Calbut

Calbut is an old Aerdi city, predating the Duchy's establishment. With its great gates protecting the entrance to Thunder Pass and its very heavily fortified, 50' tall city walls ringed with ballistae, it was as secure as any city can be, which is why treason by Steward Margeist is suspected by some in the astonishingly rapid fall of Calbut to the Fists. They were within the walls before the city troops even knew they were attacking and many were slain by them while struggling to put their armor on in the barracks.

Calbut is not only a fine stronghold which the Stonefist men prize, but it is ringed by four platinum mines in the Griffs. The human and hill dwarf miners there are enslaved, but not without cost. Stonefist men know little of mining and dislike confinement in dark areas, so they aren't exactly adept at keeping their slaves subdued. Some of the human city slaves whisper of dwarven insurrection, of passages leading to svirfnebli who provide help to the miners, and of virtual guerilla warfare in some of the mines. What they don't know is that some 40 disguised fiends wander the mines, killing any escaped slaves they see and giving information back to Iuz's most senior priest here, Marcrylk. In turn, that priest gives helpful and informed advice to the Stonefist mine masters about countering insurrection, which they appreciate. Of course, some of the rare precious metal goes to Marcrylk, some to Iuz, and some is taken by the fiends for their own purposes. But the occupiers are all happy, one way or another.

Calbut is busy, with weapons and equipment brought in from the Bandit Lands passing north. In return, the Fists trade platinum and food for it. The priests and mages of Iuz also keep a careful watch on their allies. Sevvord Redbeard himself sometimes visits from Vlekstaad or Purmill, and occasionally the city walls ring with cheers as captured Frost barbarians are dragged in chains into Calbut. However, there are often more dangerous visitations. Hill giants and ogres still storm Calbut's walls with rocks from time to time and flights of griffons attack men and riders outside the city, but Iuz's mages are usually equal to such threats.