Adamant Isle

In the center of the Dragon Sea is the most prosperous of all the islands. Adamant Isle is one of the richest sources of adamantine in all of Urz and the mines that it is found in are ruled over by the Bolanroth dwarves. Their settlements are tightly consturcted around the Eye of the Earth and the city of Darkhelm with farmlands and simple settlements out towards the coast.

Long before the arrival of the Alterian Empire, the dwarves had built a bridge between Adamant Isle and the Rended Island. The Elves of the Elanshae Enclave rose up arms and they had only just ended their fighting one hundred years before the arrival of the Empire. The bridge is called the Nardasi Bridge, named for the small island that serves as a midpoint for the bridge.

### Kingdom of Bolanroth (Faction)

The Balanroth dwarves, or Urzgar as they refer to themselves, are one of the oldest cultures and peoples in the Dragon Isles. They have built above the surface of the island and have crossed the waves, but after the War of Rended Island, they have cloistered much of their exploration and recalled their colonies. Instead, they explore further down, deeper and deeper into the roots of the Dragon Isles.

The main purpose for this is that adamantine is seen as the lifeblood of Bolanroth and the Alterian Empire only presented interest and offered great trading opportunity because of the dark metal. So, they dig ever-deeper in search of it. Because of this, they have unearthed many things in the dark, but most importantly the schism. These creatures are segments of some greater, more ancient being that live on

despite being separate from the whole. When two or more of these schism creatures are near each other, they impart their own mutations and power to the others, meaning the more there are the stronger each on is.

The dwarves of the surface and the cities closer to it have little concern for the troubles of those that are deep in mines. They focus instead on their own problems. Politics and intrigue hold the greatest attention, with powerful jarls beneath King Darkhelm portraying themselves as great warriors by fighting in arenas at the pleasure of any who enjoy the spectacle.

Despite this honorable exterior, following the rules of the arena and gaining the glory of victory, Balanroth nobles are a treacherous lot, doing anything and everything to increase their political power. The cities are ruled over by jarls, who act as minor kings of their charged domain. The master of Clan Darkhelm has always been the king of the Adamant Isle and the Bolanroth, but many attempts on that power have been made throughout the long centuries. Still, the Darkhelms stand due to their mastery of manipulating adamantine and the potency of their artificers. The armies of Bolanroth focus primarily on defense and use of fortifications to combat opposition. Artificers are their most prized people as building, crafting, and forging are all seen as very profitable skills. Druids and rangers, though not unheard of, are not terribly common in the Kingdom of Bolanroth.

***Ruler.*** King Xog Darkhelm

***Seat of Power.*** Darkhelm

***Demographics.*** The population of the Adamant Isle is mostly comprised of dwarves (70%), humans (10%), halflings (10%), and elves (5%), with other races making up the remaining 5%.