Citadel Felbarr

Citadel Felbarr in the Silver Marches was originally a dwarven citadel of over 25,000 dwarves that at different times in history had belonged to Dwarves, Humans, Orcs, and, since 1367 DR, once again the dwarves.

Industry & Trade

Citadel Felbarr often traded with Beorunna's Well, Quaervarr, Silverymoon, and Sundabar. It also exchanged caravans with Mithral Hall.

Infrastructure

Citadel Felbarr is a towering testament to dwarven fortification, nestled deep within the Rauvin Mountains. The approach to this underground fortress is daunting, with an elevated road flanked by sheer 100-foot cliffs on both sides. Any would-be invader must first pass through two enormous gates—aptly named the Hammer and the Anvil—before reaching the main entrance. These gates are guarded by two defensive outposts, the North Vigil and South Vigil, built into the nearby mountainsides and equipped with ballistae and catapults, ready to unleash devastating volleys upon intruders from above.
The road to Felbarr leads to the imposing Runegate, the entrance to the subterranean city. Beyond the gates, Citadel Felbarr sprawls deep beneath the mountains, with tunnels extending to its vast mines and connecting to distant dwarven strongholds like Mithral Hall and Citadel Adbar, as well as the treacherous Underdark.
Though Felbarr is a massive city, nearly invisible to the surface world, its interior remains shrouded in mystery, especially to outsiders. The citadel has been invaded by orcs multiple times in its long history, and no accurate maps of its full interior are known to exist. For the dwarves, however, the maze of tunnels and chambers is second nature. Intricate runes and shorthand carvings serve as guides for dwarven visitors, though most humans, unable to read Dwarvish, find themselves lost within the citadel's depths.
The architecture of Citadel Felbarr reflects both the precision of dwarven engineering and the unyielding resilience needed to defend against centuries of invasions, making it one of the most fortified cities in the North.

History

Early History

Originally a part of Delzoun, Citadel Felbarr was completed in −1900 DR.
In the Year of the Delighted Dwarves, three Dwarf clans hailing from Ammarindar and Citadel Felbarr migrated to Myth Drannor.
In around 1054 DR, the dwarves abandoned Citadel Felbarr. The humans of Silverymoon quickly took advantage of this massive citadel and garrisoned it with over 3,000 troops. They hoped to use it as a base from which to Scout the Coldwood and Ice Mountains in order to find timber, gold, and silver, but almost immediately found themselves skirmishing with orcs.
After the Battle of Many Arrows in 1104 DR, which lasted many months, the citadel was captured by orcs and renamed the Citadel of Many Arrows.

14th Century

In the Year of the Shield, 1367 DR, Citadel Felbarr was recaptured by a force of dwarves led by Emerus Warcrown, alongside a contingent of soldiers from Silverymoon, when King Obould's forces were exhausted after battling for four months against another Orc tribe led by King Greneire.

15th Century

Emerus Warcrown was still king as of 1479 DR.
In the Year of the Nether Mountain Scrolls, 1486 DR, King Emerus Warcrown abdicated his throne and title to join Bruenor Battlehammer on the march to reclaim Gauntlgrym. The king was replaced by Parson Glaive.
Some time after, the throne was given over to the royal couple King Morinn and Queen Tithmel, a pair of wise monarchs who made it a point to rule as equals.

Points of interest

• The Hammer
• The first gate, comprising two 40-foot-high stone gates, on the path to The Runegate.
• The Anvil
• The second gate, comprising two 30-foot-high stone gates, on the path to the Runegate, also where the path crossed the river.
• The Runegate
• A pair of stone doors each 20-foot-square and 3-feet-thick. Covered in 32 deadly runes, these gates were considered to be the greatest accomplishment of the dwarves in the reoccupation of Citadel Felbarr.
• North Vigil
• A defensive area overlooking the path to the Runegate, complete with heavy catapults and ballistae. Completed before the winter of 1372 DR.
• South Vigil
• A defensive area overlooking the path to the Runegate, complete with heavy catapults and ballistae.
• Hall of Ceremony
• A high cavern, part natural and part carved, with a large fireplace and the king's throne on a raised dais.
• Cemetery
• The most revered part of the citadel. It was where Clan Warcrown was buried. It was always under construction for expansion. The oldest chamber was large with many tunnels and smaller rooms.

Geography

Citadel Felbarr was located at the base of the Rauvin Mountains along the River Redrun, with Silverymoon Pass to the south and Sundabar Vale to the east. A trade route connected Felbarr to Sundabar to the southeast and Beorunna's Well to the northwest beyond the Cold Wood. The Citadel sat about as far up the River Redrun as was navigable, meaning that the citadel was connected by river all the way down through the River Dessarin.
Citadel Felbarr had tunnels in the upper Upperdark that connected it to Mithral Hall in the west.

Type

Citadel

Population

~6,987