Second Age

The Second Age lasted for 2020 years, and was perhaps most notable for the rise and fall of the nearly global Dwarven Empire, and the first Edan Empire. This age was also arguably the most technologically advanced so far, as the dwarves and gnomes created mighty technologies using the substance known as Godsblood.

Early Second Age
During the early Second Age, a dwarven clan on Kanvari known as Durgar began to venture into the Underdark in search of larger iron deposits. There, they discovered a tribe of deep gnomes living around a strange, green underground lake. The green water of the lake was flammable, magically potent and even functioned as a food source for the gnomes. The gnomes called the substance "Godsblood", as they believed it came from the wounds the Undergod suffered during the Magical Collapse.

The Durgar smiths began experimenting with the Godsblood, with the help of the gnomes. They came up with many inventions that allowed them to build a mighty city on top of the lake, and soon, stories of the clan began to spread among other dwarves and gnomes. The Durgar clan began to spread further across the Underdark in search of more deposits of Godsblood, creating a vast railroad network across the Underdark in the process.

At the same time in Edanka, the first Moon King began conquering much of the continent and formed the first Edan Empire.

Middle Second Age
At the height of the Second Age, the technology of clan Durgar had spread across the entire known world and likely beyond. Though the other dwarven clans remained largely independent, they swore fealty to the head of clan Durgar, who declared himself Emperor of all dwarves. Clan Durgar used its power and influence to keep the other clans relatively in check, so wars between the dwarves were relatively rare.

The first Edan Empire had collapsed by this point, leading to many early human kingdoms being established in Edanka in the aftermath, such as Taigawama. While few dwarf clans lived in Edanka, the dwarves began to see the potential in humans, and a few dwarven city states even began to allow them citizenship. Others would begin to trade with human tribes living nearby, leading to a cultural and technological jump forward for many humans across the Surface World.

Late Second Age
There is a reason that the end of the Second Age and beginning of the Third Age is defined by the founding of the Kingdom of Nova, rather than the collapse of the Dwarven Empire, as the latter was extremely gradual. Some would argue, it's aftermath continues to this day.

The original deposit of Godsblood discovered by clan Durgar underneath their capital was among the first to be depleted. This caused a huge loss of power for the imperial clan, and resulted in the center of dwarven culture becoming solely reliant on imports of Godsblood.

Other sources of Godsblood slowly ran dry as well, and dwarven clans began to war amongst themselves to keep control of what little of the precious resource remained.

In the meantime, clan Durgar became increasingly degenerate and warlike in an attempt to retain their power. Starting with political assassinations, followed by wars and eventually dark dealings with supernatural forces are just a few examples of what clan Durgar did to try and stay in power. Eventually, almost no dwarven clans remained loyal to Durgar, and many went so far as to cast any member of clan Durgar from their cities entirely. The remnants of clan Durgar would eventually become modern day duergar.

Eventually, all known deposits of Godsblood were completely depleted. Many dwarven cities were destroyed through war, others were abandoned by their clans who went on to live simpler lives, becoming the ancestors of modern hill dwarves. And a few remain as a shadow of their former selves to this day.