The land known as Harngrim’s Forge was discovered and peopled over 900 years ago by the now historic figure of Magdur Harngrim, the first and only Dwarvish High King (a position later in Harngrim’s life that would supervise over a grand council, and then would be left empty at his request, after the time of his passing). Harngrim and his followers arrived in these lands and tried to create. They built camps which became cities. They explored and mapped the lands. They mined the mountains, and eventually, built their grand cities there to be the chosen home of their people. It was a comment from Harmgrim himself which spurned the naming of the lands. After arriving, Harngrim’s people suffered many losses over the first few days in this strange new place, a trend which would continue over the next many years in these new lands. In a crisis, one of his advisers lamented to know what other horrors might lay in wait for them beyond the coast. Harngrim’s fabled reply was “It matters not. We will go there, and we will live, and this land will be the forge which will temper the strength of our blood.”

Not long after the arrival of the Dwarves other races began to arrive in Harngrim’s Forge. Elves and Humans arrived to contend with the Dwarves for space in these new and wild lands. As they forged boldly on past the new borders of civilization many strange and ancient ruins were discovered, hinting at a once glorious past in this strange land. Of the original inhabitants there was no sign, but the wild races & creatures fought back against the encroaching civilizations, and life for many was bloody and short.

Two hundred years ago the Dwarvish High Council quietly compelled all those of their race to collect in the mighty halls their ancestors had carved into the Wallgunkrsh Mountains. Outside races were kept in the dark about this event. Dwarvish trade stopped, and with rare exception all but the most traitorous of their race disappeared from the lands.

The year is Current Era 4903. The expansion of civilization has ground to a halt against the madness that is the wild races. Strange events are unveiled across the lands. Mysteries from the wild ensnare the unsuspecting and those in positions of power closely guard their gates.