but even such stalwart travel-

convinced to call the moun-

Deep withii the granite depths, chiseled caverns

table of contents and gleaming cities beckon to the dwarves who

t
have occupied this land for untold centuries. To a
Coronation ofthe Oveahane .......................... 2 dwarf of Baruk-Azhik, these ringing halls and
History of the Realm....................................... 4 networked caverns a r e nothing shy of cozy.
Geography ......................................................

!
Today, this underground domain recognizes a
Culture .......................................................... 2 new leader-your player character.
The Dwarves of Baruk-Azhik ......................... 8
Assets and Holdings ...................................... 4
Rumors, Secrets, and Plots ............................ 8
Strategies .......................................................
?
This domain sourcebook is designed for use with
the BIRTHRIGHT* campaign setting. In addition to
the Playerk Handbook and the DUNGEON MASER*
I Guide for the ADVANCED DUNGEONS & DRAGONS~

crea I game, you or your Dungeon Master (DM) should

have a copy of the BIRTHRIGHT boxed set. Before
attempting t o incorporate this material into an
existing campaign, be sure that you and your DM
have read &is product thoroughly.

are rrgistued *arks awned byTSR Ins. This product i s designed.as an aid for players
who wish.to install a character a s regent of
thereof are k a d d -d by TSR Inc. Bad-Azhik or as a vassal,of the overthane*This
01996 TSR Inc.All Ri& Reserved. Made in the USA.
Random Houw and iu affilhte c o m e have worldwide dianib-
ution rights in h e hook bade lor English language producrs of
TSR. lnc. Disrributed to the toy and hobby made by + o d dii-
hihutom. Distributed to the book and hohhv trade in the United
KindombyTSRLtd. I
Thi; material is pmtected under th w i g h t Laws of the Uni mysterious, disappearance of Grimm Graybeard.
States ofAmerica. Any repmduaion m unauthorized use It also provides amexamination of the ecology of
material fontained herein is ombibited wihout the emress

cts, this sourcebook may

ayer and DM t o =it a n
ecause a player character
egent; that player is free
TSR &J future in any direction.
120 Church
Lake Genew
WI 53147
USA. United Kingd
 ust lead the fight in

mention of their name.

Finally, our new overthane must be mindful ancestors for their approval. Join me in calling
of the activities of the humans who dwell on the upon them. The dwarf begins to hum at a pitch
sun-blasted surface of Kuldarzik. In the days of so low that it is barely audible. The first few rows
our ancestors. their k i d was but a sprinkling on of dwarves pick up the sound and it is quickly car-
 -

creations. He lay the newly formed frames in a cir- -920

cle-beads pointing inward so that they would be of
one common mind, hands clasped together so they
would be of one common stre
softened by abundant patches of daisies,
umbine, and other wild flowers. Because of the
11 nights typical of this domain, autumn brings
01s so spectacular that visitors might think the
 Humans are always s "pen into hustling markets, neighborhoods, and
they find themselves in centers of political, artistic, and mining activity
Anyone expecting to find dank, dark caves and
long spooky passageways making up the dwarven
homelands would be utterly shocked by the
beauty, grandeur, and cleanliness of the realm
Before any mining project is undertaken, engi-
neers and architects determine a use for the spaces
created by the excavations before the first hammer
s struck The design of the finished space
s the direction the new mine, only if a vein
or deposit of gems varies drastically from
e expected result do these plans change.
Once the finished shape of a new area is de.
rmined, excavation begins As rock and ore are
moved by miners, teams of builders and finish-
s immediately set about chiseling columns, pol-
hine walls and ceilings, and .~
I
ureuarina the
~

hambers for occupancy. Floors are always

ssed last, after mining operations have ceased,
that are cleaner
noble residences

a1 in the strictest sense. This

at thiy are stingy or copper-pinch-
it refers to their consummate efforts
#
resource to its fullest extent-stone
in the largest possible blocks, for
nstruction or exported
onstruction
nts left by masons are
survivors of a relative recently lost in-war
generally considered most needy. Depending
circumstances, a couple might move severa
Evenrock in the eve
humans or elves

custody and tried

ture. The council i

punishment. The penalty for the

such as murder or treason is exile.

agency and turned over so that justice may be uals who q u

t o all citizens.
Dwarves normally attend services dedicated to

scholars outside the reahn believe that &e dwarves ly

have a superstition regarding the forges: If a forge re
is ever extinguished for any reason, the temple
must be torn down t o the last stone and entirely dwarven re
rebuilt on a different site. Whether the dwarves in and styles,
Baruk-Azhik follow this belief is unclear.
item resembling a marimba a&.;$-i..;
nerally the only instruments u
' dwarves. These are played al-

ost exclusively at war rallies

d religious ceremonies,
Azhik All childien begin attending classes at the
age of 10, and continue schooling until the age of
25. The younger students learn to read and count;
they are also taught the foundations of construc-
tion through the use of blocks and building toys
Middle-grade students learn the basics of carvinL
and chiseling, dwarven history, the laws of Mora-
 iossibilities if he were discover
irst, the Gorgon would no

.calm fell under his power), so much the better.

Second, the Gorgon would likely crush eve?
dwarf in Mur-Kilad. He would regard their activ
ities as deceitful and treacherous, viewing then

Blood Ability: Divine aura Despite these formidable dangers, Rockham

Equipment: dwarven chain mail, mace, moraskorr mer maintains his temDles in Mur-Kilad. H <
nderstarlds the potential disaster that coulc
ome of the arrangement, but he answers t o i
nigher power: Moradin. He is driven to saving a:
many Mur-Kilad souls as he can; he is nothin$
but noble in his desire to bring Moradins light t c
all dwarves. He also believes, perhaps naively
that Moradin will support his efforts and preven
such a disaster from occurring.
Rockhammers hope is t o bring enough Mur
Kilad dwarves into Moradins favor and trair
enough priests so that the sect can survive on it:
e, but he will never allow the will of own, without his own continued guidance an<
even the overthane, to overshadow intervention. Once he can break free of thei:
temples, be can put the dangers to himself, bot1
realms, and all dwarves to rest forever.
tion of overseeing temples in Mur- The high priest estimates, however, that thi:
lad. The Baruk-Azhik dwarves carry ffort will require no less than 20 more years o
3 racial hatred for the Mu-Kilad landestine operations. With so many years o
Irves; if anyone in Baruk-Azhik fork ahead of him, the chance of discovery i:
f reat, hut Rockhammer remains steadfast in hi:
lelief that his noble cause will ensure his success.
Aside from a few small sums of gold secretl!
I roots. His interest in lorrowed to assist the startup of the Mur-Kilai
-1r-Kiladpromise emples (all of which was repaid), Rockhamme
era1 dan- (as never drained even a copper from any of thi
esources of Baruk-Azhik. The Mur-Kilad temnle:
re simple and p but h tache
 Blood Ability; Healing
Equipment: Dwarven chain mail, mac-, ...oras-
korr warhammer (+1damage bonus)
ld4+2/ld4+1
(warhammer) Hadassah (pronounced ha-DAHSS) Endrede has
garnered an extraordinary amount of respect from
Bloodline: Brenna, her fellow thanes, her followers, and the whole 01
Blood Ability: Unr Baruk-Azhik in her 90 years as thane. She is i
Equipment Dwarven plate armor, short sword, woman of limitless patience who is able to asses:
moraskorr warhammer (+1damage bonus) any situation quickly and bring matters to speed)
resolution. She is not hasty or judgmental, but sim.
At t h e age of 2 0 7 years, Cairn Vahan is the ply has a knack for finding solutions quickly
youngest of Baruk-Azhiks thanes. He has held Endrede is 362 years old, but is wise beyond
this post for 15 years, making him a relative her years and as agile as a woman 100 years her
novice at rulership, but came to the position with junior. She is married t o a dwarf gemcutter
considerable military experience. He is recog- named Kulwik, and the couple have two daugh-
nized as a hero in the orog wars. ters named Maeve and Gilvert. Like all dw
Cairn inherited his rule from his uncle, Koll ven women, Endrede does not have a beard
Vahan. Koll was an ancient dwarf who died at the
age of 512 years, having reigned for the last 298 often been sent out of the domain to deal
years. Koll had no offspring of his own, and so human and elven realms. Endrede has enjoy
trained Cairn for this office from an early age. success with the elves and welcomes suc
Cairn has been involved in duties of the office missions, but has never understood the
since he was a boy of 20, serving as a page. unusual treatment she has received from
Cairn's most striking feature is his jet-black
hair and heard. This trait runs strong in his fam-
ily; even upon his deathbed, Koll's black hair
revealed not even a single strand of gray.
As a young ruler, Cairn is cautious and enthu-
siastic. He is eager to make the right decisions
for his province, and will not allow himself to be humans, allowing a n
pressured into any options which he has not fully counterpart t o p e
considered. He is utterly loyal to the overthane. such duties in he
He is still evaluating the other thanes t o deter-
mine their strengtrhs and weaknesses a
decide which traits would be wise for hi
adapt.
 n resources. T e also come t o realiz
at increased tra t free them from mu

, the dwarves will never agree t o o

ucted primarily through Diirk Waters

available immediately, this un

same action roun pening any time soon.
Trade routes are in place leading to Ruorve
in Coeranys (via the waterway known t o t h
dwarves as the Minder River), to Shieldhaven.
Mhoried (via the Khurinbyrn or Minder to t
Gulf of Coeranys and up the River Maesil),

need only determine whether they a

and active o r have fallen o u t of use

dwarven realm (as opposed t o the dwarves

Although the surface of Baruk-Azhik is unmarred hauling their goods to their destination). They
by construction other than the massive stone would also pressure trade partners t o haul
doors leading into each city, the living spaces merchandise via waterways to avoid the need
used by the dwarves are hardly isolated. Major for roads. At least 75%of the goods arriving
underground roads lead from each province to in and-departing from Baruk-Azhik do so
the next, providing easy access for trade, move- via the Khurinlach.
ment of armies. evacuation in emergencies, and
participation in festivals and events of state.
The underground roads measure roughly 100 wode. This is accomplished via
yards across, and the tunnels are finished with the secret underground road that t
same detail as the other dwarven living areas. Traf- els from the heart of Baruk-Az
fic is normally present in both directions. In the
event of an emergency, with traffic moving in a
single direction, the wide tunnels allow for quick
travel: a province could be completely evacuate
in under an hour.
Baruk-Azhiks roads more than qualify for the
roads required for the establishment of a trade
 should become familiar with this information.

ery, or other concessions.

guilders into submission.

remain this way, the new overthane will have few mebhaighl.
worries with regard to the status of guilds in the Currently, no ley lines are known t

Moradin and make a practice of studying his

laws. Religion is deeply embedded in dwarven .,

chur&willingly adds gold to

w-drd. and the state
if necessary. The church tends

ction of everything in the

3 sources are controlled o r mai

-. ... .. -
I
 \ h i s section is designed 1 wide a DM
with ideas for adventures in Baruk.
Azhik, and to provide players with stoq
hreads they would like to follow. Some might be
,hart adventures; others might turn into long
% i p sor open new opportunities or difficul
ir the overthane of Baruk-Azhik

+ Grimm Graybeard is dead and the dwarve

nation is in chaos. (False)
+ If even forge in Cerilia dedicated to Moradin
A known to live in the lands of the C t
maera; indeed, he is t h e ruler of tl ...
province of RuorWle. None can sav for certain
L extinguished, the dwarves nations will die. from which realm he haiis. and none of the dwar-
(False) ven nations recognize him as one of their own.
+ The dwarves have discovered a fantastic ore Chances are good that he once called Bad-Azhik
that is stronger than the finest Anuirean stee his home: after all, he was exiled and lived to tell
(True)
+ An exiled dwarf lives in the
Chimaeron and serves its
awnshegh leader. (True)
+ A dwarfs heart is A ruby
rumors, secrets,
as large as a melon; when a dwarf is
killed, the gem may he stolen. (False)
The dwarves have hired a mage to
help protect their lands and aid them
and pl
in war. (False, unless the campaign dictates
otherwise.) ahout it. If he was a native of ty&ur-Kilad who com-
+ A serpent measuring more than 100 yards mitted some offense. execution would have been a
long lives in the Khurinlach. The dwarves more likely p@shment.
,: .. .. ..l_l feed it and nurture it so that it helns to Dro- Ironfist isnt admittinv to his homeland or his
 . ..

A
the lost city of I

kheleb-izhil
According to human and dwarven records, a city
named Khrleb-Izhil once existed in Cerilia. I t

y more miserable.
In all likelihood, the overthane of Bar&-Azhik
I1 one day receive a plea for help from Mur-
lad. Rather than dismissing it out of hand, the
overthane will feel obligated to at kastinvesti-
gate the mesage to determine the status of the
 ;he disruptive pakies out e dwarven lands,
adiudicate their sauabbles. otherwise r-+ .*-

I1I' I
Sometime after the coronation of the new

cavern with secu

1s. In and end the risk to the world?

The dwarves no doubt fear the monster's evil
doors lies the d

passed down through the overthanes tells that

this skeleton belonged to one of Moradin's chil-

passed, no dwarf has ever been able to

light, what sacred pheno

This information, whd
tremendous burden. The o leakedtoth
absolute secrecx on the c e- listeners.
 ed and flourishe

have no trouble
enlisting the powers
of a wizard (or even

Consider borrowing t h e powers and influ-

ves d o not quite understand the ence of the Chimaera. Baruk-Azhik has main-
r minerals, gems, and weapons in tained a n unspoken agreement with the awn-
Jt%aa.tprms. Any regent would turn a greedy shegh for years; no time is better for cementing
eye toward the dwarven treasures and would that agreement. The Chimaera might be per-
likely sacrifice armies in exchange for such suaded to aid in the wars against the orogs (tak-
wealth. Thc overthane must proceed with cau- ing as many as she desires for consumption or as
tion, however, so q not toinvite a greedy assault prisoners) in exchange for legitimate rights to
'-1 dwarven landsfor the sake of their treasures. maintain her refuge in the Promontory.
The overthane is not without options, how- Work t o w a r d b u i l d i n g b o n d s w i t h t h e
... er. Several choices are outlined here. dwarves of M u r Kilad. This scheme will likely
take 10 or more years of planning and negotiat-
Strike a deal with neighboring humans. Kier- ing. The dwarves of Mur-Kilad originally settled
gard suffers occasional raids from the orogs and their lands in order to fight the orogs.When the
would be glad to sce this menace eliminated. Gorgon moved in and forced them into the sta-
They arc likelv to offer troops in exchange for tub of a puppet state, the dwarves were ordered
quantities ol gems. precious metals. or dwarven to fight.alongside the goblins in whatever wars
weapons. Once the battles are finished and pa)- the Gorgon selected. The dwarves would natu-
.. ments are received, the humans will view this as rally like to see this situation '
ended and regain
9 a completed deal and will not press for future control of their small land.
considerations from the dwarves. L'sing human

the beginning of time.

Strike a deal with the neighboring dwarves and goblins, aided by the dwarves of
elves. The elves arc likelv to enlist in the Baruk-Azhik (the dwarves and goblins have no

Y must be care- torth exploring by the regents. In any case, the

1 result should be a merging of enemies
 iorecord exists of Tykor's husband. Why this information

ot. Gunther died of old age.

Ruled 1787-1953.
Mama died of illness six years after the marriage.
Butar never remarried and never had children.
' Ruled 1955-2037.
0 Gorka was killed in the orog wars.
 Mountains
Traders'
Cave
Hills
@Gates to
Underground
Cities
a
mi
t;
f;
:$
F
. .Exterior

.
p( .c
;
'..
'C.
D
ong be4
peaceft

ithout
( 1 ,
its pt
may
t fiaruK-mniK assumes commana of a migi
1 su erii
. . ..
ce hangs in the balance. Only a leader wit1
m guide the
t!
: e o wa
take the role
issals