
                       History of Vinyamar
                            Chapter 4
                    Dark Age for the Dwarves


427: Discovery of Adamantine
   The uneasy peace following the Great War lasts until 427 when
the Goblins discover adamantine, a rare mineral with innate
magical properties useful in the construction of weapons and
armor. Without Muzgash support, however, they are forced to
relinquish their find to a hostile army of Dwarves supported by
Elven mages.

450: Trade & Taxes
   By the middle 400s, Kruachimar becomes a thriving city of
industry and commerce, however, an increasing share of the city's
income comes in the form of increasingly exorbitant taxes on the
adamantine excavation, which is conducted primarily by Dwarves
with the aid of Elven mages (many of the same who fought the
Goblins over it some twenty years earlier). Over time, discontent
begins to ferment within the mines, overtaxed workers alleging
that Gonhir Angbor has become bloated by greed and the excesses
of power.

450-474: Road to Rebellion
   The Dwarves and Elves working within the mines slowly mutate
over the next twenty-odd years. Adamantine dust locks within the
pours of their skin, greying the tissue so much that the
unnatural pigment cannot be washed clean. Furthermore, those born
within the mines often have glowing eyes or possess strange
powers, and nearly all of them look upon Gonhir Angbor and King
Elrohir with scorn and contempt.
   In 474, the workers blockade themselves within the mines,
issuing a declaration of independence to both kings. After a
brief struggle Angbor agrees to partial independence, given that
he is paid a tithe and allowed neutral arbitration in setting
prices on the Adamantine. Of course, he finds ways to control the
arbitrators, and then he squeezes the rebellious miners by
provoking Goblin and Torog raids within the mines, refusing to
support them with his army since they are now independent. He
then sells his rebel kin arms at exorbitant prices and profits
all the way around.

538: The Death of Angbor
   Old Angbor dies in his sleep, or so the Dwarven population
believes. His son, Belegond (Mighty Din), rules for two years,
just long enough to reverse his father's policies which he
despises as selfish and cruel and weakening of the Dwarven
spirit.

540: The Death of Belegond
   Belegond confesses before his people, telling them that he
killed Angbor with poison. He then throws himself into the lava
lake beneath Kruachimar (from which Naro and his followers
emerged almost four hundred years earlier), leaving the Dwarven
city to his son Erebal (Lonely Power) who is still barely a
child. The nine regal advisors do as much as they can to preserve
the power of the crown (i.e. their own authority), and young
Erebal is made a figurehead of state, replacing his father as the
ultimate authority in the Dwarven Council of Ten.

549: 2nd Adamantine Rebellion
   Having bowed to price-fixing for over a century, the
Adamantine workers take advantage of the weakness of the crown
and simply refuse to ship their ore until their prices are met.
Such efforts had occurred in the past but were always put down by
swift action. This time, however, the army is unwilling to march
against its own kin, particularly in the name of a "murderer's
son" which is what young King Erebal is known as to his own
people. Seeing no practical alternative, Erebal's advisors have
him sign a proclamation declaring the City of Adamantium to be an
independent zone of commerce, hence allowing business to be
conducted there without price fixing imposed by the much maligned
Board of Arbitrators.

551-591: Merchant's Rebellion
   With the loss of revenue from the mines, Erebal's advisors
place a steep tax hike upon the merchant houses and guilds.
Unwilling to pay the taxes and yet also unwilling to raise an
army and begin an open rebellion, many powerful dwarven clans
simply decide to pick up and leave, taking much of Kruachimar's
wealth and power with them. Four great cities are eventually
founded during this exodus: Malcaragroth (founded by the
Goldtooth Clan), Borlachimar (founded by the Clan of the Flaming
Hand), Durmirdum (founded by the Clan of the Dark Jewel), and
Galadringrod (founded by the Clan of the Radiant Hammer).
   Although no proclamation of independence is announced, all
four cities refuse to pay tribute to the crown, and Erebal's
advisors decide it is best not to go to war against these rebel
clans since they have moved so far away and the army's morale is
so low.
   Erebal is 37 years old by this point (13 years by human
standards), and with the recession caused by the loss of so much
of the kingdom's economy, the people grumble even more loudly
than before about the boy king, son of a murderer. Meanwhile, his
quarrelling advisors point their fingers at one another.
   In 561, an assassination attempt against Erebal fails. The
perpetrator is one of his own advisors who was hoping to seize
the kingdom and instate himself as Gonhir. During the next eight
years, Erebal dismisses his eight remaining advisors, one at a
time, realizing that they have grown too comfortable with their
positions of authority, and fearing that they've each been
milking the Kingdom for their own ends. He then calls upon the
rebellious merchant houses to each send representatives to a new
Dwarven council. Talks begin in Kruachimar, but the council soon
turns to bickering over trade issues despite Erebal's attempts to
slowly reunite the Dwarven nation. Finally, in 581, he leaves
Kruachimar, leaving a tablet saying that he has failed as King
and that his people are better off without him. Ten years later,
the council finally dissolves when the representatives cannot
decide upon an equitable arrangement over where to meet.

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