Hold of Gor Bûrad

## Gor Bûrad

**Gor Bûrad** was a Dwarf Hold in the Serpentreach known as *Firetop Mountain,* the home of the Fireglass forge, the blackened halls and anger. The Basalt Dwarves were famous for their production of darkened glass and obsidian artwork, as well as Basalt which was used in much of the architecture of the hold. The Basalt Dwarves were isolationist and individualist, not allowing Arg-Ôrdstun to subjugate them like they did with the rest of the Serpentreach, leading to a rivalry between the holds.

## Geography

The Hold of Gor Bûrad is located on the eastern end of the Serpentreach range. It was built around the magma chamber of a great volcano, where the basalt dwarves harnessed the intense heat and magma to create glass and obsidian in *Ghelebûr Krakdhûm*, also known as the Fireglass Forge. The former product led to a long rivalry with the nearby hold of Orlghelovar, which also exported glass but with higher quality & prices.

## Culture and customs

Basalt Dwarves were stereotyped as short-tempered, suspicious of outsiders and quick to fight. Legend says that this is because the foundations of the hold were built on the corpse of a Fire Giant. However, the Basalt Dwarves themselves taught that they were once refused aid by the other dwarves during a terrible famine, and that this is what started their anger and isolationism. The Basalt Dwarves had an exception as they traded with Gor Dûrgheled, supplying them with raw obsidian which enhanced their rune magic, allowing for friendly relations to form between both holds.

The most famous Basalt Dwarf tradition is the *Borbordûz*, or "Fire Duel". This consisted of settling disputes by fighting each other on platforms above a lake of magma. The intense heat from the molten rock below, combined with the volcanic gases rising up, made the bouts a grueling test of skill and endurance. As many contestants lost out of sheer exhaustion as those who were actually bested in battle.

A renowned legend describes the longest Borbordûz ever: three nobles fought for a week straight to decide who would rule the hold, yet it should be noted that most Basalt Dwarf political successions did not occur in this way. The fighters were called Storum the Stern, Adar Moonreacher and Magni the Vindictive. In the end, Magni was the only survivor and took his place as ruler of Gor Bûrad. Contemporaries attributed this to his fine equipment, which had been forged by the famous blacksmith Calin-Thror Flameforge.

## History

### Orcish Invasion of the Serpentreach

When orcs breached the Serpentsreach through the Arg Tunad in the Jorkad Junction in 5400 BA, the Basalt Dwarves did not stand with the rest of the empire. After helping fight off the initial wave of orcs, they retreated to their hold, anticipating an eventual siege.

### Siege of Gor Bûrad

In 5284 BA, the orcs reached the hold of Gor Bûrad after sweeping through the Arg Tunad and southeastern rails. They laid siege to the city and fought many skirmishes with the basalt dwarves. The siege lasted for nearly two grueling millenniums until the volcano erupted in 3641 BA. The mighty eruption, with lava even creeping to the upper levels of the hold, softened the hold's gate and allowed the orcs to breach it. The orcs killed every dwarf inside, bringing an end to Gor Bûrad.

Dwarven histories commemorate the basalt dwarves as those who fought the orcs longer than all other northerners combined. However, some scholars argue that the Basalt Dwarves betrayed their kin by retreating to their hold in the first place.