Political System in Khardfee

     All Realms other than Ruch have good relations with Khardfee.  The goblins and orcs of Ruch have no dealings with the Dwarves other than conflict.  Many other races, the humans especially, cannot understand the depth of the dwarven hatred for orcs and goblins.  They are constantly amazed when the dwarven/orcish antipathy, especially, resurfaces without apparent provocation.  Even when it risks Khardfee, the dwarves have long since proven unable or unwilling to cease their aggression toward orcs and goblins.  It is an innate part of their makeup, and only very rare individual dwarves have proven able to overcome it.  Such dwarves are almost always viewed as racial traitors, and outcast by their brethren.  In short, dwarves are deeply racially prejudiced, and this fact is not at all likely to change without many generations of strong reasons to do so.
     The realm of Alderd is a strong ally of Khardfee, except in military matters.  Alderd has become very adept at avoiding military involvement between their hotly aggressive neighbors, Ruch and Khardfee.  In all other aspects, gnomes are welcomed as beloved cousins by their dwarven neighbors, and encouraged to live in Khardfee.  The gnomes, however, are nervous of the dwarves' lack of gnomish humor, as well as the dwarven military bent, and usually prefer to trade and visit, rather than abide in Khardfee.
     The halflings get along very well with dwarves and there are many halflings living in the lowlands and forests of Khardfee.  These halflings tend to be slightly more militant than their non-Khardfee relatives, since association with the martial-oriented dwarves affects even their fun-loving nature.  This by no means makes the halflings in Khardfee warlike or aggressive, it merely makes them more tolerant of such tendencies in other.
     Although the dwarves have no conflict with the elves, and even respect them, they do not allow elves to have permanent residence within their borders.  The dwarves are wary of magic and do not trust the elves since they did not sign the Treaty on the Registration of Magic Users and Formation of the Imperial Mages Guild.

     While the dwarves have been forced to accept outside assistance and have been very grateful for it, they are a very deeply proud people, and the past few hundred years of reliance upon others has done much to break their fiercely independent spirit.  A growing portion of the younger dwarves seek to make up for this with fiercely territorial and patriotic emotions, and they often lack the wisdom to judge the long-term effects of their hotheaded pride and honor.

    Very recently the dwarves of Khardfee and some orc clans of Ruch have been at war.  The orcs of several clans united and invaded Khardfee, successfully sacking their capitol at Sorrowtown, and occupying areas in the eastern parts of the Realm.  The dwarves of Khardfee felt betrayed by the inactivity of the Confederation in this matter, and recent relations have been tense.  How the Realm of Khardfee deals with this is yet to be seen.

• Barrer Ironforge, representing the deep-mountain-dwelling dwarves;
• Karjak Stonewall, representing the lowland and hill-dwelling dwarves;
• Ashkah Mortier, representing the deep-cavern-dwelling dwarves;
• Karjak Rockhelm, retired general from the most recent Mage War, representing the military forces of Khardfee.
  (Stonewall and Rockhelm are cousins, and share the same first name - this wasn't a mistake.)

     Each village, town and city of dwarves has a leader appointed by the Grand Council.  These leaders are called Thaynes, meaning "trusted and capable" in Dwarven.  The Thaynes rule their area of authority in the king's name, carrying out the council's decrees and seeing to the enforcement of laws in the Realm.  They are allowed to voice opinions and bring orders of discussion to the Council of Thaynes, but have no say in the decision.