Ronstenvale

The Kingdom of Ronstenvale is one of the seven Kingdoms of the Dwarven Heptarchy. The Ronstonvalians are famous for their runeforging: a process which imbues items with magic. It is the smallest Kingdom by far, its lands consisting of a single valley and some surrounding mountains making it for all intents and purposes the only Dwarven city state. They are able to survive amidst the millitary juggernauts which surround them because of their runeforging. This magic is desired by many, but feared by more.

Monarchy
The current monarch is Ethelread the Wise who leads both the country and the Thornwynn Academy. The Ronstonvale monarch is elected by the Academic council based on academic achievements. Ethelread is the first monarch to truly embrace the potential of Gnomish intelect.

Thornwynn Academy
The secret techniques of runeforging are kept and taught in this spire. What started with simple runes to light the deepest mines, has now developed into an advanced magical technology which can make islands float. Knowledge kept especially secret is that of the automaton in which metalic Dwarven corpses are covered with a secret set of runes in order to animate their bodies once more. Many dedicated professors of the Academy give up their bodies voluntarily but it is an open secret that many recently passed Dwarves go missing in and around Ronstenvale. This reanimation technique is similar to that of the ancient nation of Nemorah, though it is unknown which came first. Word on the street has it that the Academy is building an army to seize control over more land.