Five Kings Mountains

(Nation)

(Regional map)

The **Five Kings Mountains** is the dwarven homeland in Avistan. Located in a mountain range called the *Five Kings Range*, south of Kyonin, west of Galt and northwest of Taldor.

## Lore

The **Five Kings Mountains** are tall and imposing peaks, rich with *ore* and *ironbloom mushrooms*. Heavily populated by dwarves, they are the largest center of dwarven culture on or beneath Golarion. *Highhelm*, the largest dwarven city on Golarion is located under one of its peaks: the lofty *Emperor's Peak*.

## Geography

The **Five Kings Mountains** are a harsh and dangerous area. The
mountains are mostly rocky with occasional plateaus. They are home to
savage giants and bloodthirsty wildlife, with few natural resources worth exploiting. The nations that surround the mountains (Druma, Kyonin, Galt, Andoran, and Isger)
 haven't establish settlements any closer than the foothills and don't
approach the dwarven territory. They also do not interfere with the
industry carried out by the stout folk in the higher reaches, although
they usually conduct a profitable trade with the dwarves.
 At the forested foothills, dwarven lumber-mills work to procure timber
and firewood to support tunneling operations, and to provide light and
heat below the surface.

Massive iron gates
 decorated with a huge dwarf faces carved above the entrance, guard all
primary ways into to cities of the **Five Kings Mountains**. Smaller
entrances located on high, otherwise inaccessible plateaus allow the
stout folk to cultivate crops and provide grazing land for their herds.
Additionally, a large number of iron-grated tunnels ensure that fresh
air reaches even the deepest tunnels, and smoke and toxic gases can be
safely vented away.

Reservoirs have been built that catch the seasonal
snow-melt and fill the subterranean cisterns with clear water.
Underground, the dwarves have done miracles of engineering. Deep
inside the mountains lie sprawling megalopolises that stretch the length
 of the *Five Kings Range.*
 Nearly all dwarven settlements of the **Five Kings Mountains** are linked
by long tunnels, though there are occasional tunnel collapses, or
tunnels that are sealed on purpose, in places like *Droskar's Crag* or the sealed-off ancient city of *Saggorak*.
 Dwarves are forced to travel above ground in these cases. The stout
folk have constructed sturdy, iron gates throughout these tunnels,
having learned their lesson during the orc invasions. The gates are
usually open to help the travel between the cities. For safety reasons.
 the dwarven cities are arranged in dozens of discrete semi-autonomous
caverns.
 Tunnels and caverns are supported by enduring vaulted arches. The
dwarven tunnels are well planned, smoothed, and rune-curved, and the
halls and passages of the dwarven cavern-cities are hung with rich
tapestries and banners to honor of their history, heroes, leaders, and
gods.
 Despite the ability of their race to see in the dark, most of the
inhabited areas in the dwarven settlements are lit by oil lamps, tallow
candles, torches, or magic spells, because the dwarves appreciate color
and the play of light. Their mines are never lit with true fire due to
the existence of explosive gases.

## Government

The region has no central authority, as each of the various
city-states has its own government and traditions. Because it is the
only remaining *Sky Citadel* in the range, the city of *Highhelm* is
considered the de jure capital. *High King Borogrim* *the Hale* convenes a meeting of the *Gathering Council*, composed of the rulers of *Larrad, Highhelm, Kovlar, Taggoret, Rolgrimmdur,* and *Tar-Kazmukh* once every 200 years. The meetings of the *Gathering Council* are known to go on for months.