Sten Vhaldir
The City of Sten Vhaldir
Description
As you approach the Dwarven Capital, the first thing you notice is that it is built into the side of a mountain. Massive grey stone walls, twenty feet deep and seventy-five feet tall, capped off with parapets and archer-slit filled towers. Some distance past the outer walls and into the city, another ring of fortifications rise up, these being nearly twice as thick and a third taller than the outer defenses. The main entrance to the city is through a large stonework extension, a pair of 5' thick stone and metal doors that open outwards. Outside the doors lies a series of paths, marked off by ropes and poles, directing travelers to and from the city past inspectors, guards, and traders trying to work their wares. On top of the massive extension lie several openings, with recessed cannons visible to the keen eye. A dozen armed guards stand on either side of the entrance.
Inside the passage through the wall, on top of a brick road, people are brought to the Visitor's District. Full of trees, parks, inns, restaurants, and entertainment, this is the segment of the city most accommodating to the other, taller races. Guards roam around pretty constantly, on the lookout for any mischief or illegal activities. The massive inner wall cuts through both sections of this district, dividing it into Outer and Inner sections. The Inner sections are much fancier and geared towards richer and powerful folk.
Going around the city sections clockwise, is the Outer Northern Market District. Shops, carts, and other storefronts populate the district, as it is a haven for traders, caravans, and visitors. Most of what is sold here is created to the East, in the Outer Trades District, where artisans, leatherworkers, metalworkers, smiths, and other tradesmen work and labor throughout the day and night.
In the division East, is the Outer Mage District- Where libraries and tall spired towers filled with apprentices live. In this district, there are an abundance of temples and churches, as the ordianed pray, learn, and become one with the Gods. In addition, there are a handful of magic workers here, who coordinate with the Tradesmen to produce magical trinkets, potions, and other magically enhanced equipment. Most of the schools that the commoners attend are also located here.
Rounding out the top of the city is the Outer Common District, where commoners and other dwarves live. Large, multi-tiered and multi-story buildings house the city's workers and their families. Scarcely patrolled and kept track of, there are several unofficial sub-districts:
- The BlackHammer Forge, where the BlackHammer clan runs semi-legal activities. Discreet brothels and taverns front fighting pits, casinos, the black market, and other nefarious activities. Thugs with the mark of BlackHammer (a closed obsidian fist) enforce the whims of the clan upon the populace.
- Wildvine Conclave, the cleanest section of the Common District, is where the Elven population tends to congregate. Not a huge percentage of the city's population, but there are enough to warrant the growing of trees, flowers, and other plants in the otherwise rough stone city. Visitors to the Conclave always feel watched, as unseen rangers take to the shadows and watch over their territory.
- Harenthal Heights, a section of the city seemingly taken over by the Harenthal Family. They have a manor here, instead of in the Nobles District, and their security/family guards patrol the area to keep it safe.
- The Doge, hamlet of the human population that lives and works in the city.
On the Southeastern side of the city, is the Cemetery district. Mosoleums and other structures stand in place, honoring the dead. Usually rich commoners and famous non-dwarves are buried here, as most dwarves choose cremation.
Below the cemeteries are the parks, where visitors and non-Dwarven inhabitants spend time amongst the trees, greenhouses, and other plots of soil. While very beautiful to look at, the district also serves an alternate purpose, to grow food in case of a siege.
Rounding out the space between the Parks District and the Visitor District is the Outer Southern Market District. Unlike the Northern District, this section is more geared towards large-scale, political, and professional trading. Stables and stonework buildings line the streets, where trade caravans can rest, discuss matters of the guild, and exchange coin.
Inside the Inner Wall, North of the Inner Visitor District, is the Grand Concourse, a series of massive stone and steel doors. They lead further into the city, into the main cavernous interior known as Vhaldir. (Other sections of the city have small alcoves dug into the mountain as well, but the biggest by far is the Vhaldir.) Flanking the massive entrance is the Nobles District, where most of the city's resident nobility stays. This area is also home to the away estates of many families, who prefer the comforts of their own fiefs over the city life.
Above the Noble District, Military District, where the City Guard, the Kingsguard, and a small standing army live, eat, train, and sleep. Above the military, is the Inner Mage District, where most of the Dwarven Mage Caste lives. The libraries of the Outer District are dwarfed by the ones in the Inner District. In addition, the Inner District contains the housing of the wizards and their apprentices of the Mage Caste.
The next two districts are the Inner Trades & Inner Common Districts, where the finest armor and equipment in the Dwarven Kingdom are made. These districts also houses the tradesmen that perform updates and upkeep to the city itself, only master craftsmen and their families can live and work in the Inner Districts.
Map Locations
Sten (Outer Portion of the City)
A) Outer Wall
B) Inner Wall
C) Main Concourse
D) Outer Visitor District
E) Inner Visitor District
F) Outer Northern Market District
G) Outer Trades District
H) Outer Mage District
I) Outer Common District
J) Inner Nobles District
K) Inner Military District
L) Inner Mage District
M) Inner Trades District
N) Inner Common District
O) Outer Cemetery District
P) Outer Parks District
Q) Outer Southern Market District
Vhaldir (Inner Portion of the City)
A) Military District
B) Mage District
C) Noble District
D) Trades District
E) Valor District
F) Palace District
G) Common District
