Throal
Located beneath the Throal Mountains in central Barsaive, the dwarf kingdom’s influence extends back to before the Scourge, when the dwarfs acted as provincial administrators for the Theran Empire. As the Scourge approached, and the Therans retreated to their island homeland, it fell to the dwarfs of Throal to do what they could to prepare Barsaive for the Scourge.
The distribution of the Book of Tomorrow made the dwarf language the de facto common tongue of Barsaive. Dwarven philosophers and scholars developed the ideas that led to the rejection of slavery and set the province on the path of throwing off the Theran yoke. Many adventurers are sponsored by the Kingdom, and the reach and influence of the Throalic merchant houses is unparalleled.
THE GATES OF THROAL
These three truly massive granite arches were once all that stood between the people of Throal and the Scourge beyond the walls. Now they stand open in proud defiance, as both a testament to the will to endure and the courage to face what may yet come. Each arch spans a space 50 yards wide and 100 yards high, separated from each other by a vast block of granite 50 yards wide and 30 yards deep. The now open doors themselves are equally impressive, constructed as they are of magically augmented stone, wood, interlaced with kernels of True Earth and True Wood set in frames wrought of iron and orichalcum. The doors are each 10 feet thick.THE GRAND BAZAAR
During the day, the Grand Bazaar is an explosion of colors, sounds, and smells. Shopkeepers and street vendors loudly hawk their wares, the aroma of perfumes and charred meat lingers in the air, and the cacophonous din of all this activity registers as a constant background hum of noise and life. There is a method to the madness, however, and the officials responsible for licensing the merchants ensure that stalls and booths providing the same goods and services are grouped to encourage competition and fair pricing. But at night, it's a different story. The streets clear and stalls and booths are left deserted, boarded up for the evening. Aside from the occasional guard patrol, the Bazaar is eerily silent and still.THE DAHNAT
Immediately beyond the Bazaar, you will find the region know as the Dahnat, the most impoverished and rundown neighborhoods of Throal. Populated mostly by beggars and other people who have fallen on hard times. Simple, one-room dwellings line the halls and tunnels, and potentially housing up to 20 or more family members in very close quarters. Some shops do operate in the Dahnat, selling threadbare goods and other low-quality provisions. This region is also home to several of the industries that make use of cheap labor, such as weaver workshops and tanneries. For an adventurer down on their luck, accommodations can be procured from shabby flophouses for as little as a copper a night. Don't expect much more than a mat on the floor, though, with the expectation that you'll find your meals elsewhere.THE WEDSHEL
This is where the Throalic equivalent of a middle class make their homes and run their businesses. Though not so destitute as those in the Dahnat, the residents of the Wedshel are by no means fabulously wealthy. They are simply the average citizenry of Throal. Typical homes of the Wedshel neighborhoods are typically hewn directly from the mountainsides and all relatively similar in construction. These dwellings are much more spacious and accommodating than those found in the southern Dahnat neighborhoods, and often incorporate a large single sleeping area for all members of the household, as well as separate rooms for dining, cooking, socializing, and storage. Lodging is the Wedshel is typically available for 1-3 silver pieces a night, with meals included. Though these inns are by no means the epitome of comfort and luxury, tenants can reasonably expect some privacy and a bed to lay their heads. This region of Throal is also home to dozens of local neighborhood taverns. You're likely to find something for just about any taste, and many establishments cater to a specific clientele.THE ESTATES
Toward the farthest ends of the Halls of Throal, one will find the Estates. These impressive manors house the wealthiest of Throal's citizens. These properties are rarely if ever sold, and tend to remain in a single family's ownership down through the generations. Estate homes are large enough to house separate families all with individual sleeping quarters, and many also offer sleeping quarters for servants and staff. Many also include workshops or offices that allow their wealthy residents to conduct their business or passion projects within the comfort of their own home. Additionally, most estates also include an armory, barracks, ballroom and dining hall, and private libraries.THE GREAT LIBRARY
The Great Library is a massive complex situated in the heart of Throal's Inner Kingdom. The sheer extent of the collections housed within are rivaled only by the Eternal Library of Thera. In addition to featuring countless tomes and texts available for perusal by the general public, certain other books and scrolls are available only by request, and only if your application to view them is approved by the head librarian. The Library is fully staffed by librarians and their apprentices, who have each spent years learning the intricacies of the elaborate filing system used to catalog the contents of the Library. The facility itself also houses the private quarters of the Head Librarian. The Library is also equipped with an enormous storage room, where many centuries worth of books, artifacts, and perhaps even unimaginable danger lie forgotten within the dusty stacks.CRYSTAL GREENHOUSES
The Crystal Greenhouses are an astounding feat of magical engineering and served as Throal's lifeline during the centuries when the gates remained closed against the Scourge outside. There are 30 such greenhouses in total, all situated together in the very most northern reaches of Throal's halls. The roof of each greenhouse is fitted with an intricate array of thousands of magically altered crystals that have been specially designed to give off artificial sunlight. In addition to supplying the whole Kaer with the fruits, vegetables, and roots necessarily for survival, a handful of the greenhouses were dedicated to growing a curious plant called Stoveplant, a stalky hybrid plant that has only a rudimentary leaf and root system with a disproportionately thick woody stem which burns slowly, giving off ample heat, and produces very little smoke.THE MINES
The Throal mountains contain many minerals and precious metals within its depths, including silver, gold, and orichalcum. Generation upon generation of Dwarf mining has lead to a complex network of tunnels around Throal as miners seek to uncover these riches. These passageways now extend dozens of miles in all directions from Throal's center, and miners continue to excavate new passages and shafts. However, any such tunnels have fallen into disuse or have been almost entirely forgotten, except by those who choose these passageways as an ideal location to meet in secret.
Type
Large city