When it comes to danger, the surface regions of Dholen Sûr are second only to the Wilds. Travelers are urged to avoid the region unless they are well-prepared for the harsh cold, difficult terrain, and dangerous roads. The homeland of the Dwarves is a country of extremes. Above ground the jagged hills and wild forests are home to bandits and feral orcs where chaos and violence rule. With the exception of a dozen or so enclaves, it is also home to Dwarven mercenaries employed by the Dwarven government to keep the numbers of bandits and ferals at a manageable level. Nonetheless, the cities bustle with trade, and the few surface traders who are permitted entry below the mountains speak of an ethereal beauty to the underground cities - even in the poorest areas which lie nearer the active mines.