Bhirn

Bhirn was a nation on the Lointain peninsula, off of the Nirvan Gulf. It started initially as a city-state off of Vagh Bhirn, making the population primarily Dwarves. It continued to expand and incorporate other major settlements, including Zela. It was eventually conquered by the Nirvan Republic in the Bhirn Campaign.

## Leadership

Bhirn was ruled in a supreme Monarchy, the King or Queen having ultimate power. It was up to the monarchy to determine what other levels of governments could be created and how heavily their influence weighed on their decisions.

Because of the large families, the throne constantly changed hands, using their distant relations with the original or current royal family. By the end of the Kingdom it was the Thyk family that held control.

## Military

Due to the nature of Dwarves, which heavily influenced their culture, the Bhirnian army was very isolationist. That did not mean they weren’t strong however, holding some of the highest quality Heavy Infantry in South-East Arlec. Outside of melee combat they were good archers, fighting off the Nirvans for some time before they eventually lost.

Since their defeat, the quality of their Heavy Infantry would still be used during later campaigns by the Nirvans, such as the Second Lorenzen War led by Vibius Calenus.

## Society

### Caste

The Caste were the nobility of Bhirnian society. They were the rich and had an extensive lineage leading back to the founding of the nation and city. It was this class that supported the monarchy in ruling the nation, and held much more influence and rights over the Casteless and High Grounders.

One major benefit of being a Caste was being able to open a bank account with the Bhirn Bank.

### Casteless

Casteless were the commoners of Bhirnan society. They were treated harshly and often lacked a proper identity. The casteless weren’t the ones who could participate in battles as the Heavy Infantry but instead acted as meat shields. Depending how poor one was, they were closer to slaves than actual citizens.

### High Grounders

The High Grounders were Dwarves who lived above the surface in the small Overcity (more a small village than anything). They were primarily outcast by society. If someone had committed an unforgivable crime they could be exiled to the High Ground, making a lot of them friends with criminals, which wasn’t helpful to their reputation. Still, a lot of High Grounders had a good passion for life, and some were quite rich, selling goods that could only be found above ground.

## Geography

Bhirn as a nation mainly resided in the Bhirn Mountains, a tough and cold place. When their borders expanded this included the Bhirn Grove and Delac Woods, allowing citizens to experience two types of environments.

### Climate

Below the Bhirn Mountains the climate was much the same as the Nirvan Republic. In the mountains was a different story, during most of the year it would snow, making it difficult terrain for many. The Bhirnians realised the problem and made paths, but still had to regularly clear them from blockages.

## Commerce

### Exports

Bhirn rare imported. Yet, they made a good amount of money exporting, enjoying their ability to rely on themselves rather than import anything. Some of their exports included Stone, Metal Works, Ores and Jewellery.

## Culture

Bhirnians were a very grim people, and the culture that has survived to modern times is the same. They are very pessimistic, but when they get a drink in their hands they become jolly people, telling the stories of their ancestors.

### Clothing

Other than the Caste, the Bhirnians never saw an importance in clothing that wasn’t applicable, most wearing their mining outfits still. For the Caste they wore clothing which resembled their ancestry, including their clan symbols. Only in the highest formal occasions would Female Caste wear dresses, making them highly valued and regarded.

### Food

Bhirnian food was tough but plentiful. They weren’t above roasting bugs if they thought it tasted nice. Outside their culture they were known as horrible cooks, often undercooking meats or overcooking them. It is of no surprise that disease ran rampant through their ranks.

### Arts

#### Literature

Bhirnian literature is very practical or historical, speaking about the history of their nation and the different ores and gems they have found. An interesting part of their literature is the recording of armour, telling fantastical stories about a single piece of armour, including the tales of the successors who wore it after.

#### Visual Art

Visual Art was huge in Bhirn and their walls were often covered in large paintings, depicting various battles or significant parts of their history. Throughout the city of Vagh Bhirn there are pillars, telling the history of their people and how they discovered the ability to mine. All of these pillars are often made of pure gold.

#### Music

Music is different in Bhirn. They don’t enjoy instruments, but they will happily sing, or make tunes as if they had instruments. Singing tales of crazy adventurers is very popular, or their most famous song ‘The Loverboy’, a song about a young Dwarf finding true love after losing his family.

### Sports and Entertainment

Sports were not popular in Bhirn, they cared very little about what physical activity one could do, instead being grumpy about everything.

Entertainment however would often be monster battles, capturing two monsters in their mines and forcing them to fight one another in a large arena. These weren’t always monsters though and could include their hated races, such as Orcs and Goblins.

## Religion

### Novus

Novus was the only religion in Bhirn, outcasting or criminalising the worship of any other. However even Novus itself was limited, most Dwarves only worshipping Kathryn, or the High Mother. They have large churches and statues dedicated to her. Their second most popular is Kylan, the God of the Forge.

## History

**379PR** - Bhirn captured Zela.

**438PR** - Nirvan Republic’s Bhirn Campaign begins, led by Arruns Calenus.

**444PR** - Vagh Bhirn falls, Zela splits off from Bhirn, Bhirn is conquered by the Nirvan Republic, ending the Bhirn Campaign.