Khundrukar (ka-hoon-droo-KAR)
Khundrukar (dwarvish for the Stone Tooth Peak), also known as the Mountain Before the Valley was one of the most defensable cities in the Plains of Ash. It was here, ages ago, that the dwarf-lord Durgeddin Stonehammer ruled as clan chief and forge-master. Controlling no other lands of the area, their numbers continued to dwindle until the last of them were driven deep into the Underdark by the black dragon Nightscale. Since then the ruins have been rebuilt by elven, gnome, and human hands under the employ of the Wizards of the Valley of the Mage. The city that was built within the walls of the mountain was led by the First Protector, Arna - the once ancient title of Bronzebeard having no hold over the mountain or its folk anymore.
The city itself is one of the most visited territory controlled by the Wizards, and acts as a trading hub attracting wealthy traders from neighboring city-states and kingdoms, as well as adventures all across the continent. The area controlled by the city includes the mountain itself and the nearby mere and surrounding grasslands upwards of a 10 mile radius.
Description
The original citadel and forge that made up Khundrukar was one of the furthest bastions of dwarvish culture that made it westward. It withstood many battles with Durgeddin retaining his seat of power in the area, until he and his clan where laid low by a black dragon from the nearby mere, named the Dark Mere after the creature decimated mountain clan of dwarfs. Even with this, the halls and burial crypts remained intact, as did the greater forge itself. Expanding on this original design, the surrounding hallways and areas are distinctly human trying to mimic the grand designs of the dwarfs. The city spans multiple levels within the mountain. Travel from layer to layer is done by grand stairs, and vast caverns within the mountain are crossed by large stone bridges (clearly of human origins). The areas below the city remain unexplored and unclaimed by the mountain, unlike the areas above and surrounding the peak whose land is claimed for farmers and shepherds. The surface areas are patrolled from regiments of elves, humans, and gnomes who inhabit the city for half the year before being rotated out to new posts or leave.Geography
Because the mountain Khundrukar borders several city-states and kingdoms, it acts as a great central hub for trade and gossip in the area, rivaling places like Hochoch and Hookerhill. With this position the mountain city tries to remain a neutral place of peace. Despite the proximity to several human kingdoms, castles, and keeps of great military strength the mountain remains untouchable by any one standing army. This peace is not due to military presence, which in the past proved to lead to great wars in the area, but instead the promise of trade and the exchange of ideas.Geographical Features
The Forge of Fury and the citadel within the mountain of Khundrukar where chosen for the vast quantities of gems and starmetal in the region. When it was reestablished by the valley, and reconstruction efforts began the mountain sat on the borders of several powerful, waring humanoid kingdoms and city-states. Because of this, the valley was pressured to sign several defensive pacts, but the valley remained independent, agreeing only to sign them once the local wars and disputes were settled so that the area could focus on greater threats like the orcs and goblinoids who still perform fire raids on border towns frequently.Government
Khundrukar was originally ruled by the dwarf-lord Durgeddin of Clan Stonehammer. He ruled his citadel with an iron fist and journals discovered note he was quick to dish out physical punishments including death by trial by combat known as the Judicial Duel. Now the rebuilt citadel and city are ruled by the Valley's greatest military generals, known as the First Protector. Despite being human in creation, the First Protector mimics Durgeddin's rule more than historians may realize, having a figure of great military strength sit on the intricately carved throne just like the days of old. The First Protector moves about the citadel and the city levels with a private detachment of highly trained and decorated soldier, warriors, and mercenaries who call the area home.Law and Order
The Starmetal Guards act as the cities police force whose duties where to capture criminals, settle disputes, give directions, and keep the peace. Ruling on the laws of the citadel and the city were originally issued by the dwarf-lord himself, but are now issued by noble houses of elves, gnomes, and humans who inhabit the city, called the Magistriert (gnomish for Magistrates), and more commonly called the Mages by the locals within the city. Members of the Mages would travel around the city and the surrounding areas in groups of 14 comprised of 5 elven archers, 6 elven or human knights equipped with halberds, swords, and shields, and 3 gnome spell-casters of magical or religious inclinations. Those who were accused of a crime where imprisoned in the citadel at the heart of the city, and could try for an appeal taking the case to the Court of Fury, but faced fierce and often violent punishments if convicted, mimicking the Judicial Duels of Durgeddin's rule.Industry and Trade
The city does more trade with the outside world than any of the secluded cities and towns within the Valley of the Mage. Because of this, the city experiences the most amount of travelers, gossip, and coin. The city trades in a variety of goods, but is mostly known for its rare ingredients and vast mix of common and valuable gemstones. The city also exports a great deal of magically infused materials, created from the intense perversion of the land from many magic practitioners. Imports include things like labor, finished goods, and cultural items like art and food.Defense
The citadel and the surrounding city are extremely well defended, with only two entrances into the city whose ability to be shut by great stone discs make intrusion by a foreign force difficult if not impossible. Included in the defensive of their entrances, the walls of the areas near the entrances are hollow, allowing for two soldiers to pass each-other on the inside. Fitted with arrow slits covered by hidden blocks, the walls and doors of Khundrukar make up the first and usual last line of defense that invaders encounter.History
The history of the citadel and the forge of the mountain begin with the departure of clan Stonehammer from Thurdarth. The clan had set out eastward to look for new mountains to claim for the dwarves. It is unknown to the outside world of scholars if this is the truth, as many believe that the Stonehammer's had come to odds with the other clans. This theory is supported by an elvish treaty discovered by elvish scholars. The treaty promised that the Stonehammer Clan would arm the elves to help kill their enemies, an idea that would most certainly be heretical in Thurdarth, even to this day. But in truth, it is unknown why the Forge of Fury was built, as anyone who could answer these questions is long dead. The clan was led by the dwarf-lord Durgeddin Stonehammer, also known as the Black, he was a shield dwarf fighter and smith. On the ancestral walls of the citadel and forge, panels remain that depict certain events that shed light on the life of the settlement and those who lived within the mountain. The earliest panel shows the expansion of caves and tunnels of the Glitterhame, in a location where now stands a dwarven mausoleum where 17 dwarven coffins of various metals have been discovered. After this the dwarves seemed to come into conflict with themselves, through battle or disease it is not know, but the panels of this section show a cultural decline in the craftsmanship, but also in what the pictures and bas-reliefs depict. Many dwarves died during this time, and on the last panel of this section it shows more than half of the clan leaving, heading back westward. It is theorized by scholars that these dwarves left for the citadel known as Adbar, whose location has been kept a secret within the dwarven community, but is believed to be in the Rauvin Mountains. Despite Durgeddin's favor with the nearby elves and gnomes of the hidden valley, Khundrukar would fall to a group of dragonborn who had not been informed that the Ad-Thurg Wars were over. These black dragon knights would follow the young Nightscale into battle against the mountain, for the dragon smelled the wealth of the mountain, and had a deep, unnatural craving for dwarf flesh. Most of the dwarves would be eaten or killed, and all of the dragonborn would fall to magic and traps within the citadel's halls. Despite this however, Nightscale would claim the mountain, forcing the surviving dwarves to seek refuge in the Underdark, acting as the catalyst for the clans of Duergar who live beneath the western continents. Sometime around 4101 of the Medieval Era, the top layer of the citadel would be claimed by a clan of orcs who had found the mountain and the citadel during the Green Scourge. These orcs would harass local merchants and would attempt to rule over the other orc and goblinoid clans within the area. This would go against the direct wishes of the goblinoid clan of the Bloody Hat, who segoblin goblin of unusual powerRed CapRed Cap (for the giant red wizards cap witch he wore). This goblin would sacrifice many of his clan in trial by combat before a grotesque statue of an unknown being. This being would be freed from his prison within the statue by the blood hundreds of goblinoidsdevils devil offered his service to the demonic goblin Red Cap, and served as general of his forces. Gathering other clans during the next several years, Red Cap would eventually sedemons demon to attack the mountain of orcs. It was at this time that the heroes of New Orlanes would encounter the Bloody Hands at a sacred burial site and shrine of the wegwiur. Defending it so the shamans inside could finish their yearly offering rituals, the site was attacked by wave after wave of goblinoid. Standing strong however, the heroes would force the demon general to take the field himself. This being would be identified by the paladin, Giorno an Oni - a lesser fiend. After a tough battle against the fire-casting oni, Giorno would name the creature Iki Ryo just before he drove his sword into his heart, banishing the creature from the material plane back to his home plane, believed to Deadmooneadmoon by the paladin. On the body of the goblinoids the heroes found several maps of the area, and many marking a nearby mountain with signs of treasure and danger. These same heroes would eventually form an alliance with the Kaarghaz, the Sorcerer, leader of a clan of troglodytes who then inhabited the Glitterhame, as well as clearing the upper level of Orcs and slaying their leader Gluglug. It would also be these same heroes would would discover a group of duergar trying to rebuild the forge, as well as dooming these descendants of Durgeddin to the same fate at the teeth and claws of Nightscale, only to return months later and slay the creature. Seeing that no one remained to claim the mountain, the heroes informed Arna of its location and strategic importance. Since then, the mountain has been rebuilt, and expanded into the mountain city that adventurers, merchants, and wandering minstrels traveling the Plains of Ash always stop at, for comfort, work, and gossip of the local areas.
Founding Date
c.-156 Classical Era
Alternative Names
Stone Tooth Peak, Mountain Before the Valley, the Forge of Fury
Type
Acropolis / Citadel
Parent Location
Included Locations
Owner
Ruling/Owning Rank
Owning Organization
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Related Report (Primary Locations)
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