The Coldain
The dwarves of Velious, exiled kin of the Kaladim dwarves, dwelling in Thurgadin.
- Type
- Faction
- Allegiance
- The Underfoot — Brell's makers
- Attested in
- EQ1EQ2
- Sources
- 86 texts
Overview
Drawn from Discovery of the Coldain — official article.EQ1Primary · official · best available source
Day 3
Our intrepid explorers have found yet another hitherto unknown race!
That is, the descendants of a group of ancient dwarven explorers have apparently lived and thrived on this icy continent for centuries!
The dwarves refer to themselves as Coldain and were encountered by our adventurers in their travels. The Coldain’s initial settlement, which was known as Froststone, now lies in ruins, a grim reminder of ancient slaughter at the hands of ice giants. The valiant Coldain, however, have rebuilt their city at great cost, both in resources and lives.
The Coldain dwarves recounted their history for the party, and in the process explained that the keep they had visited, that known as Ry`Gorr Keep, apparently was erected atop a beautiful and technologically remarkable warren of caverns carved from the velium that covers these lands. Though they have not yet braved the snow orcs who guard it and explore, our party has obtained images of it from their hosts.
The dwarves call these caves the Crystal Caverns. From what we’ve seen in their images, the caves are quite both stunning and cunning.
Their design is attributed to a miner hero of theirs named Glight
Overview
Drawn from Transcribed Notes on Maldura — in-game book.EQ2Primary · mirrored · best available source
Notes on Maldura
Transcription of all references to Maldura that could be found in the histories of the Coldain.
From “Tales of the Elder Age” By Lorekeeper Wystro
… During the times of settlement, our people moved slowly towards the surface and found a bounteous land above. While some brave few ventured to explore the new lands above, many remained below ground in the trade villages of the deeper tunnels. Jealousy and pride still grew in the hearts of the dwarf lords, and battles between villages were frequent, as well as attacks by other enemies from the depths of the Underfoot.
Of all the trade villages, the rich mines of Maldura gave it the greatest wealth, but also attracted the most covetous attention. Declaring the need for security, the elders of Maldura encouraged construction of fortifications and soon it became the largest citadel below.
However, as the surface exploration continued, new sources of ore and gems were uncovered and artisans began to explore the properties of carbonite, feyiron, and other new metals previously unknown …
From “A History of the Age of Monuments” Transcribed from elders’ tales by Lorekeeper Canvar
Official Lore
22Collected official lore pieces, from in-game and out — the 22 strongest of 37 listed.
ColHis5
Coldain Heritage and History: Volume V: The Crystal Caverns Inscribed by: Grand Historian Nicmar While hiding out in the frigid caverns, a Coldain miner by the name of Glight Snowchipper received a vision from Brell. The vision was of a labyrinth of ice where the dwarves could hide from the ice giants.
Read the full sourceColHis2
Coldain Heritage and History: Volume II: A New World Inscribed by: Grand Historian Nicmar Using typical dwarven logic, Colin picked a direction to sail in and decided that their only hope was to keep sailing in that direction until they spotted land.
Read the full sourceColHis4
Coldain Heritage and History: Volume IV: Our Greatest Loss Inscribed by: Grand Historian Nicmar The frost giants make up the largest population in the Eastern Wastes and consider those lands their home. Needless to say they did not take kindly to the children of Brell building a fortress along their northeastern border.
Read the full sourceColHis1
Coldain Heritage and History: Volume I: Lost at Sea Inscribed by: Grand Historian Nicmar During the ancient days when the first city of the dwarves was under construction, dwarves were being sent across the lands and sea to find precious reserves of stone, crystal, and ore for the project.
Read the full sourceColHis3
Coldain Heritage and History: Volume III: Froststone Keep Inscribed by: Grand Historian Nicmar There's an old Erudite saying that states, "Dwarves are like time itself, neither can ever remain idle." This certainly proved true for the new settlement.
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Coldain Heritage and History: Volume VI: The Second Exodus Inscribed by: Grand Historian Nicmar Over the centuries that followed, strange creatures began migrating into the Crystal Caverns. These monsters were a collection of the most deadly cave dwellers who inhabited the frosty caves of Velious.
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Thurgadin: May She Stand
Thurgadin: May She Stand Colin Dain and the founding of Froststone By: Historian Belpik Thurgadin. The coldain dwarves have called this fair city their home for generations. We built it with our own hands, crafted from the rock around us, molded from the very velium that makes up so much of our homeland of Velious.
Worn Coldain Tome
This document is to record the creation of grudge: 2398b sub-table 7a The following is an account of the actions that lead to said grudge. The following witnesses swear their clan honor to the truth of the account as spoken by Burdael of Clan Flying Axe. -Gurno Dungrip -Thurgrim: Clan Onyx Hammer -Azguz: Clan Flying Axe -Xoleres: Dwarf Friend of Clan Ironside…
Read the full sourcePersonal Notes of Lorekeeper Solstrin
This is a collection of loose papers that may once have formed a personal notebook, but are now clearly incomplete. They are well cared for now, but are clearly old and have suffered much damage Notebook Lorekeeper Solstrin …believe it was three weeks past the end of Deepice. Situation seemed worse each month.
Read the full source10th Coldain Ring Quest
Dain Frostreaver IV says, 'My good ______, you have served me well. You have flushed out all who sought to oppose me and my people. I am afraid I need to call upon you and your friends one final time. The dissension and treason ran deeper than I had anticipated.
Read the full sourceEWKromrifnote
Commander Yellowfang, Your handling of the Coldain elite guard was outstanding. It will take the stumpymen many years to recover from that slaughter. My superiors are well pleased. Your loyalty and service to the Kromrif have sealed an alliance between our peoples that we shall honor from this day forward.
Read the full sourceWorn Coldain Tome
The written story of Burdael of the Flying Axes and his encounter with the dying dragon Garzicor in Dragon Necropolis.
Read the full sourceUnderfoot: Unfolding the Lore – The Cooling Chambers
…Unfortunately, some of the Coldain have rebelled against Brell's influence because of the meddling of the first creation. One of them has learned to harness the power of the beast and is siphoning power away from it in order to fuel his own malicious schemes. The Coldain are not comfortable in the top half of the Cooling Chambers but no one can perform as wel…
Read the full sourceA Party Member is Lost
…Icewell Keep to gather an image of the Hall of Ancestors for us. The Coldain had mentioned in an off-handed manner that the Hall was sacred to them, and that they would prefer the adventurers not capture any images therein. The travelers, however, were not fully aware of the depth of the reverence in which the dwarves hold this shrine to their forefathers.
Read the full sourceMore of Thurgadin Day 6
…The banquet was held in the Great Hall of the Coldain castle known as Icewell Keep, a picture of which is shown from just outside one end of the hall. During the fête, smaller wooden tables took up most of the room, providing seating for the revelers during the feast.
Read the full sourceThe Coldain City Day 5
The Coldain City Day 5 One might expect an underground city, carved out of rock and ice , to be filled with dust and dampness, but the adventurers report that the city is quite remarkable. As one can see in the image here, the Coldain are very talented artists, and reverent of their ancestors.
Read the full sourceUnderfoot: Unfolding the Lore – Kernagir, The Shining City
Underfoot: Unfolding the Lore Kernagir, The Shining City Kernagir is also known as the Shining City, where the chosen of Brell Serilis go to live out eternity in Underfoot. It was constructed by the finest craftspeople of Norrath to serve and glorify Brell. While other races have occasionally been granted access, Kernagir is mainly inhabited by dwarves, Colda…
Read the full sourceInto the Depths of: Eastern Wastes
…Coldain Hunting Camps: The Coldain send hunting parties into the Eastern Wastes to hunt walrus and yeti. These small hunting camps are scattered across the Eastern Wastes. Walrus mating grounds: The walrus gather at their time-honored courtship area, south of The Gretespaign. Coastal shelf: The water is relatively shallow and then suddenly shears off into fat…
Read the full sourceThe Great Divide Day 4
…Our heroes have had a difficult time traveling lately. It seems they have had to fall back on their Steamfont mountain climbing skills, and improvise a bit. There is a steep and rugged mountain range on Velious which juts up out of the continent, running north and south, virtually dividing its eastern and western portions.
Read the full sourceTranscribed Notes on Maldura
…Transcription of all references to Maldura that could be found in the histories of the Coldain. From “Tales of the Elder Age” By Lorekeeper Wystro … During the times of settlement, our people moved slowly towards the surface and found a bounteous land above.
Read the full sourceGaradain Glacierbane, Eastern Wastes
…"Good work friend! The Dain will hear of this right away. We couldn't have defeated the Ry'gorr without your help. Take this ring as proof that you have served the Coldain well. You may wish to show it to the Seneschal should you ever stop in our fine city. Farewell, ______, it has been my pleasure knowing you."
Read the full sourceSad Klandicar
…Klandicar says, 'The Kromzek are also clinging to the old ways, they have changed no more than we have over the generations. We kill some,they kill some, nothing really changes. Now the Coldain, they are a group to admire, the first trickles of that flood I spoke of.' You say, 'What about the Coldain?'
Read the full sourceFurther sources
33Lore that mentions this in passing.
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Community articles
14Fan-written encyclopedia entries — useful overviews, lower authority than the primary sources above.