Hamu-Rak
A great city flying high in the sky, atop the tallest peak deep in the Lilac mountain range. Built and inhabited by Goliaths, this city is scaled to be much larger than human cites, and has eyries in it for Dragons to rest when they visit. Hamu-Rak is the first real Goliath city since the Imperium wars.
Demographics
The city is largely made up of Goliaths, but frost and storm giants come to live here at times, and metallic dragons, especially silver dragons, often make their homes in its colossal caverns and soaring spires.
Government
In the cities main square rests a stone pillar with all of the city's laws carved into it, called the Imlad. A Judicial organization called the Imladric order is appointed by the king to see to the interpretation of the law. A hereditary king is in power, and has the ability to create new laws, but cannot change or erase existing laws, as they are quite literally set in stone. When a new law is decreed, it is carved into the pillar. The title of king can be won in a contest of strength or intelligence, so the kingship rarely rests in the hands of one family for long.
Defences
The city is built atop a tall mountain, making it nearly impossible to approach, much less attack, unless you have wings and can fly in the often fierce winds that plague the area. The Humura built a tall wall of carved stone around the city as well, and have many defenses in place to ward off attacks from both the ground and sky. Many of their most elite warriors are trained to ride Rocs into battle. They have made good friends with the Metallic dragons that live nearby, and often host them in their grand eyries. Such Allies would likely come to their aid if the Goliaths found themselves in such a crisis.
Industry & Trade
The Goliaths send caravans into both the little kingdom and other small communities near their home, to trade their impressive textiles, arms, armor, and other manufactured goods, as well as exotic goods such as mammoth tusks and meat, or yeti teeth. In exchange, they bring back food and raw materials that they cannot get at home.
Infrastructure
The great architects of the Hamura created great wind mills to take advantage of the constant and sometimes incredible winds that blow past their mountain peak. They use these to power much of their industry, including processing grains, supplying air to their furnaces, and powering the pulley system utilized in their great mines.. They do little farming and largely live off of traded produce, as well as fish and game that their hunters bring back to them. Their great mages have discovered how to preserve food almost indefinitely, as well as conjuring food out of thin air (a necessity for supporting such a large population atop an isolated peak). The Hamura excel at hunting, and it is considered a milestone in a young Goliaths life the first time they bring down some form of big game single handed, such as a dire wolf, mammoth, or yeti. They are also excellent craftsmen and architects, carving their city into the mountain top and building structures that could withstand the terrifying winds and storms that blow through in the winter.
Assets
Stone and ore is in abundance in the mountains, and Hamu-Rak is not in want of lumber either. Their culture values minimalism, and as such, few live lavish or cluttered life styles, preferring a more spartan way of life. They do, however, strive to put their best work into anything they create, so Hamurik buildings will be covered in carving patterns,as well as carvings that tell stories from their history and legends.
Guilds and Factions
Hamu-rak may be a united city, but its inhabitants still have a somewhat tribal disposition. Every Goliath belongs to a family, and those families all coexist within the city. At times there is strife and ill will between the families, but in general they choose to live peacefully for the good of the community. Many families specialize in certain skills, such as smithing, carpentry, stone carving, architecture, and alchemy. Often members of all families join the Ragonak, the iced hall, where Hamu-raks standing army lives and trains. They also act as the professional hunters in the city, though it is a favored past time of many Goliath. Other's choose to mine the rich and expansive tunnels underneath the city. Hamu-Rak boast a small but quality school of magic and artifice, called the Cayllium. Not many Goliaths dedicated themselves to the art of magic, but those who do grow to rival the greatest mages of the Little Kingdom. Finally, there is the Igresild, the guild of the code, Goliaths who dedicated themselves to the political and philosophical codes of their city, as well as other cultures. It is often from this guild that the members of Imladric order are chosen.
History
The city of Hamu-Rak was settled by the survivors of the Imperium war in 9 AA. Goliaths from all over quickly flocked to it, gladly accepting the peace and security that such a stronghold could provide. within 100 years, it had become one of the largest gatherings of Goliaths in the world. Hamu-Rak has existed in relative peace, as very few forces would dare attack it. In 443 AA, their great hunters and warriors helped a silver dragon defeat an ancient red dragon and his allies that was gathering power in the area, and earned a great friend in the the metallic dragons who lived nearby. Their architecture reflects this, as their city is full of areas that dragons can easily traverse even in their draconic form. The mountain under them is also riddled with huge caverns and tunnels that make excellent places for dragons to stay when visiting or even to live, which many younger dragons choose to do. In 634 AA, they opened trade with the little kingdom, though only rumors of massive men and women in pelts and furs peddling crafted goods of exceptional quality ever reach the ears of any outside of Mythrandos and Paravel, and their city among the stars is but a rumor and legend even to them.
Architecture
The architecture of Hamu-Rack is a form of art to the Goliaths there. Their architects are some of the greatest in the world, and devise buildings of incredible strength and beauty that enhance and compliment the rugged and dangerously beautiful snow covered peaks surrounding them. Hamurik buildings are built much larger than human buildings to cater to not only the Goliath, but also the frost and storm giants, and even dragons that often make their homes here. Their streets are large enough for an adult dragon to turn around in, and are set in circled tiers surrounding the peak, each tier getting smaller and smaller as it goes up. The walls around Hamu-Rak are built to withstand the force of glaciers and the weight of the largest dragons. And every stone that is cut is carved with symbols, patterns, and images depicting their history, legends, and the story of the world itself. Great arches and domes dot the city, and huge eyries are scattered about for dragons and tamed Rocs to roost. There is one road up the mountain to the city, purposefully small for a Goliath road, but large enough for trading caravans to travel up and down it. It's bridges span great chasms and ravines, turning into not much more than a foot path as it nears the Great Planescape Basin. Finally, the palace at the peak of the mountain shoots its spires up into the sky, its massive soaring towers touching the roof of the world. Great riches are held within the palace, ancient artifacts of great power, and works of art worth more than small countries. At night, the magical lights that illuminate the city can be seen from miles around, and look like a great constellation in the sky, but during the day, the city of stars is revealed in all of its majesty and glory.
Geography
The city of Hamu-Rak is set upon the tallest mountain peak in the Lilac mountain range. It is surrounded by tall mountain peaks and deep valleys and ravines. Snow storms are common throughout the year. In the winter, the great winds howl through the mountains, and even dragons fear to fly in such gales.
Natural Resources
Hamu-Rak has an abundance of stone, ore, and lumber right around them, as well as sources of fur, meat, and other animal products. Outside of this, they must travel far to gather or trade for resources.
Alternative Name(s)
The City of Stars
Type
City
Population
10,000
Inhabitant Demonym
Hamura
Owner/Ruler
Characters in Location
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