The Coldain
The dwarves of Velious, exiled kin of the Kaladim dwarves, dwelling in Thurgadin.
Overview
Drawn from EverQuest: You're In Our World Now — official article.EQ1Primary · official · best available source
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.
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
20Collected official lore pieces, from in-game and out.
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.
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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.
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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.
SHRColBook
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
Personal 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 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
Underfoot: Unfolding the Lore The Cooling Chambers Water, boiling from the lava that is the life's blood of the Underfoot, pours into the Cooling Chambers from a sinkhole in Brell's Rest. The water is cooled by Brell's servants as it flows through the chambers and eventually grows cold enough to turn to ice.
Read the full sourceEverQuest: You're In Our World Now
A Party Member is Lost Day 7 There has been dreadful news today. One of our party has been lost! It�s a woeful tale, and our party has been delayed in leaving Thurgadin because of it. Amazingly, the dwarves haven�t decided to punish the lot of them. Alas, it had to do with the Hall of Ancestors and the dwarves� reverence for their history.
Read the full sourceEverQuest: You're In Our World Now
More of Thurgadin Day 6 It has been a few days since we received a report from the exploration team, but their current missive explains this. It seems that the Coldain were so happy to learn that there are others � both dwarf and otherwise � out in the world that they declared a day of thanksgiving!
Read the full sourceEverQuest: You're In Our World Now
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
Overview of Eastern Wastes Hunting in the Eastern Wastes is ideal for mid-seasoned adventurers new to Velious. Groups of hunting parties can be seen scattered throughout the region, making it easy for lone arrivals in search of companions. Background Lore The eastern half of Velious is a cold inhospitable place, with little shelter for the hardy travelers tha…
Read the full sourceEverQuest: You're In Our World Now
The 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
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 sourceBerradinnote
My Peffin, By now you've heard of the death of Rodrick. His demise places us all in great peril and forces me to take extreme action. I plan to turn our fellow conspirators in to the Dain. The Tardoks have boggled this operation for long enough...Please continue to take refuge with Fjloaren until this all blows over.
Read the full sourceFurther sources
8Lore that mentions this in passing.
Community articles
16Fan-written encyclopedia entries — useful overviews, lower authority than the primary sources above.