The Fraxut are more inclined towards Humans than other Dwarves. This may also be due to the location of their mountains, as they are close to the Hadewald and Yadosia realms. The Fraxut honour their past kings as much as their ancestors, and have a very strong social and religious structure.
Geography
North of Gasdaria, in the valleys of the Klamm Mountains, lies the mighty capital of the Fraxut Grimmfurth. The mighty gates, overshadowed by gigantic fortified towers, are familiar to every traveller on Tirakan with their height of a good 200 steps. The perfect stone blocks from which the city wall was built are covered with dwarven runes and frescoes. Next to the gate tower two statues, images of the dwarven heroes and founders of Grimmfurth: Grimmbart and Donnerfurth. Grimmbart holds out his hand to every friend, while Donnerfurth, clutching his axe and looking grim, is meant to be a warning to every potential enemy.
The huge part of the city that can be seen on the surface, however, forms only a small part of Grimmfurth. The city walls connect seamlessly to the Grimmwipfel, the largest mountain in the Klamm Mountains. The city then continues inside the mountain, deep into the legendary mine shafts of Fraxut.
Climate
The Gorge Mountains are harsh, albeit interspersed with fertile plains in Central Tirakan. Winters are harsh, autumns are stormy and spring and summer are colourful and biodiverse, though the Fraxut remain untouched within the walls of Grimmfurth.
The city of Grimmfurth
The interior of Grimmfurth is riddled with gigantic halls. The largest hall, 300 steps high, is the Hall of Kings. Here you will also find Grumroth's throne, carved out of basalt and covered with runes. King Grumroth, wielder of the Titan Axe, was once, around 2500 b. EC, the first king of Fraxut, and even today he is just as great, if not greater, a hero to the dwarf people than Grimmbart and Donnerfurth. It was he who once united the dwarven nations of Fraxut and Xordai, despite their spatial separation, and led them into battle against the mighty armies of Anscharon. After his mysterious death around 1000 b. EC, however, this alliance disintegrated until today. The victory of the Dwarves over the Anscharon is known in songs, legends and myths as the First Great Dwarven War.
The second huge hall of Grimmfurth is the Hall of Zyral. In it, an eternal fire blazes and lava flows through the floor. It is here that the legendary dwarven steel is crafted, commanding the unqualified respect of even the most gifted Meridian blacksmiths. Any axe made in this hall is considered a weapon consecrated by Zyral.
Another hall, not nearly as large as the other two but no less impressive, is the Hall of the Arcane. This is the hall of the magically gifted Fraxut, who are sometimes viewed with suspicion by their fellow tribesmen. The hall is crossed by a river that leads crystal-clear spring water from deep within the mountain. The water is consecrated by Zyral himself and is said to have healing and particularly refreshing properties. In this hall, sick Dwarves or Dwarves marked by old age are also treated.
In the middle of the hall is Düstergroth's forest. This forest is not entered by any Fraxut, even if a circuit of the forest in the hall means a good three hours' walk. The forest is said to be cursed, and in it, at least according to the Dwarves, still resides the undead former dwarf king Düstergroth Spaltaxt with his damned, faithful warriors.
The Fraxut are generally friendly towards strangers. The basic dwarven scepticism may seem a bit rough to some "strangers and big-leggeds", but hospitality is a highly respected virtue among the Fraxut. Hardly any other people stand by agreements or words as these proud Dwarves do.
Appearance
The Dwarves of Fraxut are the spitting image of what is commonly understood to be true Dwarves on Tirakan. They measure between 1.3 to 1.6 steps, are recognisable by their light leather-coloured skin and their long white/grey beards. They usually dress in heavy leather clothing, their warriors sometimes also wear heavy iron pieces and helmets. A clear sign of recognition are the axes of all sizes decorated with runes, which a "real" Fraxut always tends to carry on his body.
The history of Grimmfurth
Supposedly, the city was already built at the advent of the Dwarves around 3000 b. EC, a statement that it is better not to contradict, at least not to a Fraxut.