Nel Kuldohr

Nel Kuldohr was once a bastion of Dwarven civilisation led by the royal Drakehall family following the end of the Dûrandur line that ruled the former Dwarven city and fortress in the Peaks of the Vale. Led by Fisil I Drakehall, their people ventured south and found a modest settlement within the mines of the Eskaryan Peaks.

The reason for their migration was the threat of Kildrid, whom had killed thousands of Dwarves in their attempts to free the Vale mountain of its destroyer and tyrant dragon. The excavation of Nel Kuldohr was not a simple task and aid was given by both rival and allied Dwarven factions to restore their people into a new home.

The fortress, build into the mountains, was grand in its structure with ceilings as high as 60ft. Within the city, which was isolated from the outside world, was able to survive independently with construction of markets, a grand forge (which replaced an impulsive theatre build).

Their troubles were not over, however, as the threat of the Underdark replaced that which was Draconic, as the Darkheart Den of Duergar sought the destruction of the people of Nel Kuldohr as they had placed their home not far above their Underdark settlement.

Fisil III Drakehall successfully led invasions of the underdark as they sought to fight back against the Darkheart Den, building walls within the tunnel of the Underdark, with traps and filling tunnels with lava in a cruel twist of irony as the fire they served would keep from them from Nel Kuldohr.

In the years leading to the events, Fisil was approached by The Vinculum of Volute, an organisation who sought the imprisonment of the Dark Ender. The organisation made of all races, including Drow and Hobgoblin, begged for their aid in holding one of five chains that keep the entity imprisoned. It is said that they first rejected their pleas, for the dangers it brought were too great. But following a visit from Arcadia, Fisil had been convinced following a meeting that took only a few minutes. A dear friend and counsellor, Skordrout Boneforge, a prominent mage and advisor, had been burdened with the protection of the chain within his studies.

Upon discovery of Nel Kuldohr and opening of the sealed gates of the Dwarven Fortress, the Adventurer's Guild of Eskarya found trapped inside an elemental creature and behemoth. A creature who had wiped out those within the fortress, who had sealed their fate with the creature but locking themselves inside to save those who had escaped, still existed and drew breath and sought to escape, but not before destroying the adventurer's who might have freed him.

With the slaying of the gargantuan creature, the adventurers delved deeper into the lower levels, where Bhelnir Darkheart had finally claimed what he desired and proclaimed himself King of Nel Kuldohr. Despite this, he still required access to the arcane chambers in the lower levels, which all prior attempts had failed and ended in the death of his people. Hiring the adventurers, the chambers were stormed but they were met by the arcane power of a Dwarven lich whom instantly killed Sip with the powerful spell, Power Word Kill. The battle ensued until Fogel Chernin called for a ceasefire, believing that the chains the Lich protected were evil and the Lich, well-intentioned. Coming to an accord and understanding that the chains that locked a dark entity away must be protected, the adventurers returned home after causing a cave-in that blocked the entrance to the Skordrout's chambers.

Upon their return, they quickly faced war agains Bhelnir Darkheart and his forces, in which Nira Thiloriasien and Zook Za-Rah had been felled. But the battle was theirs, their allies revived by the power of Vyodros and Nel Kuldohr would become a settlment of The Empire of Eskarya. To safeguard the arcane chambers and Skordrout Boneforge's duty to protect the chain, Vyodros cast stone shape over five days to hide the hallway that led to the chains, to never be disturbed by a zealous dictator and ruler of Eskarya.