Khaz'Azril

The mountain which Khaz'Azril is built under.

**Khaz'Azril** was a dwarven stronghold beneath Mistpeak Mountain in the Ironfoot Mountains. It is one of the best known dwarven strongholds in Korinth.

Originally a silver mine belonging to Clan Silverbeard, this underground town became a safe haven for various dwarf families and even some other races. Khaz'Azril had a long history of tragedy and triumph, and is the making and breaking of countless individuals.

It is currently under the reign of the shadow dragon Shimmergloom.

## Geography

Set amongst the longest mountain range in Korinth, Khaz'Azril is one of the easternmost settlements on the continent.

### Settlestone

An ancient village south of Khaz'Azril, Settlestone is one of the few dwarven settlements built entirely above ground. The settlement was built with huge slabs of rock laid against one another. These sturdy structures withstood the elements for years and even survived several centuries after the village was abandoned.

Used by the occupants of Khaz'Azril as a public front and forward base, Settlestone was first resettled in 800s AS by barbarians from the north led by Berkthgar. It was renamed Kushlak, and their barbarian clan still holds to this day.

### Keeper's Dale

Keeper's Dale is the name given to the rocky valley that surrounded the northwestern entrance to Khaz'Azril. To navigate it is treacherous and arduous, due to the craggy outcrops and unstable edges.

The steps on Keeper's Dale that led to the entrance of the hall are carefully carved where two different types of rock meet. This provides camouflage and meant the steps can only be seen from the correct angle, or by those in the know.

## Structure

Once inside the town, one is faced with a web of tunnels and numerous caves and rooms. To navigate the tunnels requires an experienced guide or several years of experience spelunking within them. Khaz'Azris is an ever-expanding settlement as the residents are constantly mining for more silver. The tunnels and chambers of Khaz'Azril are a self-contained city complete with taverns, forges, workshops, homes, and shrines.

## History

It is unknown when exactly Khaz'Azril was founded, but it is agreed on by historians that it is before 0 AS.

The dwarves here used to live in the Deep Roads, an extensive and underground network that connects itself across the entire world. Ancient dwarves are said to originate from the Deep Roads, until something push them toward the surface. Ancient dwarven structures are still said to lay down in the Deep Roads untouched by time.

The first recorded king in the Hall of Heroes, a massive stone hall with statutes of previous kings and heroes of Khaz'Azril, is King Feldspar Silverbeard. He is said to have be a warrior unmatched by any other, fighting off monsters from the Deep Roads and founding an era of peace for the dwarves here. He created the Forgotten Order of the Deep Roads, which is one of three times this order is ever recorded by the dwarves. The Deep Roads and the Hall itself has been kept secret all this time so that no would be invaders find their location.

   Towards the end of the 1100 AS, the deepest mines carved out by the dwarves of Khaz'Azril broke into a shadowcavern. The cavern is said to be linked to the Plane of Shadows. An immensely powerful shadow dragon named Haerinvureem, known as Shimergloom to most, was subsequently released into the mines. The dragon was aided by hordes of shadow creatures and a whole clan of duergar. The loyal dwarves stood and fought allowing the few not strong enough the opportunity to flee. Among those that escaped was a young Dorian Silverbeard. The dragon ravaged Khaz'Azril slaying thousands of dwarves. The Halls were lost, and those that could escape did. The 300 or so dwarves that escaped fled to the nearby Settlestone where they waited for news, expecting their kin to emerge victorious and invite them back. The good news never came, and the few dwarves that ventured back into Khaz'Azril looking for survivors did not return. What was a settlement of 10,000 was cut down to 300.

These dwarves now roam Korinth, some seeking would be adventurers or even nations for their aid in retaking their home.