Dûr-Vazhatun was a dwarf hold in the West Dwarovar known as the Home of the Dark Sky Watchers, the home of Dwarven scientists, philosophers and scholars, where most innovations and discoveries were found about the Astral when the greatest minds came together. The Sapphire Dwarves were known for their great observatory atop the highest peak of the northern Serpentspine Mountains which was used to discover the many secrets of the Astral, but also led to their downfall.
Culture and Customs[]
The Sapphire Dwarves were fascinated with astronomy and science that it attracted many unique characters to study within the hold, mad scientists, absent-minded astronomers and errant philosophers all flocked to the fabled libraries of the hold. The hold was known for it’s dedication to push boundaries beyond their knowledge and presuppositions in the pursuit of advancing science.
In the many halls of Dûr-Vazhatun laid thousands of large and small statues of dwarves thinking called the ruminators, they included the famous dwarves Beddugr Melmarn and Mellegar the Inventor which represented the great minds of the hold and the importance of their discoveries but many others were lost to time. The veneration of these figures was important to show the possible great achievements any dwarf can attain.
The Setzunkhûpa was the iron and stone sphere atop the highest peak of the Serpentspine with a massive telescope which was crafted by Mellegar the Inventor from the rune-strengthened glass of Orlghelovar which was used to observe the celestial wonders of the Astral. The Sapphire Dwarves also owned surface colonies to further research the astral from more locations to push themselves to bounds never before broken. However this fascination of astronomy led to their ruin as Astral Terror gripped the populace, a terrible affliction which lead the dwarves to hysteria, madness and at worst left them comatose or led to their suicide.
History[]
In 6284 BA, only 16 years after the Precursor war had begun, a massive gathering of dwarves gathered at the Grand Observatory to observe the Precursor's creations in the Astral, they spent days gazing at the sky when eventually a mass affliction of Astral Terror occurred. The majority of Sapphire Dwarves turned to mass hysteria and madness, causing mass chaos and ruin upon their hold. The remaining sane population managed to flee the hold towards Kar Durghoir, the great citadel at the entrance to the Giant’s Anvil mountain range, from where they continued to seek refuge in the hold of Krakdhûmvror.