Belfast City

Belfast city is the capital of the Dwarven matriarchy the governs central Lomar. Ruled by the Belle of Belfast City, Belfast has some of the longest history of still existing civilizations on Lomar due to the extended lifetime of Dwarves.

## Layout

The city is built into the base of The Dark Highlands, with the only entrance being located on the Western side of the mountain range. Belfast city is separated into three "Slabs", with each descending lower into the ground than the last.

#### The Arch

The top Slab, known as the Arch, is where most residents of the city live. A few notable locations included the temple of Torag known as The Twin Forge, Firebrook Inn, and Ironhearth Tavern.

#### The Heart

The center Slab is called the Heart. A massive and beautifully crafted tower that reaches from floor to ceiling known as The Pyreheart is the palace of the Belle of Belfast City. The Pyreheart dominates the view of the center Slab. The Heart also contains the city market and barracks, as well recently becoming home to a Hellknight outpost. When your eyes aren't focused on the Pyreheart, the flashing and colorful neon sign for The Ordinary Dwarf is quite jarring in contrast to the rest of the city.

#### The Pit

The Pit is the deepest part of the city and contains the city's mines and most of the refineries and smitheries. The mines recently broke into the Underdark, which caused the recent undead invasion, led by the ancient lich King Garanor Deephamer, who was the first and only King of Belfast City. There are also rumors of Belfast City beginning diplomatic relationships with some of the other societies that live beneath them, now that clear access is established.

## Ruling Structure

Belfast City is a matriarchy that is ruled over by the Belle of Belfast City. An heir to the throne must be the daughter of the current Belle of Belfast City and a member of one of the Three Pillar Families. The current Belle of Belfast City is Druuda of Belfast.

The Pillar Families serve as the nobility of Belfast City.

### The Greyspines

The Greyspines run the industrial side and production of goods, as well as trade, commerce, economy, and most any good that enters or leaves the city. One of their major investments is running the mines that make up the majority of the Pit. If anyone were to lead the city besides the Belle, the Greyspines would be a top contender. Despite this, they still remain faithfully loyal to the crown. Members of the Greyspine Family tend to be business men and women. Led by Nostoc Greyspine.

### The Alderfists

The Alderfists are in charge of the military forces and defenses. They have final say on tactical decisions, even able to supersede the Belle. Though doing so has only occurred once before, hundreds of years ago. While they are a Pillar Family, the Alderfists are the most open and laid back. They have even been known to "adopt" exceptional soldiers who have proved themselves time and time again. Gremdal is one such Dwarf. Having been accepted as an Alderfist due to his continued victories against giant incursions, and leading the attack that repelled them for decades. Alderfists are warriors. They lead their troops themselves, and see doing otherwise as weakness. Led by Sera Alderfist.

### The Blackbones

The Blackbones are the religious sect of the Pillar Families. They run the Church of Torag, and as such are the most connected to the common-Dwarf. They organize religious events, festivals, and charitable services. The Blackbones are caregivers, healers, clerics. A child formed from the union between a Blackbone and an Alderfist usually leads to a paladin. There are rumors that the Blackbones have their early ancestry littered with Duergar. Led by Lis Blackbone.

### Debutantes

Although never officially confirmed or denied, a persisting rumor says that the Debutantes serve as the Belle's personal guard and assassins.

## History

The history of Belfast City is tied deeply into the history of Lomar itself.

The Elves of Avreon were the first to land on and claim ownership of Lomar back in 3629. Having just suffered great losses at the hands of the Malan Dynasty. The Elves were looking at abandoning their motherland in favor of a new home. Led by King Skanorli Stormarmour himself, the Dwarven Empire of Koulum decided that they had wanted a piece of the newly discovered land for themselves, and fought their way into the Dark Highlands at the beginning of 3801, where they remained. The Elves had retreated back to their forests before the year was over. The fighting itself is inconsequential. The raw military might of the Koulumian Empire quickly drove the now local Elves away with little issue. Most of the time was spent traveling to Lomar from Hadru or driving the Elves out of the way. Now that the entirety of the mountain was his, King Skanorli Stormarmour of Koulum began to create a symbol. A central city through which he would control the land. And so the city of Vilgolir was carved out from beneath The Dark Highlands. King Skanorli would return to the Capital City of Khagdorul in Hadru once construction was of Vilgolir was completed in 3803, leaving the newly-appointed Thane of Lomar, Maznug Belfast.

Under Maznug Belfast, the dwarves colonized the vast majority of the Dark Highlands by 3876. Though Maznug himself died in 3860 while exploring the Stormcrest Mountains. No one had even heard of a Cheese-Breathing Cow-Dragon at the time, and they were swiftly destroyed by one. He was succeeded by his son, Bazzas Belfast. Bazzas Belfast continued where his father had left off. Solidifying the grasp of the Koulum Empire on Lomar. He and the King, Grousul Stormarmour of Koulum, worked very closely and had a very close friendship. So close, that some had wondered if there wasn’t something more. Whether or not there was is irrelevant from a historical viewpoint. The Belfast’s ruled Lomar for several generations.

The Dwarves' claim was threatened by the arrival of the Malan Dynasty in 3996. Having grown tired of harassing the Elves on the shores of Avreon, the Malan Dynasty had turned it gaze to Lomar and the cities beneath the mountains. Their orcish warriors tunneled down at the base of the mountains and would drop down onto towns below and kill everyone in sight. Having been told by the Koulumian Empire to deal with their own problems and that no aid would be coming, Garanor Belfast devised a plan. He led his people down further into the earth below. They tunneled deeper and deeper until the found a vast lake of lava. It was here that Garanor constructed his fortress. They built Therndur. A city surrounded by lava. They constructed a slanted roof above the structure. As the Malanian troops came pouring down from above, they simply slid down and into the lava. A simple but effective strategy. Their enemies would have to come through the front door for once. Garanor and his soldiers were there waiting for them down below. Hammers and swords in hand. It didn’t take long for the Dynasty to realize that conquering the Dwarves would not be worth the trouble, so they left the mountains and began to claim ownership of the land immediately surrounding the mountains, effectively boxing in the Dwarves. This first victory gave Garanor the nickname of Deephammer. He would use this name for his men to rally behind during the ensuing fights.

After the Koulumian Empire had decided to not help their brethren in Lomar during their time of need, Garanor led his men to secession in 3997. There was little, if any fighting involved from their departure from the Empire. Neither of them wished to fight their own kin. The majority of fighting came immediately following the secession. Now free from the Empire’s rules, Garanor Deephamer, as he was now called, began to create his own Empire. Vilgolir was renamed to Belfast City, In honor of their ancestors as well as to further distance themselves from the Empire.

By 4000, the Malan Dynasty was completely driven off of Lomar. But Garanor was just starting. Not wanting to simply live within the Dark Highlands as those before him had, Garanor began a rampage across with continent. He drove out a vast majority of the Elves who had found refuge here, and had even hailed Garanor as a hero for removing the Malanian soldiers from their homes. The Elves returned to their ancestral homes on Avreon. Luckily the time of Garanor Deephammer was cut short when Glamdaela, Garanor’s wife who was horrified when she learned of her husband’s actions, begged him to stop. When he refused to concede, she poisoned and left him to die in Therndur. Thus ended the life of the first and only King of Belfast City.