Hold of Orlghelovar

**Orlghelovar** was a Dwarf Hold in the Serpentreach known as the *Home of the Glass Lords*, the home of glass artisanry, scientific research and the renowned university *Guntîrhug*. The hold was known for creating artisan glass with the addition of cobalt to create a blue hue, valuing it greatly among buyers. The Cobalt Dwarves were also recognized for their university, *Guntîrhug*, which allowed research and progress to keep advancing even in the apex of Aul-Dwarov and preventing complacency. Orlghelovar was known to be lit with daylight due to the many contraptions of lenses and mirrors, making it uniquely bright for a hold.

## Culture and Customs

The Cobalt Dwarves of Orlghelovar were known as the *Glasslords*, due to the expert craftmanship of glassmaking with their dark blue Orlghelovar Glass with which many ancient human glass relics can trace their origins to. With glassblowing requiring strong lungs, the Cobalt Dwarves were famed wind instrumentalists due to the fact, famously marching to war with trumpets that inspired troops on the battlefield. Known to be very inquisitive, the Cobalt Dwarves would constantly research the natural sciences and draft many papers on their discoveries in physics and other arcane subjects such as Halanna's Breath or Deepwoods plants harvested by the dwarves of Verkal Skomdihr.

The Glasshammer Fair was a large yearly artisan glass convention which was first held in 6735 BA by the master glassmaker and head of the Glasshammer Cartel. The convention was held in Amldihr which would showcase the new goods and styles from Orlghelovar. In addition to bringing them great profits, it kept the Cobalt Dwarves up to date with the comings-and-goings of the rest of the Dwarovar.

The hold of Orlghelovar was facing the surface, allowing the Cobalt dwarves to experience sunlight, but they were unsatisfied as they created intricate mirrors and lenses to direct sunlight inside of the hold. This created a very unique bright atmosphere which allowed for more flora to be grown inside which brought life to the hold, something that many dwarves would desire for their own home. *Guntîrhug* was the renowned university of Orlghelovar, which gathered many famous researchers from all across the Dwarovar as well as many students willing to learn from them. The university specialized in the natural sciences as compared to engineering or astrology which allowed it to be the prime location for all research in the Dwarovar.

## History

### Warfare in the Serpentreach

In 5400 BA, the orcs had broken through the Jorkad Junction into the Serpentreach with the combined forces of the Serpentreach holds battling on the rails including Orlghelovar. The holds had fought the orcs on the rails until many of the holds to the east closed their gates and abandoned fighting as a combined force. By 3800 BA, only Orlghelovar and Shazstundihr were the only remaining holds fighting on the rails and they elected to return into their own holds, knowing they could scavenge for resources on the surface.

### Consequences of Decadence

Orlghelovar had managed to stay alive thanks to the surface and eventually began to prosper thanks to the Age of the God Kings in Bulwar at the time. The artisan glass of the Cobalt Dwarves was greatly valued among the rising human Bulwari kingdoms, however this wealth from trade eventually led to greed and arrogance amongst the dwarves. Less and less funds were spent on repairing the gates of their hold and the upkeep of their army, weakening the gates considerably. It so happened that a roaming band of orcs had decided to batter the gate as some sort of trial of strength and surprisingly the gate barely held and soon after, neither did the dwarves within, leading to the fall of the hold in 2686 BA.