In the West…

native dwarves disappeared for many years. In the 3rd century, Stonefoot dwarves from the realm of Azanubar raided the kind settlements, offshoots of the growing human presence in Marlenk. The ruler of Marlenk in those years, Duke Markus, was said to have ridden out in defense of his people and, in glorious battle, mortally wounded the dwarrow warchief Aulen. Man and dwarf were killed in great numbers.

During the reign Markus’s son, Duke Phillip, contact with the dwarven realms was lost as the great goblin hosts battled over the Marches, a conflict known as the Biters' War. In the end, the Two-Horned King of the goblins was defeated during his siege of Marlenk Castle but by then the dwarves had gone silent. Only recently, 200 years after the goblin wars, have the Western dwarves been seen again in Marlenk.

Unlike the vast and ancient dwarven realms of the East, the Western dwarven kingdoms, it seems, have been destroyed. Azanubar was struck down by some dark power, and the pillager guilds have been picking at the bones for decades. Dwarves from Azanubar and beyond are nomads, traveling in small bands, though they are skilled in the ways of the upper world, possessing talents for forestry and canoeing.

Native Marlenkers hate dwarves, holding grudges from beyond their generation, but there are many friendly Eastern faces in the Marches as Marlenk swells with outsiders.

In the East…

the dwarven realms remain unbroken. They have long-standing alliances with the human kingdoms, and dwarves often live among humans in their cities and settlements. Dwarves are celebrated in the East for their contributions. Humans don't have the spirit or constitution to live underground permanently, but some called dwarrow-friend have been known to attempt it.

The great Eastern realms are these:

Graumbaril, the One-Hundred Caves, ruled by King Friga of the Silvereyes. Graumbaril has sent their second sons to the courts of Essel for five generations. Friga is ancient and is said to cavort with wicked sorcerers from beyond the sea.

Oghren, the Hall of Lost King Eiken. Eiken's grandson, Haugeiken of the Greylocks, still rules their caverns of iron. Oghren was built above a vast nexus of tunnels, leading from the dark regions below the ground, and they've built a great iron gate to protect the Continent from what comes Below.

Vinyamar, the Yonder Shore of the River Vin, is a kingdom of traders, growing rich from the wisdom of their Council of Three. Vinyam dwarves have been known to ride horses and travel aboard sailing ships. The near shore of the Vin remains a secret to non-dwarves.

The Wildflower War has drawn these dwarven realms back into conflict. Dwarves are dying as they did in the great wars of the Age of Chaos.