Akazdarön was an ancient Khundari kingdom of the central Sarajis Mountains, covering more than half of that mountain range. Founded during the height of the Age of Chaos, it was considered one of the greatest Dwarven realms since the abandonment of the Eight Cities. Her craftsmen and artisans were much sought after throughout the North by Umantari rulers, and even the Telnori.

The greatest achievement of the Akazdaröni builders was their ability to create the almost indestructible torlixam of the Ancients. Some believe they re-discovered the secret of its making, but most scholars are convinced they simply found and learned to use some of the tools left behind by the Ancients. Whatever the case, they were sparing in its use outside their own cities and fortresses, which were never broken by siege engines.

But even the strength of torlixam was no match for the tremendous geologic upheavals that brought the Age of Chaos to an end. The northern portion of Akazdurön was lost in the destruction of Kahir-Tomar, when that land sank beneath the waves. The survivors fled south, where they endured for many centuries, until the coming of the Necromancer. Then, all but a few outposts perished, and the greatest Khundari realm of northern Ysgareth finally came to an end.

The most famous survivor of the Great Cataclysm was Prince Dhaur’azym, the youngest son of the King of Akazdarön. He was said to be the greatest builder and craftsman of all his kindred, the master to whom all other masters bowed in matters concerning the working of stone or metal. Legend says that he was traveling in the southern portion of his father’s realm when the destruction of Kahir-Tomar brought an end to the north, and that he rallied his people during that dark time.

For many years he ruled the shattered southern remnants of the kingdom, rebuilding damaged cities and strongholds, and seeing that the survivors from the north had shelter and food. He was beloved by his people, so when eighty years had passed they called for him to formally take up the crown and become king. He had long resisted this call, hoping that some of his brothers, or even his father, had survived, but now he agreed to the wishes of the people.

But before the coronation could take place, a large band of northern survivors made their way to Kamoroth, the city Dhaur’azym had made his new capital, and leading them was his eldest brother, Gemar’tah. The Crown Prince had been badly injured in the destruction of the north, and even now he was crippled in body, if still strong in spirit. He had gathered such survivors as he could over the years, as he slowly healed, unable to move far. Eventually, hearing of the survival and renewal in the south, and being strong enough to travel, he gathered his people and set out southward.

Prince Dhaur’zaym was overjoyed to find his brother still lived, and immediately acknowledged his right to the crown, though many of his own people argued against it. But the Prince was adamant, and Gemar’tah was crowned King of Akaztamyr (Akaz Reborn). Sadly, he was not the man his younger brother was. His high-handed and arrogant attitude soon brought unrest and renewed mutterings that Dhaur’zaym should have worn the crown. When these mutterings reached the ear of the king, who was already jealous of his brother, he became fearful of rebellion and treason.

Dhaur’zaym tried to sooth his brothers fears, but this only seemed to make matters worse. The more he tried to advise the King to moderate his words and actions, the more Gemar’tah took the opposite course. When the day came that his brother demanded that he turn over his tools to artisans of the King’s own choosing, the Prince realized there would never be peace between them. But not wishing for civil strife, he determined to remove himself from the field. With only a small group of his most trusted followers, and taking with him all of his tools and artifacts, Dhaur’zaym left Kamoroth one night and was never seen in the land again.

Rumors abound on the subject of where Dhaur’zaym and his followers went – some say he sailed overseas, to found a hidden realm in Skavaria… or perhaps it was in the mountains north of the Hidden Sea; others are equally certain they went south, taking his skill and tools into the Mountains of Karac. Certainly the rise of the city-states of Karac began in the century after the Prince’s departure from the north, but the Khundari there have always denied any knowledge of him. Many people, especially those in the only outpost of Akazdarön still surviving, the Princedom of Dürkon, believe that the Lost Prince simply set up a solitary workshop far from his brother’s rule. There, they say, he spent the rest of his days creating marvelous artifacts, tools and weapons that he would send out in the world to find their way to his people, too aid them in their work and wars.

In any case, the memory of the Lost Prince is kept alive among the Khundari of the Sarajis Mountains, who believe he will be reincarnated when the time is right to rebuild the Kingdom in the North, recovering his great artifacts, buried with him in his hidden tomb, to help his people back to greatness.