“Guess, who gave so-called great Bear King the idea of sacrifice? Haha, just guess, who knew the secret hideouts, passages and havens? Me, the last dvergr king, the one who walks over death, Don Baltham.” Don Baltham” — Don Baltham

Gurbolruhm is an old, abandoned dvergr city in the north of Nionaem. A forsaken place with cold, windy, infertile hills where no one wants to go. Yet, it was not like that before. It used to be a great city with crowded halls and bazaars, many caravans came and went with people and products. But when has it changed?

The Times of Ancient Wars

The ancients say that Forbidden Peaks was one of the last places the Vanir took refuge in their battle against the Aesir. Vanir escaped and hid in the depths of the peaks. In there, they lost their hopes and goodness.

In the coldness and darkness of the mountains, their feelings permeated into the crystals for weeks and months. Thus, they unknowingly created Black Ice with the horror, despair, and revenge they felt.

When they left the Forbidden Peaks, nothing was left except Black Ice and cold, desolated peaks.

First Age

“The First Age is the age of epic wars, epics and fairy tales for all the lands. This is the age when the terrible frost jotunn Odd woke up, who wanted to spread Black Winter everywhere. This is the age of great leaders and the birth of Volli, who, with the help of Balder and dvergar, stuck the spear into his brothers’, Odd’s, chest.” — An old spirit

There were hundreds of dvergar in the mountain halls and mines of Forbidden Peaks under the rules of Nagrar the Runestone. Nagrar was a good leader, liked and respected by many. He chose a secluded life for dvergar since he believed Svilland was not their true home. For this reason, connection with the kingdoms of the First Age was very limited. However, Balder made the dvergar of Gurbolruhm forge a spear that will stop Odd.

An unquenchable fire burned for days and nights, hundreds of dvergar gathered and then together forged the enormous spear with runes, metals and Black Ice. Nagrar gave the spear to Odd’s brother, Volli. It was Volli who impaled and chained Odd at the depths. However, Odd was not the only one who stopped, Balder was killed by Loki and fell into Helheim where he started to lose all his divinity.

First Age

Talbarin, the nephew of the old ruler Nagrar, was the king of Gurbolruhm at the beginning of the second age. The number of dvergar was increased. However, Talbarin avoided close interactions with other kingdoms in a similar manner with his uncle.

What happened outside Gurbolruhm was quite remarkable. While the High Seidr Council tried to prevent the upcoming Black Winter by force, Bear King took the throne and invade all the western lands. Battles among Eastern Horn and Bear King got bigger and bigger. People were distracted by all the earthly events while Odd was awakening and Balder losing his powers.

One day, dvergar found out that they lost their connection with their true home, Svartalfheim. Balder had already lost his powers and Odd awoke. The news spread quickly, while the kingdoms were trying to take precautions with the fear of Black Winter and Odd, dvergar inside the mountains were becoming more and more impatient and angry with the loss of their true home.

Don Baltham, who wanted to take advantage of this confusion, was a successful dvergr soldier at the time. He killed the old king, Talbarin and his family then took the throne. As soon as becoming king, Don Baltham met with Bear King secretly.

Sacrifice and Massacre

As a charming, calculating and charismatic dvergr king, he advised a great sacrifice to Gods and Goddesses. He said that Svilland had to make a great sacrifice to get rid of Black Winter and Odd. Moreover, the sacrifice could not be any other than the High Seidr Council.

It is important to underline Don Baltham’s main purpose here, he did not want anyone other than the Dvergar to live in the mountains. His was quite cunning and managed to trick Bear King into starting the massacre. Bear King was unaware of Don’s intentions and believed what he did was for the sake of Svilland. Don gave Bear King a detailed map of the Seidrs’ places and shelters. So that, Don Baltham was as guilty as Bear King, and perhaps more.