Kal-Sharok: History

Stalata Negat
Once, when the dwarves were a mighty empire, Kal-Sharok was their capital. However, as the dwarves started to trade with the Tevinter Imperium, the seat of power was moved to the current dwarven capital, Orzammar. When the darkspawn poured into the Deep Roads during the First Blight, the empire was virtually destroyed by the following struggle with the darkspawn and so was Kal-Sharok, or so it was assumed. Declared lost alongside Kal-Sharok were the cities of Hormak and Gundaar.

The doors were shut and no one in Orzammar nor on the surface knew if Kal-Sharok had survived. Over time the location of the city was lost, but when it was re-discovered these words could be seen carved on the walls outside (and are still there to this day):

For 900 years Kal-Sharok was cut off from the world and during that time the dwarva evolved.

Timeline
Pre-9:30DA


 * Kal-Sharok is sealed, under siege


 * Legion of the Dead is created, originally they were scouts sent out of the city via tiny secret tunnels. They could never re-enter but could send reports back to the city. It was a suicide mission and was how the Kal-Sharok Legion came in to being.


 * Only known as The Dark Ages. Barely anything in the Memories about this, but there are ancient tomes hidden in the depths of the city that shed light on the deeds and events of this time. The Dwarves do not speak of it. As far as they are concerned their history begins at the Revolution.


 * 500DA/ZERO Post Revolution - Revolution against the Ancient Houses, Sectors are established.


 * The Revolutionary Accord - In 500DA (Or Year One as Kal-Sharok calls it) this accord was signed and all the noble houses were dissolved, thus creating the Sector System that the city still employs. As a part of the accord no war machina can be made. In a secret document that is an addendum to the accord a section oft he city that is deemed too dangerous is never to be explored or touched. Most in the city know the area only to be dangerous, but the truth is there are dark secrets of Kal-Sharok's civil war hidden there. The truth of the Dark Ages have been sealed away, never to be seen or spoken of again.


 * The is evidence evil deeds and horrific acts there and they are best left untouched...

After an as yet to be known significant event the doors of Kal-Sharok opened and messengers were sent to Orzammar. ..

Post-Blight
In recent times it has been discovered that Kal-Sharok miraculously survived the darkspawn onslaught. However, the few dwarves living there are said to be extremely reclusive and unwilling to re-establish contact with the rest of the world as well as being embittered towards Orzammar. The truth of this is yet to fully be established but on the surface it appears this way. In truth, even within Kal-Sharok there is debate about the most beneficial course of action. What they have learned since opening their doors has changed the dynamics of the city, for good or ill.

After 930DA
In 930DA there was active communication between King Endrin Aeducan and the 'King' of Kal-Sharok. Endrin attempted to establish trade contracts involving Kal-Sharok with Lords of the assembly. This was interrupted by the death of Endrin and the challenges to the throne of Orzammar. When Bhelen seized the crown he made it one of his missives to continue his father's work in this endevour.

The results of Bhelen's work is that there is trade between the two cities, an agreement that Orzammar will supply materials and trade food and other essentials as well as trade talents. Whereas Orzammar has lost much of its ancient smithing, Kal-Sharok (despite lack of smithing materials) retained much of the old talents. They had to adapt, use other materials, adjust their techniques to suit the purpose of their new goals, but all in all the ancient techniques survived and are much sought after by Orzammar smiths and artisans. New enchantments that are not weapons and armour based have emerged, but these are fiercely protected by Kal-Sharok. They know it is one of the few things they have to trade and for the most part keep a lot of their knowledge back, still in the process of adapting yet again to the new influx of people and materials.

Orzammar's stubbornness and traditionalism hinders the trade agreement. Kal-Sharok is a haven for the casteless of Orzammar, but they can only take a few into their city, for their own population grows much faster than Orzammar. The dwarven sterility that is encountered everywhere else in Thedas seems to have not effected (or ceased to effect) the dwarves of Kal-Sharok. Population control was one thing that shaped Kal-Sharok's society and culture, the demand for resources paramount thus the population had to be controlled...somehow. It was an interesting dynamic for those dwarves who visited the recently discovered city - these dwarves had not the issues of procreating but rather had had to deal with the issues or over population, something most dwarves find it difficult to comprehend.

Many Kal-Sharok dwarves still hold a resentment towards Orzammar, but particularly House Aeducan, for ordering to seal off the passages of the Deep Roads that lead to the presumed lost cities. This resentment is stronger in some than others but the general feeling is one of pride at their survival. They see themselves as the true Dwarva, having had not contact with anyone but dwarves they have evolved their culture naturally and have retained much of their ancient traditions. Some traditions and rituals that are seen in Orzammar has savage, barbaric and quite frankly... uncivilised.

As of 951DA
Kal-Sharok's doors are, for now, open. Visitors are welcome. Merchants, all traders, their brothers from Orzammar and Kal'Hirol. Trade flows into the city but getting there is perhaps harder than it should be. Kal-Sharok's unwillingness to improve the Roads around them is perhaps testament to how much they mistrust the world around them. With strong ties to Tevinter's closest city, Vol Dorma and of course with the Anderfels, trade between the ancient Dwarva and these two contrasting countries part of the dichotomy that Kal-Sharok has become.

Of course their trade ties are strongest with the other dwarven cities, but the one time capital of the Deep Roads is taking small steps towards more ties to the surface. Their skill in restoring the Deep Roads is increasing at a good rate, the ability to adept their skills the main reason for this. The fact is they choose not to repair the Deep Roads, something of a bone of contention between them and Bhelen.