Hlor

Proper Name: The Nation of Hlor

Ruler: The Mining Guild of Hlor

Government: The mining guild of Hlor settles disputes and assures that the people of Hlor, mostly miners and their families, are treated fairly.

Capital City: Tinspere

Resources: Coal, obsidian, pumice, tin

Population: 31,800

Law: N

Allies: Al-Amim

Enemies: None

In the beginning, Hlor was founded from a harsh mountain land that no other nation seemed to want.  Tholldan didn’t claim the land, since years of mining operations had yielded nothing of worth and Ribonia didn’t want the land, since the rough, sandy winds from the desert and the volcanic activity in the area led many explorers to describe the land as “intolerably harsh and unsuitable for habitation.”  That was all before diamonds were discovered.

A small group of fortune-seeking dwarves came to the area hoping to make it rich by harvesting and selling obsidian to spellcasters.  Instead, they stumbled upon a vein of diamonds larger than any in recorded history.  News of their find spread quickly and before too long, every treasure hunter and fortune-seeker who could swing a pick had taken up residence.  Naturally, the governments of Tholldan and Ribonia announced their claims to the land.  Another announcement came later from Al-Amim, but it was not taken seriously and was quickly forgotten.  While Tholldan and Ribonia argued and bickered over who the land rightfully belonged to, the guild leaders in the new-found area came together and formed a new government for their new nation of Hlor.  The governments of Tholldan and Ribonia were both furious, but the government of Al-Amim (apparently upset that their claim had been ignored) supported the new nation.  Years later, Al-Amim would be given the Southernmost tip of Hlor as a gift of gratitude.

After several years, the flow of treasure hunters slowed down and finally stopped altogether.  Diamonds and other valuable materials were still occasionally discovered every so often, but the frequency of the discoveries slowed down and the rush followed suit.  A few people stayed, either hoping to strike it rich or because they had made a home in Hlor, but many people left.  Entire cities become ghost towns.  Today, the nation of Hlor supports a small population and though small finds of valuable materials occasionally happen, not many people come seeking treasure anymore.