Page 66 - D&D - Player's Handbook

SUNDABAR
Like Mirabar, Sundabar was a dwarven settlement
atop which a human city was built. Sundabar's recent
fall should serve as an example to my fellow dwarves
of what can happen when the balance of power shifts
toward the surface and into human hands.
The city is descended from the citadel of Sundbarr, a
stronghold of Delzoun constructed two thousand years
CLAN B ATTLEHAMMER
ago around a strange volcanic rift that would come to
be known as the Everfire- a mystical source of endless
heat for the city's smithies and foundries that allowed
Sundabar to produce works of great wonder. Sundbarr
was led by a Forgemaster, the smith most skilled at
working with the Everfire. When one Forgemeaster died
or another surpassed his or her ability, leadership of
Sundbarr changed hands.
So it was until the fleeing remnants of Ascalhorn
were pursued to the citadel's doorstep some time later.
Then the Forgemaster of Sundbarr aided the humans
in fighting off the demons and other monsters that
CLAN FOEHA MMER chased them. In recognition of a human saving his life
during the fight, the Forgemaster permitted the refugees
to settle on the surface, rather than forcing them to
depart once the battle was done. The partnership that
grew between dwarves and humans became renowned
throughout the North, and the surface city of Sundabar
was built up into a mighty fortress of commerce.
However, as the humans flourished above, the dwarf
population dwindled, and eventually the Forgemaster
was overtaken in prestige and influence by the Ruling
CLAN lioRN
Master of Sundabar, who came to speak for the human
guilds and merchants of the surface city. One such
ruling master, Helm Dwarf-Friend, was so beloved
CLAN STONESHIELO
and respected that his descendants were able to crown
themselves kings, something no dwarf before or since
massive granite doors proved to be heavily guarded, has dared to do in Sundabar.
and nearly impossible to open from the outside. Mithra! King Firehelm, Helm's grandson, was the king in Sund-
Hall's defenders call themselves the Host of the Hall, a abar when the city fell to the ore horde. He did not survive.
disciplined, well-armored cohort that is willing to defend Beyond that tragedy, the recent war did horrific damage
the city to the last dwarf. The famed Gutbuster Brigade to Sundabar and the humans on the surface. A dragon
is part of the Host, battleragers who strike fear into any dropped great stones on many of the buildings above, and
enemy intelligent enough to realize whom it is they face. a good portion of the city's outer wall was destroyed. Most
Travelers allowed inside the city are housed in upper- of Sundabar's military leadership was wiped out when
level guest chambers just inside the labyrinth of caverns the building they were meeting in was crushed. Despite
known as the Maze. From there, paths lead down into the best efforts of Aleina Brightlance of Silverymoon's
the middle levels of the city, past its various furnaces, Knights in Silver to organize a defense, and the valiant
and onward to either the lower levels and deeper mines efforts of the Sundabar garrison, ores streamed into the
(where guests aren't permitted) or the undercity (where city, slaughtering the human population on the surface
non-dwarf visitors are prohibited). and driving what few defenders remained into the caverns
Despite its recent reputation and the growing legend below, and from them many fled through the Underdark.
surrounding its most famous king, Mithra! Hall is The dwarves of the undercity barricaded themselves in
much more a mine than it is a city. Like most dwarven the Everfire caverns, and waited. When the ore warlord
realms, it lost significant numbers to the ores, and saw Hartusk left only a token garrison behind in the city to
its population further depleted by Bruenor's quest for slow pursuers, the dwarves emerged from below and set
Gauntlgrym and the resulting permanent relocation of about slaughtering every ore and goblin in Sundabar.
some of his people. As a result, Mithra! Hall's numbers Sundabar is now a dwarven city in its entirety; the
are sorely diminished at present, and it remains to be human population is gone. Efforts to clear away rubble
seen whether its fortunes will follow suit. and debris from the attacks are slow, as most dwarves
remain in the sheltered undercity, and those few who
have duties on the surface have taken over the buildings

CHAPTER 2 I THE SWORD COAST AND THE NORTH