Over a thousand years ago a dwarven clan settled here to take advantage of the rich
deposits of iron ore in the surrounding hills. Gradually the dwarves of Snake Hill, however,
have become more and more isolated and xenophobic. One of their grudges harks back to
the Arang Tok orc invasion five hundred years ago. Rejecting offers of help
from
Capricia when the orcs first attacked the dwarves barely endured
a five year siege of their
mines. When the orcs finally withdrew the dwarves discovered that Capricia had beaten
off the orc attacks much earlier but had not sent a relief force to Snake Hill.
Now the dwarves only allies are the Halflings of
Maidstone and they respond to intrusions into their hills
frequently with lethal force sparing only fellow dwarves and halflings. They have
turned away from the worship of
Rosmerta and now follow the dark dwarven god Barangon, Lord of
Gold and Secrets.