History of the Eternal Kingdom

The Dwarves of Solnarion arose in the northern hills of Celenor, forming militaristic tribes that founded villages early on in their history. Scholars at the University of Ancient Peoples in Ionia believe that the first dwarven villages came into being around 3000 PR, and that these villages were probably sustained by hunting and gathering rather than farming, which they learned later on from peoples they ruled over.

Dwarves were the first race to establish bronze working, and from here they were quickly able to offer alliances with other races, offering protection in exchange for farmed foods and labour in their mines and forges. This arrangement allowed the dwarves to incorporate tribes of humans, nezumi, orcs and other races, and laid the basis for the Eternal Kingdom of Gorandon in northern Celenor, with the coming to power of Gorandon Blunthammer in -861PR.
Gorandon was quickly able to marshall armies to explore and expand south and east over Celenor, establishing colonies and conquering the tribes they found as they went. The dwarves discovery of iron working shortly before Blunthammer's consolidation of power made much of this expansion possible. It also brought the Dwarves into contact with the Hobgoblins of the Azure Peaks..

44 years into Blunthammer's campaign, a swarven army under the command of Gillidor Blunthammer was tasked with exploring the mountain passes into the coastal plains of western Celenor. This army made its way through the gap Gillidor discovered (which now bears his name) and there discovered the hobgoblin tribes of the Azure Peaks. Both civilisations were aggressive and militaristic, so the chance meeting quickly descended into battle, with the dwarve's superior weapons proving little help against the hobgoblin's greater knowledge of the mountains. Over the next 3 years Gillidor fought to bring the hobgoblins to heel, but time and again they were able to draw a stalemate. Finally, after trapping the hobgoblin warlord Zeal'ash the Crimson after a 2 month lightning autumn campaign, Gillidor was ready to crush the hobgoblin forces. The evening before the battle, Zeal'ash realised he was facing defeat sent emissaries to the dwarves to discuss terms, and the two races rapidly realised they shared much in the way of philosophy, religion and outlook. Gillidor and Zeal'ash became firm friends, and the two travelled back to the court of Gorandon. Here a lasting alliance was forged between the two races that endures to this day and hobgoblin warriors became a familiar sight in the armies of Gorandon.