The Auld Kingdom

The Auld Kingdom, although once connected to Gunstadtan as one seamless whole has now lost its link to the western dwarves and has itself been shattered into smaller parts. Much of the land that Auld Kingdom is reputed to cover is not mountainous, or even hilly. For the Auld Kingdom is an almost entirely subterranean civilisation. Where the mountains rise from the eastern plains their cities climb high into the peaks, and vast fortresses are built much akin to those to the west, but for the most part the Auld Kingdom is a network of tunnels, halls and audience chambers deep below ground. It is even said that the dwarves have excavated tunnels beneath the sea to link the separate landmasses that support their kingdom together.

Although these dwarves persist in the fiction of their old war with Gunstadtan their real enemies come from below. Goblins, duergar, drow and illithids count for the bulk of their foes, and it is said that there are parts of the earth where even the dwarves fear to tread, because of the horrors that lurk within.