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This was the pre-war period when the two races of Adu were one people, the Tadraki. This age covers everything before the Gadroku were their own people; this is dwarven prehistory, though there are still records that exist from this time. Massive earthquake that changed the face of Adu, and the lunar conjunction/eclipse combo that created turmoil and chaos among the masses and instigated a war of faith. The civil war took place in 30,000.



Early History (Age of Invention and Expansion)


Age of Bagdu: 29,000-27,500 PT

The Gadroku were settling and growing Bagdu during this period. This spans all the time that the dwarves spent digging out the tunnels and caverns within Bagdu, building their great city, and discovering the first mountain Heartstone. This was the dawn of the Gadroku.

The discovery of natural gas and the explosive nature of that gas, although at that point, the dwarves just tried to avoid it, and built away from the pockets.


Age of Ghabd: 27,500-26,500 PT

The Gadroku were settling and growing Ghabd. When the population of Bagdu grew, the dwarves were concerned that Bagdu was too rich in culture, and was a city to be protected, not a city of military might. They went south to create a military fortress in Ghabd. This period covers the time of excavation, discovery, and building, and is a time of military focus and might.

The first use of natural gas, known as the “Spirit of Ghabd.” A massive trench was dug along a known natural gas channel, and when ignited, it lit an area one foot wide by one hundred feet long by eight feet high. It was used for defensive purposes, plus had added benefit of heating and lighting the cavern around it (but it was only considered for its defensive purposes in a military city due to its dangerousness). It was used to repel the giant raiders, and was quite impressive to look at actually. Long after any defense was needed in Ghabd, the Spirit of Ghabd continues to flame, as much a landmark and monument to dwarven perseverance and ingenuity as anything. The Spirit of Ghabd had at one time been used for the execution of giant raiders into Ghabd, to “feed the god,” as the dwarves would say. Fried Tarushi anyone?


Age of Aghabd: 26,500-24,000 PT

This was the failed attempt on Aghabd, and a period of non-expansion. This period spans the time that dwarves went into Mt Aghabd, the struggles found there, the bitterness of discovering evil in their mountains, and the time of quiet contemplation the dwarves spent after.


Age of Mharzha: 24,000-22,250 PT

The Gadroku were settling and growing Mharzha, and there was a rebirth of the dwarven spirit. This covers the time period of excavation, exploration and building within Mt. Mharzha. The dwarves discovered of a vast network of waterways below the surface. This was a time of great prosperity.

Building of subterranean tunnels and dwarven-made water channels increased travel between Mharzha and Bagdu. These “new” roads were considered safer than walking on foot through tunnels between mountains, and an entirely new branch of science/crafts built up around this type of travel. Navigation was all by maps, as magnetic ores in the earth made compasses inoperable and there were no stars. Eventually terrible beasts would emerge from the depths of the deepest underground lakes under Mharzha, and would spread by these artificial waterways into other mountain water sources.


Age of Brungul: 22,250-21,000 PT

The settling and growing Brungul period spans the time of the excavation, exploration, and building of Brungul. The Gadroku discovered great stores of minerals and deep, eternally burning fires. Ironically, this was also a time of war, as this mountain had tunnels that led to the deepest regions below the surface, where lived monsters and creatures of great horror. This was a time of mineral wealth, converted into superior arms and armor.

Study of eternally burning fires deep in Brungul brought many dwarven researchers and engineers. Innovative experiments led to the understanding of how natural gas worked within the mountain networks, and certain dwarves developed a talent for “reading the lines”: being able to determine which pockets of gas were most volatile, and which could most easily be adapted to civilized use. Brungul was the first mountain city to gain natural gas lighting, and also used the gas to guard the city itself from the monsters of the deep, which was pretty silly, since most of those monsters were unaffected by fire.


Age of Rulduk: 21,000-20,500 PT

At this time the dwarves made an unsuccessful attempt on Rulduk, and it was a period of non-expansion. The period spans the time of the attempted excavation and exploration of Mt. Rulduk. The Gadroku found Rulduk, though not outwardly evil, not a welcoming place, and turned their energies towards strengthening existing cities, rather than expansion. This was a time of strength.

Science and technology of natural gas spread to other dwarven cities, occasional accidents.


Age of Barabd: 20,500-18,725 PT

The settling and growing Barabd -- this period spans the time of excavation, exploration and building of Mt. Barabd. The dwarves discovered and incredible wealth of gems, and together with Bagdu and Brungul, Barabd brought an economic golden age to the dwarven civilization. This was a time of wealth and prosperity.

The entry into Barabd, and the advent of natural gas as a source of fire, warmth and lighting revolutionized dwarven life. Dwarves entered the “good times.”


Age of Ghanduku: 18,725-16,250 PT

The dwarves were settling and growing Ghanduku. This period spans the time of excavation, exploration and building of Mt. Ghanduku, which is revered as the most beautiful mountain on Adu. Arts, science, intellectual pursuits, and marriages replace the military traditions as a way of life: this was a time of culture.


Age of Rhazulak: 16,250-15,500 PT

This was the age of the abortive attempt on Rhazulak, a period of non-expansion, a terrible time for the dwarves, attempting peace with Tarushi, and distrust reigns. The exploration of Mt. Rhazulak killed many dwarves, and peace with the Tarushi hung in the balance. It was a time of uncertainty.

To make matters even worse, the town of Buyuk, almost midway between Bagdu and Barabd, was the center of a terrible earthquake, which fractured a volatile line of natural gas, filling the massive chamber the town was carved from with gas and darkness. No one knows who lit the torch, though the individual is termed “muk,” which means “idiot.” “When Muk lit the fire that blew up the world…” is the start of a famous and long enduring folk tale. In any event, someone lit the tinder, the gas combusted, and blew the town of Buyuk and its surrounding tunnels to smithereens. The catastrophe could be felt all the way to the cities of Barabd and Bagdu.



Middle History (Age of Tarushi, Economic Growth and Knowledge)


Age of Ulubak: 15,000-12,500 PT

The official beginning of peace with Tarushi. This period spans the time of excavation, exploration and building of Ulubak. Vast mushroom forests were discovered, bringing new wealth and abundance to the Gadroku. Resolution to the conflict with giants worked out at last, and the border between the two civilizations was respected. A time of peace.


Age of Dharbuzha: 12,500-11,250 PT

The enlightened age begins. This period spans the time of excavation, exploration and building in Mt. Dharbuzha, first dwarven port built, first Tarushi scholars visit Gadroku to share knowledge, city founded on higher learning, academies, universities and great libraries. A time of knowledge.


Age of Dhazdhu: 11,250-10,000 PT

The subterranean war broke out. This period spans the time of the second creature wars, and is an age of darkness.


Age of Rubd: 10,000-9,500 PT

The end of the dark time. Though any explorations into Rubd failed, this period of time spans the end of dwarven expansion, and the focus of dwarves on building their own great culture. Already existing infrastructure within and between mountain cities improved. A time of new beginnings.


Age of Trade and Prosperity: 9,500-500 PT (only trade partners are giants)

This represents the height of dwarven culture for dwarven culture’s sake. At this point, they have begun trading with the Tarushi, knowledge and science are at their peak, there are no wars of any grand scale, and culture flourishes. A golden age.



Modern History (Age of Exploration)


Age of Discovery: 500 PT- present day (dwarves explore world outside of Adu)

A new generation of dwarves is born, with a mind to explore the outside surface world, and not just content to sit within the mountains. Populations have grown, and young dwarves are restless for new opportunities. Expansionists look beyond the boundaries of Adu, to the world beyond. This is a time of discovery.

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