened by looming conflict with the human realms. 
== Geography ==
=== Mountains ===
The hold of Mzundelft is located in the Mzundian mountain range. The Capital Tzand is placed in the largest mountain in the range. This mountain range is particularly rich in ore and other precious minerals, which has helped Mzundelft expand over millennia. Towards the edge of this mountain range, around the border of Mzundelft, the terrain becomes more hilly as the mountains begin to grow smaller. This allows for more vegetation to grow as only the hardiest of plants can survive the extreme mountain climate of Mzundelft. 
=== Rivers and Lakes ===
While there are not many large bodies of water within Mzundelft, there are a number of mountaintop lakes that are renewed with snow melting. As these lakes grow, waterfalls appear that supply a number of rivers and cause them to flow to the ends of the mountain range. 
== History ==
=== Founding ===
The longboards tell tales of the founding of Mzundelft and when the divines walked among the Dwarves. It is said that Tzand was the first hold the Dwarf Father led the Dwarves of Odengard to. In these early times, the divines worked along side their children and taught them the tools necessary to build a hold that would withstand the ages. 
=== Expansion ===
It is unknown when the divines returned to Odengard, but they eventually left their children to expand Tzand on their own. The Dwarves of Tzand struck many rich veins of ore and cultivating numerous fields and pastures to feed a growing population. During this long period of peace and prosperity, the first Gold King Rurik Stonebrow sent expeditions out to colonize different holds within the Mzundian mountain range and the continent. 
=== The Time of Grudges ===
After Millenia of expansion and growth, a great catastrophe struck Mzundelft. Volcanic eruptions destroyed parts of Tzand and displaced its citizens, and swarms of goblins and drow besieged and sacked the various holds of Mzundelft. Many entries in the Damaz Kron date back to this time where the Dwarves swore they would never forget the foes who plundered their holds and took their ancestral home from them. After being scattered and exhausted from constant battle, the Dwarves of Mzundelft eventually rallied together and fought to reclaim their hold with the support of nearby Dwarf holds.
=== The New Age ===
After reclaiming Tzand and rebuilding the infrastructure, the Dwarves of Mzundelft began to prosper and grow once more. They reclaimed lost holds and began to accumulate wealth and power like the days of old. Tzand once again became the pride of the Dwarven race, and the current Dwarves of Mzundelft find themselves in this time of new glory and power.
== Military ==
=== Clansdwarves ===
Clansdwarves act as a levy provided by the numerous clans of Mzundelft. They are often organized into clan based units that serve a number of roles from manning the walls to protecting the miners. The more influential and respected Clans are able to equip their kin with heavier armor and weapons, and the Golden King often incorporates these well equipped troops into the core of his army. 
=== The King's Retinue ===
The Golden King pays for and equips the part of the Dwarven army not comprised of Clansdwarves. These soldiers are often well trained and wield more specialty weapons, such as the Shortgunners or Bombadiers. Any Dwarf king has an elite bodyguard drawn from their own clan. The Golden King is no expection to this and has a large unit of Hammerers, Dwarves in full plate armor with two handed hammers, who protect and support him in battle. 
=== The Longbeards ===
The Longbeards of a hold form a solid frontline of the Dwarven army. They are equipped in their clans strongest armor and best crafted weapons and are decorated in their clans heraldry. Before any battle, they are a source of inspiration to the Clansdwarves as they boast about both their own and their clans great deeds in battle. Once a battle has started, they often grumble about how the Shortbeards and Clansdwarves were stronger and could easily cleave through the enemy formations in their day, and these younger dwarves will go to great lengths to be noticed by these respected elders.
=== Defenses ===
The mountains and large hills that make up Mzundelft offer a number of chokepoints and spots for ambush that the Dwarves can use against a hostile army on the surface. There are a number of strongholds and observation posts set into the hills or mountains and blocking the valleys and roads into Mzundelft. These fortifications and wide range of observation posts coupled with the fact Mzundelft is always ready to defend itself makes it almost impossible for an army to catch the Mzundians off guard. The underground rail network also make it possible for the defending force to deploy and respond rapidly to various situations. A besieging army would have to break through a number of these strongholds while taking cannon fire from both the walls and positions set within the nearby mountains before making it to the great gates and fortifications of Tzand. 
The Mzundians have put a great amount of work into fortifying their underground facilities and mining operations to protected against hostile incursions. The Dwarves carve various chokepoints and advantageous terrain into their tunnels. Along with this, Mzundelft has started employing alchemical fire based weapons in tunnel fights to burn out the hordes of goblins lurking in the tunnels. 
== Politics ==
=== The Gold King ===
The Gold King is the title given to the monarch of Mzundelft. The current Gold King is Khordin Rockheart, known as the Stern, of Clan Rockheart. The Gold King rules from the Golden Tower in Tzand, the palace of Mzundelft. The position of Gold King is not hereditary, but rather, the Council of Longbeards elects a new Gold King once the previous one dies or retires (although this has never happened).
=== The Council of Longbeards ===
The Council of Longbeards is an advising body for the Gold King. This council is made up of the most respected Dwarves, those with the longest and most ornate beards in the hold, who are asked for their wisdom in times of decision making. While the Gold King may not need their advice, there would be a great deal of grumbling from these elder Dwarves if there council was not called upon. 
=== The Guild Masters ===
The masters of various guilds in Mzundelft wield a great deal of economic influence. These Dwarves often will appear before the Council of Longbeards in an effort to promote trade alliances with other nations or to ensure conflicts continue. While elder dwarves may question the motives of some guilds, their resources and economic influence cannot be ignored.
== Appendix ==