The ancient home of the Dark Elves on Qalia.
It appears that Mount Stiirhad is volcanic, and may have even been regarded as a kind of god by those Humans who lived by its fertile slopes. Dark Elves emerged and built fortresses on the surface, driving away human settlers. The Ahgramun Humans and Mordebi Humans united to war against the Dark Elves, but did not prevail.
However, at some uncertain point after this battle, Elementals rose up and drove the Dark Elves from Stiirhad. The surface of the mountain is no longer a very hospitable place, and the Dark Elves have fled across the Liath Desert into Human lands.
Lore Excerpts
"And Great Stiirhad awoke. He raised his club of fire and smote the land surrounding him. The land bowed to his will and called him Lord. The Great Stiirhad accepted their fealty and slept. His sleeping form provided shade to his new children and the rain ran down him and nourished the fields. At times, one of his children would awaken him from his long slumber and he would lash out with his fiery club again."
From the bowels of Great Stiirhad arose the under-dwellers. The black lands about the slumbering giant became hosts to towering fortresses that housed the tainted fey. A new kingdom arose, vile in its existence and a threat to the mighty Ahgramun and Mordebi.
And Ahgramun sent its mighty chariots and lancers. The swords of Mordebi joined in the march. The voices of their legion sang of impending victories as they journeyed south. A common cause united them where their common ancestry had failed.
Death waited for Ahgramun and Mordebi at Stiirhad. Wave after wave assailed the fortresses for naught. Ahgramun and Mordebi bloodlines joined as one as they stained the black rocks. The few that escaped the horror returned north spreading the tale of destruction.
The children of Stiirhad, once content to live within his shadow, rose up. Their gentle rolling faces became jagged and rocky crags. Each pushed higher in hopes of eclipsing their siblings and gained the favor of Great Stiirhad. However, their actions only brought anger and pushed them further from their protectors.
Great Stiirhad turned his back on his children. No longer would the gentle rain make its way along his form and continue to the north and east, providing life to the land. Instead, the land dried and died, leaving brown husks and ruins where life once thrived. Even the soil deserted the shadow of Stiirhad, choosing instead to follow the wind on its journey even farther to the east.
"Mount Stiirhad ah, yes. Rivers of lava flowed in canyons beneath cities we carved from the living mountain. We watched our enemie's assaults upon us and laughed as they died and joined the ash in the air. We will beat back the Elementals, and return to our rightful home."
Dark Elf Noble
"My family fled Mount Stiirhad as the Elementals filled the halls with lava my father guarded our retreat. As we crossed the last threshold, I saw a towering beast of fire and lighting strike him down. It took many days of walking across the sand of Liath for us to reach this stinking outpost of humans. My mother waited until we reached safety before she took her own life in shame."
Dark Elf Child