Astari

Astari is a minor kingdom in the southeastern Shire, situated around two mountains. Ruled by the House of Northin for its entire history, Astari has always had little influence over the affairs of the Shire but is historically relevant for being one of the biggest trade centers for gold in the world. Astari is inhabited by a race of dwarves known as the Ice Dwarves, who are the only race that live there full time. Astari is currently ruled by King Thorthin, the twelfth king of the House of Northin.

Etymology

The name Astari is believed to be derived from the ancient dwarf clan of the same name, ancestors of the Ice Dwarves who were nomadic and traveled across the Shire using the guidance of the stars. King Thorthar, the founder of the kingdom, named his kingdom this due to the fact that the mountain in which it was situated was under the stars when he named it, and he and his followers used the stars to find the mountain in the first place.

History

Founding

The original Ice Dwarves lived in a small mountain range west of what is now the city of Zephyr. Many different races of dwarves lived in this mountain range, some descended from the original Astari and others not. The Dwarvish Kingdom of the Shire was founded in around 1000 CE by Noren the Great, a descendant of the Astari. Over a 600 year period, a divide began to form between those of Astari blood and those not of Astari blood, culminating in civil war by 1650 CE.

In 1653, Northin, a man descended from both the Astari and Noren the Great and thus a distant heir to the throne, founded a new dwarf order known as Eros, consisting of pacifists and other dwarves who found the civil war utterly stupid. This is generally regarded as the founding of the Ice Dwarves, and thus 1653 is also considered Year 1 in Astari reckoning.

Northin ruled Eros from his particular mountain for almost forty years without interference. In 38 AR (1691 CE), King Lokru III of the Dwarvish Kingdom invaded the mountain in which Eros was situated, and Northin was killed in the ensuing battle. Avenging his father in a fit of rage, Thorthar, Northin's son and successor as leader of Eros, killed both Lokru and the leader of the non-Astari side for disrupting the peace of Eros. Thorthar then fled with his family, followers, and prisoners of the civil war that he had freed to find a safer home. The civil war ended within a decade and the Dwarvish Kingdom dissolved.

As for Thorthar, he and his followers traveled across the Shire for almost thirty years, looking for a safe home. It wasn't until 67 AR, when Thorthar, now an old man, came across a mountain that would become modern-day Astari. He and his followers settled there, and two years later, in 69 AR, the order of Eros declared the mountain as their own independent country. The order renamed themselves the Ice Dwarves, the country was named Astari, and Thorthar was installed as its first king.

Early Era

Thorthar only reigned as king of Astari for nine years, already being an old man when installed to the throne. While hailed as a national hero for liberating the Ice Dwarves from the Dwarvish Kingdom, his actual reign was rather uneventful. Thorthar's primary accomplishment as king was framing the first draft of the modern Astarian constitution, which was updated by multiple of his successors.

Succeeding Thorthar in 78 AR was his son Maegar I, who had already been carrying out most of the duties of the government as a de facto regent due to his father's age. Maegar was the first great king of Astari, locating multiple gold mines throughout the mountain and underground that continue to be used today, updating the constitution to greater represent the people, and beginning the construction of the Palace of Fire and Ice. The palace was planned out by Thorthar, but he died before construction began. The "elemental balance" of the palace was meant to keep peace in Astari and prevent a civil war similar to the one that destroyed the Dwarvish Kingdom. Maegar also strengthened the military, and many of the military buildings seen in Astari today were originally built under his reign. Maegar ruled for thirty-seven years and died in 115 AR.

Maegar was succeeded by his son, Pydr. Pydr was a pacifist and focused on the internal strength of Astari. It was during the reign of Pydr that outside traders first came to Astari, causing the national economy to boom. Due to this trade, Shirebucks became Astari's official currency and still is today. In addition to his strengthening of the economy and his skill at negotiating with outside traders, Pydr also oversaw the completion of the Palace of Fire and Ice and was the first monarch to live there. Pydr's son Mungar predeceased him, so it was his grandson, Beli, who succeeded Pydr upon his death in 142 AC.