Precipice
Precipice, or as it often referred to as "The Inverted City" is a coastal city carved into the cliffs of the Oran Mountains overlooking the Amare Ocean, though "carved" is a bit of a misnomer.
Precipice was founded as a dwarven outpost nearly 3,000 years ago under the name of Kal Undrumm, though the city's exact age has been lost to time. At the time, it was completely beneath the mountain and connected to the vast network of subterranean tunnels that make up the Dwarven Low Ways. It quickly grew as the dwarves found rich veins of black iron, granite, and gold. It was also home to one of the greatest dwarven wonders of its time: the Obsidian Forge, a massive furnace that pumped out incalculable amounts of arms and armor for the dwarven empires. Naturally, this was highly coveted by the burgeoning Antecean Empire.
The Anteceans took the city in 12 AI, despite the city being deemed impregnable by all of the time's most renowned strategists. Currently, this is chocked up to the event that caused the city to take its current form: a massive rockslide that saw half the mountain face fall into the sea, thus exposing the city to the sky. With their shelter gone, the dwarves "abandoned" the city. In actuality, it was the Anteceans who orchestrated this. Spies sabotaged the Obsidian Forge and causes a massive explosion that blew off half the mountain face (and killing quite a few dwarves in the process). The Anteceans were then free to take the city by sea, which they did with gusto, renaming it Montenium.
They then promptly sealed away the entrances to the Low Ways and took the mines for their own, adding to Antecea's already impressively stocked coffers.
Stylistically, the city is very much of dwarven make • The buildings and other structures are all carved out of the stone itself and feature the quintessential geometric stylings of the dwarves with wrought-iron embellishments. • There is clearly defined human architecture layered overtop much of the original dwarf work. ○ The iconic archways of the Antecean period, as well as adjustments to the stonework to make them more amenable to human proportions.
The city itself is layered like a tower on top of itself. Rather than stretching out horizontally, the city is arranged vertically in 9 layers that stretch about a quarter-mile, each interconnected with twisting roadways that spiral along each side of the city. Massive dwarven lifts supported by huge iron chains offer quick access to each level as well. Each level is dedicated to a different function • Tier 1: The Noble Tier ○ Home of the elite estates of the city, as well as Undercroft Fortress, which serves as the castle of the Earl. • Tier 2: The Residential Tier ○ This tier houses the majority of the living quarters of the city, as well as a variety of entertainment like taverns, theatres, "parks", etc. • Tier 3: The Crafters Tier ○ This where the majority of the city's crafters and builders can be found: stone-masons, leatherworkers, jewelers, etc. • Tier 4: The Vault Tier ○ This area is used primarily for warehouses and banks as well as granaries and "farms". If you need something stored somewhere, this is the place. It also serves as an alternate living tier for some middle-class folk. • Tier 5: The Upper Market Tier ○ The second tier of marketspace for the city. This area is generally considered to be the place to find more expensive and luxurious trade goods. ○ The Lunar Forum has a shop here located in a repurposed vault house. • Tier 6: The Lower Market Tier ○ This is where the Burakrin Tunnels feed into the city. This area, along with the upper market tier, is the primary place of business for traders and merchants. • Tier 7: The Forge Tier ○ This are is full of foundries and smithies. This is where all the raw materials brought up from the mines are processed. ○ Here can be found one of the most renowned blacksmiths in all of Horizon: a dwarf woman named Avlu Greyfoot, who currently runs the Obsidian Forge § Here she forges masterwork armor and weapons and can forge mithral and adamantine if brought the proper materials. ○ There are lifts here that run expressly between this tier and the mines for ease of access. • Tier 8: The Longhouse Tier ○ This tier is primarily reserved for the communal living spaces for the laborers, miners, and dockworkers of the city. • Tier 9: The Dock Tier ○ This area features the dock and harbor system as well as the processing facilities for processing fishing and trade goods. ○ The main entrance to the mines is also here, as well as the city's slums. Currently, an area has been cordoned off for the influx of dark elf refugees.
Governance. Like most smaller cities in Horizon, Precipice is governed by an Earl. In this case, a stout little man by the name of Aldrick Imni. He maintains council with 9 advisors, one from each tier of the city that act as mayors of sorts for each tier. These councilmen are elected annually by citizens of each tier, and as such, their approval is usually fairly high.
Precipice was founded as a dwarven outpost nearly 3,000 years ago under the name of Kal Undrumm, though the city's exact age has been lost to time. At the time, it was completely beneath the mountain and connected to the vast network of subterranean tunnels that make up the Dwarven Low Ways. It quickly grew as the dwarves found rich veins of black iron, granite, and gold. It was also home to one of the greatest dwarven wonders of its time: the Obsidian Forge, a massive furnace that pumped out incalculable amounts of arms and armor for the dwarven empires. Naturally, this was highly coveted by the burgeoning Antecean Empire.
The Anteceans took the city in 12 AI, despite the city being deemed impregnable by all of the time's most renowned strategists. Currently, this is chocked up to the event that caused the city to take its current form: a massive rockslide that saw half the mountain face fall into the sea, thus exposing the city to the sky. With their shelter gone, the dwarves "abandoned" the city. In actuality, it was the Anteceans who orchestrated this. Spies sabotaged the Obsidian Forge and causes a massive explosion that blew off half the mountain face (and killing quite a few dwarves in the process). The Anteceans were then free to take the city by sea, which they did with gusto, renaming it Montenium.
They then promptly sealed away the entrances to the Low Ways and took the mines for their own, adding to Antecea's already impressively stocked coffers.
Stylistically, the city is very much of dwarven make • The buildings and other structures are all carved out of the stone itself and feature the quintessential geometric stylings of the dwarves with wrought-iron embellishments. • There is clearly defined human architecture layered overtop much of the original dwarf work. ○ The iconic archways of the Antecean period, as well as adjustments to the stonework to make them more amenable to human proportions.
The city itself is layered like a tower on top of itself. Rather than stretching out horizontally, the city is arranged vertically in 9 layers that stretch about a quarter-mile, each interconnected with twisting roadways that spiral along each side of the city. Massive dwarven lifts supported by huge iron chains offer quick access to each level as well. Each level is dedicated to a different function • Tier 1: The Noble Tier ○ Home of the elite estates of the city, as well as Undercroft Fortress, which serves as the castle of the Earl. • Tier 2: The Residential Tier ○ This tier houses the majority of the living quarters of the city, as well as a variety of entertainment like taverns, theatres, "parks", etc. • Tier 3: The Crafters Tier ○ This where the majority of the city's crafters and builders can be found: stone-masons, leatherworkers, jewelers, etc. • Tier 4: The Vault Tier ○ This area is used primarily for warehouses and banks as well as granaries and "farms". If you need something stored somewhere, this is the place. It also serves as an alternate living tier for some middle-class folk. • Tier 5: The Upper Market Tier ○ The second tier of marketspace for the city. This area is generally considered to be the place to find more expensive and luxurious trade goods. ○ The Lunar Forum has a shop here located in a repurposed vault house. • Tier 6: The Lower Market Tier ○ This is where the Burakrin Tunnels feed into the city. This area, along with the upper market tier, is the primary place of business for traders and merchants. • Tier 7: The Forge Tier ○ This are is full of foundries and smithies. This is where all the raw materials brought up from the mines are processed. ○ Here can be found one of the most renowned blacksmiths in all of Horizon: a dwarf woman named Avlu Greyfoot, who currently runs the Obsidian Forge § Here she forges masterwork armor and weapons and can forge mithral and adamantine if brought the proper materials. ○ There are lifts here that run expressly between this tier and the mines for ease of access. • Tier 8: The Longhouse Tier ○ This tier is primarily reserved for the communal living spaces for the laborers, miners, and dockworkers of the city. • Tier 9: The Dock Tier ○ This area features the dock and harbor system as well as the processing facilities for processing fishing and trade goods. ○ The main entrance to the mines is also here, as well as the city's slums. Currently, an area has been cordoned off for the influx of dark elf refugees.
Governance. Like most smaller cities in Horizon, Precipice is governed by an Earl. In this case, a stout little man by the name of Aldrick Imni. He maintains council with 9 advisors, one from each tier of the city that act as mayors of sorts for each tier. These councilmen are elected annually by citizens of each tier, and as such, their approval is usually fairly high.
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