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Cities of
Kurvhosau:
KURVHOSAU Capitol City
The ancient capitol of the dwarves, inhabited for
over two millennia, the city has expanded greatly over the years. Mount
Kurvhosau war lovingly carved by the original five dwarven clans to be a
defensible fortress. In the two thousand years since that time, the
fortress has never fallen. The outside of the mountain is a series of
defensive works and battlements, all the living areas are within. Over the
centuries, the city has expanded deeper into the bowels of the mountain,
finally entering the great caverns two miles beneath and flourishing there
as well.
Khurvosau is the capitol of a Kingdom, and the King
is currently Boran “Redbeard” Greymarch. Although he is the King, he does
not have complete autonomy: he must still answer to the High Council of the
Dwarven Clans. There are four major dwarven clans (and many smaller ones):
Clan Ustaysuss, Clan Martel, Clan Greymarch, and Clan Fain. Each of the
four clans sends two delegates to the council. The king is also included in
the council, making the total number of the High Council nine souls.
Although the Kingship is a hereditary position, the council can appoint a
new king in extreme circumstances. This has only happened twice in dwarven
history (Clan Ustaysuss took the throne for a while after the rule of a particularly
pitiful Greymarch King, but the kingship was later restored to the
Greymarch clan). The dwarves have long and proud traditions, and are
reluctant to change them.
All dwarven cities and towns except Raazak are closed
to outsiders, following the long policy of isolation that the dwarves have
followed. There is one notable exception, however. Each nation is permitted
to have an embassy quarters in Kurvhosau, limited to four persons. The
dwarves follow the same rule when sending out ambassadors: four dwarves
(one from each major clan). Currently, Kurvhosau hosts four high orcs from
Oracan, eight humans (four from Kalvaria and four from Kilgaul), and four
elves (the dwarves decided the elves could be considered a separate nation
from Kilgaul).
Although few probably realize it, Kurvhosau is the
largest city in the known world (in terms of area, not poulation). Although
the dwarven expansion is currently stopped, should there be a reversal of
fortune, there is still plenty of room to grow.
RAAZAK Cavern City
Once the size of a large town, Raazak has increased
in size over the past two decades so that it must be considered a city now.
In an unprecedented move, the High Council of Dwarven Clans decreed that
Raazak would become an inter-racial city. The doors to Raazak were opened
to members of all friendly races, even half-orcs. The rationale behind this
decree was linked with the increasingly violent attacks against the dwarven
fortifications in the Great Caverns. By attracting adventurers to Raazak,
the dwarves hoped to slow the attacks, or at least blunt their virulence.
The ruler of Raazak is Agrane Fain, but all clans
have a strong presence in Raazak. The presence of so many outsiders in the
city has proved tiresome on the dwarves, but they bear it stoically and try
to organize exploring parties. Since the whole process is going slowly, the
leaders are considering offering bounties and incentives for activities
beyond The Wall.
RUNEHOLD Large City
The only large city which has any significant portion
of its populace above the ground, Runehold is essential in providing
supplies and products that cannot be obtained by underground communities.
Its logging industry in particular is very extensive.
Runehold is the province of clan Fain, and Serator Fain
is the ruler. Runehold is the home of the few dwarven mages that exist.
VAYLIND Town
A way station on the way to the tunneled passage that
leads to the Great Caverns and Raazak, Vaylind is a surface village that is
more or less self-supporting. The primary industry is mining tin. It is the
only town not controlled by one of the four major clans. The minor clan
Kyver rules Vaylind, with Boran Kyver being the designated head.
FREEMARCH Town
This garrison town was established to protect
Kurvhosau’s southern border from various humanoid clans and monstrous
invaders. Over the years, Freemarch has developed a proud reputation as
stalwart defenders of the border. The town is controlled by clan Greymarch,
and Unev Greymarch, a respected commander, is the ruler of this town.
AZIGON Cavern Town
Azigon is a small city deep in the Caverns. It was
originally founded as a construction site when the architects and engineers
of Clan Martel began work on their massive military fortification, The
Wall. With the years of work that were required to build the wall, an then
the repairs and upkeep of the wall, not to mention the necessity of
staffing the structure… the construction site became a permanent base and
was expanded into the city of Azigon.
Clan Martel was the primary force behind the
construction of the wall, and Azigon is their city. Although every can has
thrown their strength behind the wall, none have done it so fervently as
Clan Martel. Hosheck Martel is the current ruler of the city.
URSHA Town
This surface town does some light quarry and mine
work, but primarily acts as a shipping point. Although Kurvhosau is mostly
self-sufficient, there is some trading that occurs. Goods are transported
from Ursha to Sylvanhyme. The dwarves almost always make this trip… it is
very rare for traders to come to Ursha. The town is controlled by clan
Ustaysuss, with Hanson Ustaysuss being the current lord.
AXHAFT Cavern Town
An underground town colonized long ago by clan
Martel. It was formerly their clan headquarters, but after the construction
of the Wall, the headquarters was moved to Azigon. Clan Martel still
controls Axhaft and its silver mines, with Jarric Martel being the town
leader.
NARVA Cavern Town
A sizable underground town, Narva is located in a cavern
that abounds with fungal and plant life. A number of these are unusual
herbs, but the majority are used as foodstuffs by the dwarves. Narva is
under the dominion of clan Fain, with Afain Fain titled as the ruler.
USTAY Cavern Town
A large town with a unique vantage point, Ustay is
located in a great cavern, on the shores of a vast black subterranean lake,
and very close to a sheer cliff that drop away to a pool of molten rock.
Although some fishing is done, Ustay is better known for its hanging mines.
The dwarven miners use winches and lifts to tunnel into the side of the
cliffs and reap a rich harvest of gemstones. Ustay is named after the
ruling Clan, Ustaysuss. The clan elder is an aged dwarf, Sayen Ustaysuss.
THE WALL Cavern Fortification
Clan Martel was the driving
force behind the largest dwarven construction project ever. The Wall is a
massive defensive fortification that separates the settled dwarven areas of
the Great Caverns from the ‘wild’ regions. The Wall took 200 years to
complete. It is manned by steadfast guards, and dwarven rangers make forays
into the uncharted areas to monitor the activities of the evil humanoid
kingdoms.
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