Aktempto

In the late Fourth Age, Aktempto was a ruined settlement in the Orichalcum Peninsula of the Western Valley of Tarteria.
The town sits above an abandoned mine, which was a great source of orichalcum. These mines connect to a seeming gateway to a demiplane between the Material Plane and Nadiria, the Plane of Darkness. This connection is called Doravelzog by modern historians.

Description

Historically, the town's mines were a great source of orichalcum for the Kingdom of Keeleon. The town was built high in the hills, and there was a large pond nearby.
The buildings and features of the town were mostly dedicated to supporting either the mine or the miners in the search for this valuable material. At the start of the Tarterian War, the town was ruined. It was never rebuilt after the end of the conflict.
Most of the residential buildings were fully destroyed, and the nearby ponds and streams were poisoned with miasma. There was a large lodging building seemingly for the miners, which was burned down. To the north was a fence made of wooden posts which separated the town and the mining facility's structures.

Shrine to the Orc Champions

On the edge of the village, near to the roadway which leads southwards, is a small shrine. A stone structure is dedicated to the Zenethian Champions. Beneath this are burial graves said to be for Porgorag, Wielder of the Zenethian Hook and Chain, and Morazar, Wielder of the Zenethian Swords.
In the late Fourth Age, this shrine was desecrated by demons and overtaken by thorny, red vines. After Esturk was set back to slumber, these vines crumbled and faded away.

Aktempto Mines

On the surface, the area outside the mine entrance included an administration building, which had a small, elevated porch. While a single minecart track led out of the mine, it split into three parallel lines to aid with the loading and unloading of material from the storage structures nearby.
The mine entrance led to the entry level. Nearby were a crew area with tables and chairs, as well as a refuse area filled with dirt and trash slurry. Farther inside was a side track with a corral area for extra minecarts.
Other side tunnels led to long defunct shafts. Some of these were filled with accumulated water from the surface and others showed signs of creatures or infestations, like large webs.
On the far side of this level was an elevator structure powered by a counterweight system, which led farther down to the other levels of the mines.

The Deepest Mines

Far beneath in the deepest reaches of the mines, the tunnels of the orcs reached a barrier of some kind. As they dug too deeply, an opening to a place between the Material Plane and Nadiria, the Plane of Darkness, was reached.
This was the place Esturk was set to slumber at the end of the Great War, known as Doravelzog. As a result of this breach, a passage was created to this place. This passageway was later closed by the Zenethian Heroes, who collapsed the tunnel with arcane explosions.

History

The Fourth Age: The Age of Shadow

The Great War resulted in the sinking of the Western Valley and the loss of most of the orichalcum mines. The drive to find more brought orcs to the higher reaches of the Orichalcum Peninsula, and the mines at Aktempto were started.
By the late Fourth Age, Aktempto was the last functioning orichalcum mine. As a result of the damage caused from Esturk's emergence, the rifts would eventually allow for deeper mining in the region than had been able to be attempted prior. At some point, the mines would reach too deep, breaching Doravelzog.
At some point, Psaro the Manslayer approached the sleeping Esturk, The World's End, to propose an alliance to destroy the world. Esturk laughed Psaro away.
After partially awakening, the demonic forces of Esturk would emerge, starting the Tarterian War. The mines of Aktempto were overrun and the town was destroyed. The gravesites of Porgorag and Morazar were corrupted.
On 2 Avedar 4A 996, the Zenethian Heroes attacked Aktempto, entering the mines and Doravelzog, bringing battle to the Dark Champions and Esturk, The World's End. During the battle, Zenthai, The Dragon King, was slain and Esturk was set to slumber once more.

RUINED SETTLEMENT
Late 4A 994 / Early 4A 995

Type

Town

Region
Orichalcum Peninsula
Continent
Tarteria
Plane
Material Plane