Iron Hills

the Iron Hills

The Western Emyn Engrin and the Valley of Azanulinbar

File:Ironhills2.jpg

the Eastern Emyn Engrin

• Political Organization: Hereditary' Lordship.
• Rulers: Azanulinbar-dum: Lord Fulla III,Hammer of Fire;Barak-shathur:Azaghal
• Administrative Organization: Lord assigns offices to Dwarves of exceptional merit and age; privately owned chattels, but mansions considered property of the House.
• Population: 700 Naugrim.
• Military: 170 Dwarf Warriors.280 Dwarf Levy.
• Products: Iron, finished products.
• Symbol: Crossed Axes above an Anvil against a Gold Field.

Dwarves are a secretive people, and the clans of the Iron Hills are no exception. They work their mines in the western reaches of Rhovanion with no apparent interest in the affairs of Men or Elves]]. The Iron Hill Dwarves are but a colony of the House of Barin the Scarred, the bulk of which lives far away in the Ered Luin. They are on friendly terms with the House of Dúrin , due to the efforts of Azaghal , a kinsman of Lord Fulla III and one of the oldest Dwarves still alive. On the surface, the Iron Hills form a bleak and unimpressive landscape. The jagged hills shelter many savage beasts and wild men who live in the region. Beneath ground level, however, the craftsmen of the Dwarves transformed their caverns into a place of splendor. High arched halls, softly lit with the gentle illumination of phosphorescent fungi, resound with the murmur of nin- ning water and the ringing of Dwarven hammers. Though not as dramatically grand as the Dwarf-mansion of Moria the halls of Azanulinbar-dûm carry a splendor of their own. The Dwarves of the Iron Hills , when compared with their brethren in Moria or the Ered Luin, are relative newcomers to northwestern Middle-earth. For reasons known only to the Loremasters of the Naugrim a small company of Dwarves returned to northwestern Endor from their homes in the East at about the same time the Hobbits first entered the records of the West. Though they have made the hills their home for six hundred years. Barin's Folk have not overcome the suspicion inherent in their race with regards to outsiders. Trade is not as frequent as it could be with the Men of Dorwinion and Esgaroth who crave Dwarven metalwork for their markets. The Dwarves do not welcome visitors or traders readily. Only their proven friends are treated to the gruff hospitality of Azanulinbar-dûm, which, for Dwarves, is quite lavish. Those seeking to do business in the Iron Hills bring foodstuffs the Dwarves are unable to produce themselves, notably the rich beer of the Northmen. Family ties are still strong among the Dwarves. The House of Barin the Scarred is divided into twelve minor clans, each of which has members in the Iron Hills. All clans owe allegiance to Lord Fulla III, a direct descendant of Balli Stonehand himself. Within the clans, age and skill at crafting are the two primary sources of respect. Wealth is deemed important, for all Dwarves are somewhat greedy at heart, but it does not overshadow the virtues of honor and integrity. Dwarves who are inferior craftsmen occasionally leave the Dwarf-halls to explore the surface lands, travelling to the other communities of their kinsfolk and spending some small amount of time among Men. They avoid the Elves, for though the House of Barin has no quarrel with the Eldar themselves, they take the animosity of their kinsfolk as their own.

characters

Dwarves: Azaghal Redhammer Fori the beardless Fulla

Peoples

Khazâd:

• Dwarves of Drúin´s tribe
• Dwarves of Dúrin´s tribe

Hildor:

• Sagath

Places of Renown

• Azanûlinbar-Dûm
• Barak-Shathûr

references

• merp.com wiki