Carved Citadel of Aevi

Awldor    Settlements      Carved Citadel of Aevi

Nowhere is the ingenuity of the Dwarves of Awldor more apparent than at the Carved Citadel of Aevi. Apart from the legendary Rikki Kitadel itself that is.

— Artur Neha, Traveler

Made through the hollowing of the Marble Mountain in the pre-collapse era, Aevi is now the capital city of the Kingdom of Vhara. It is one of few Ancient Order settlements to have been reclaimed. The reclaiming was a large and costly effort. From the outside, the city appears as a mountain with several tunnels and windows carved into it. On the inside is a breathtakingly spacious vertical metropolis of stone and marble. The knowledge for its creation has since been lost, but those who live there are making every effort to relearn the lost arts of the Ancients. While the population of the city currently rests at around 12,000, the city itself can likely hold 60,000 permanent residents.

Carved Citadel

Almost every structure in Aevi was carved from the very stones of the Tukeva Mountain. It is said that the ancient Dwarves had planned out every market, every house, and every street before they took up their chisels. As a result, most of the city could be considered to be one piece of stone.

It is difficult to assault a mountain. Especially a mountain that has been graced by the ingenuity of the Dwarves!

— Vamnudeth Ironbreaker, Vhara General

Venerable Fortress

The nature of the Aevi makes it one of the strongest fortresses in Awldor. It has remained remarkably intact in spite of the cataclysms of the Great Collapse, though with a wall chipped here or there. Actually, it is believed that one of the ancient walls was completely destroyed as evidenced by an unusually large opening on the northern face of the mountain. Efforts are being made to restore what was lost, though many fear the repairs will not finish in time for Helia's invasion.

Against the Golden Blight

Efforts are being made to reinforce the city against the coming invasion of the Kingdom of Helia. While many are hoping the wall will be enough to hold back the Golden Blight, there is also recognition that it may not be enough. Reinforcing entrances, building up supplies, and more training for the Citadel Guard are some of the precautions being made.

Ancient Artifacts

Being an Ancient Dwarven citadel, Aevi also counts as an Ancient Ruin. As with all Ancient sites, the Aevi is replete with various artifacts whose functions have been lost to memory. Some aspects of its infrastructure also remain a mystery, such as the thin, bundled copper strands that can be found running along the walls, roofs, and floors of practically every corner. The citadel promises to yield even more strange artifacts as more rooms are searched and inhabited.

Demographics

(As of 1277AGC)

• 40% Dwarves
• 20% Gnomes
• 15% Human
• 5% Elves
• 20% Other

History

Constructed by the Ancient Order, it is believed to have been a city of great importance to the world before the Great Collapse. It is unclear when the site was vacated by its population. Since it is a strong fortress as well as a city, the Aevi would have been instrumental to the survival of the civilized peoples. Some say that the citadel was abandoned during the onset of the collapse. Others believe it to have happened during it due to some unknown reason. Others believe that it was vacated when the calamities of the collapse began to subside.
As for why the place had been abandoned at all, when people came back to reclaim it there was a population of undead as well as spectres. Perhaps these were the reason for why the people left as they may have been too few and too weak to drive off the intruders.
The Dwarven citadel was reclaimed in 701AGC after a long and hard-fought effort to drive off the horrible creatures from the mountain and to reclaim it as a cradle of civilization.

Geography

Aevi looks over the western entrance to the Ventoso Gap, a large and rocky plain that lies between the Valtava Mountains to the south and the Violetti Mountains to the north. The citadel was carved within the Tukeva Mountain, which exists in the southwest-most tip of the Violetti Mountains, which also affords it a reasonable distance from ports along the coast of the Occulus Sea.

All artwork is by starfarertheta until further notice.

Awldor

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The world of Awldor.

Alternative Name(s)

The Marble Fortress

Type

Large city

Population

~12000

Inhabitant Demonym

Aevites

Location under

Continental Island of Lluvia

Owning Organization

Kingdom of Vhara

Assets

• Alchemy Shops
• Armorers
• Artisan Shops
• Bakeries
• Blacksmiths
• Inns
• Public Baths
• Public Pools
• Stables
• Stone Mason Shops
• Taverns

Note(s) from the Archivists:

How do you hollow out a mountain and expect it to remain standing? Doesn't the mountain need that material? - Archivist Edward
Never underestimate the cleverness of Dwarven architecture. There are pillars and buttresses that keep the "roof" aloft. I should know, I've made sure to visit it at least once in my life. - Archivist Bob Ironrock
But it's a mountain. - Archivist Edward
And Dwarves know their rocks from stones. Do you know the difference between those? - Archivist Bob
I do not, as a matter of fact. - Archivist Edward