The Dwarves of Kal-Sharok

[lyulf]

Kal-Sharok is one of the two known dwarven cities in Thedas. Kal-Sharok lies in the Hunterhorn Mountains between Orlais and the Anderfels. Unlike Orzammar, it is not located in or near (under) Ferelden.

Once, when the dwarves were a mighty empire, Kal-Sharok was their capital. However, as the dwarves started to trade with the Tevinter Imperium, the seat of power was moved to the current dwarven capital, Orzammar. When the darkspawn poured into the Deep Roads during the First Blight, the empire was virtually destroyed by the following struggle with the darkspawn and so was Kal-Sharok, or so it was assumed. Declared lost alongside Kal-Sharok were the cities of Hormak and Gundaar.

In recent times, however, it has been discovered that Kal-Sharok miraculously survived the darkspawn onslaught. However, the few dwarves living there are said to be extremely reclusive and unwilling to re-establish contact with the rest of the world as well as being embittered towards Orzammar. Dwarven Noble Origin story suggests, however, that an active communication between the two remaining dwarven cities does exist, as King Endrin Aeducan is seen discussing trade contracts involving Kal-Sharok with Lords of the assembly. His responses and comments show that the strife between the cities is fueled in a great deal by Orzammar's stubbornness and traditionalism.

With far fewer resources than Orzammar and no access to the surface, Kal-Sharok has had to do some very questionable things to survive, and now they are changed forever. But, it's believed that when the darkspawn invaded, the kings of the old empire retreated to Kal-Sharok, where they were able to defeat the darkspawn, but suffered heavy casualties.



Only recently rediscovered, very little is known about this other great Dwarven city, merely that it boasts a population similar to Orzammar.
Human: ?
Elven: ?
Dwarven: 1.5 million
Kossith: ?
Total: 1.5 million

In Kal-Sharok the strong survives and the weak dies. The Dwarves of Kal-Sharok are strange - pale and younger looking than what would be expected by foreigners, and maybe even tainted in a way that is hard to define. Once Kal-Sharok was forced to survive on its own, their dwarven caste system was disolved; the nobles, the castelass and the servants was all divided into posistions that were needed. In the beginning this was seen as an outrage by the nobilty, but after a few decades things changed. Now there are only houses and a few indiviudals dwarves, who serve in the proffession they like, divided into these below:

Warrior:
Within Kal-Sharok there are many warriors, and almost everyone knows how to fight and defend themselves. There is 2/3(750 000) of their population who are able to fight, but 1/3 (250 000) of the population stands as the army. The Kal-Sharok dwarves are well equipped, wearing heavy armor and weapons designed for their likings. In Kal-Sharok weapons and armors are always reused when one dies, but the owner of those certain items can choose to include it into his testament before dying, if it is not included, the equippement will be taken to the vaults and be used by someone else.

Almost everywhere one can see a warrior standing guard, and when trouble approuch the horn is sounded and warns of an attack. The greatest animals which the dwarves use as cavalry are the Bronto`s, huge creatures with horns on their nose and head. Throughout the centuries these creatures has proven to be useful against the Darkspawn, and the dwarves have often sat on top of them in battle, or eaten them when needed.

Craftsmen:
The Smith and the Artisan`s of Kal-Sharok are the makers of armors, weapons and cloths. They provide the people with every needed equippment and the most skilled and experienced of them are highly valued, the things they make goes to the storage room, if they are not made for certain important indiviudals. They are dependent on the resources they get from the miners and the farmers, as they use the ore to make the aquipement and the skin and leather from the animals for clothes and other things. There is a total of 160 000 Craftsmen in Kal-Sharok.

Farmer (Previously merchant caste):
During the reform of Kal-Sharok, the merchant caste was turned to become only a farmer caste, where all able took care of the food process and provided the living the nessceery goods that kept one alive. The food that is harvested are placed in a storage room, where from they are divided equally between the people of Kal-Sharok, although it is not uncommon that these dwarves take more food for themselves. They control the mushroom, snug and the bronto`s farms. (The bronto`s are divided into two sections; some are bred to become cavalry to the warriors, and the rest are bred to become food.) There is a total of 80 000 Farmers in Kal-Sharok.

Miner:
The miners are the backbone of Kal-Sharok, these dwarves provide the nessecery ore which the smith`s use to make weapons and armor, they also make pathways for easy escape and builds whatever is needed. When mining on dangerous places, the warriors often stand on watch and observe the situation. There is a total of 260 000 Miners in Kal-Sharok.

750 000 Children from 0 - 11. From the age of six to 11 they go on school, from 11 and up they have their apprenticeship.