Lakeside

Demographics

Species

Hill Dwarves - 40%
Mountain Dwarves - 20%
Humans - 10%
Halflings - 10%
Gnomes - 5%
Other Races - 15%

Districts

Religious Quarter

Lakesides religious quarter sits close to Dragon's Skull Keep, along its western wall. The district is made up of the various homes for the Clerics, Priests, and people involved in running the five temples. Those five temples being dedicated to Moradin, Helm, Kiri-Jolith, Onatar, and Ulaa, the five making a star pattern, with the area between them a large park. At the northern point of the star sits the Temple to Moradin, the eastern temple is dedicated to Helm, the western dedicated to Kiri-Jolith, the south western dedicated to Onatar, and the south eastern dedicated to Ulaa.

Merchant's Road

Not so much a road anymore, but the district still holds its original name. In the early days of the city Merchant's Road was constrained to one road down the centre of the city, and the district still remains as the centre district of the city, with all its main roads leading into the original Merchant's Road. Along the original road are buildings dating back to near the beginning of the city, with the only exception being Yorien's House of Magic, which was built at one of the end points of the road.

Guild's Square

The guild square is a long rectangular road with the Bounty Hunter's Guild on the Eastern end, and the Chef's Guild on the Western end, with the various other guilds of Lakeside along the north and south sides of the street. Along the centre of the street is a greenspace, with trees and benches around for people to sit in the shade on lunch or as a nice walk about the city.

Points of interest

Public Services

Public Library

The Lakeside Public Library, established in 984 2e, Lord Morkarin Dragonsbreath took most of the more common tome in his family's collection and offered them to the people by housing them in a newly built library. Morkarin funded the construction of the building from the Clan's reserves and created a development fund that is still in place today. Clan Dragonsbreath yearly donates 5% of that year's earnings from taxes or other income streams for the family. That donation is used by the library to restore old, worn books, as well as purchase new ones. In recent history the Library constructed two new wings, to house books and information they had bought or been donated about Erendoc and Venka. The Library is free for any member of the public to use, though donations are always appreciated. The only time the Library charges for the knowledge contained inside is if someone is overdue on a book, or a book is damaged whilst being borrowed. The standard borrowing time for a book is a fortnight, with charges of 1cp accruing every day beyond those two weeks.

Merchants

Yorien's House of Magic

Yorien's House of Magic, owned by the descendants of Wizard Yorien 'Wizbeard' Irrid, was established in the year 22 BDR / 306 4e Rularian calendar. The shop sells many kinds of magic items, as well as spell supplies, and offering enchantment services to Lakeside. Yoriens is the only establishment in Lakeside to offer enchantment services, whilst there are other stores that sell magical items to the populace. Yorien's is the only place that has a teleportation circle to Erendoc, outside of the Waylines, though it is not available to the public. The store has a circle connected to the tower in Beachholde. Since its establishment Yorien's has been a sponsor of the annual Lakeside festival, offering magical items as prizes for the festivals main two contests, the Melee and the Performance contest.

Cling's Clang's and Clank's (Triple C's)

Triple C's is one of the Blacksmiths in Lakeside, and one of the most renown for their quality, and are classed as high in quality as the castle blacksmiths. The owner and master bladesmith, Cathina Shimmerflame, is one of the few Dwarves still alive who know how to create Blessed weapons, weapons designed and created with an affinity for killing dragons. She is also known to create unique weapons and armours purely from ideas that come to her in dreams, some successful creations, however, most, are failures, which end up as a double edged sword.

Old Man Maginlee's Antique store

A small little antique store, run by Young Man Thomas, a young halfling man, with short shaggy brown hair. Filled with old antiques, and a enchanted cash register that is enchanted to be sealed when not needed to be opened, and snap closed once the cash balance has been settled in transactions.

Illumination Jewellers

A jewellery store ran by Ranor Silverfinger, a Dwarven gentleman wearing a silk shirt and comfortable trousers, he constantly wears a Loupe that he adjusts to either be magnifying or work as a simple monocle. His skin tone is tanned, with white hair and a white beard. The store is a relatively large building on Merchants Road, inside is filled with cabinets displaying various different types of jewellery, some is displayed with note of the original creator, some have no notes (which when asked is explained as he is not sure who the original maker was - generally was sold these items from adventures who claimed them from dungeons)

The Trick Sleeve

A local pawn shop, whilst it's technically not supposed to sell illegal items, it has been known by some Thieves' circles as a fence. However, when searched by the guards the stolen items thought to be fenced through the store are no where to be found. The shop is ran by an old half-Elf named Oshara Talli'ne, looking around his third century, with a dark silver hair, with specks of silver brown, that grow less and less by the day. He is normally seen wearing a dressing gown like robes. The store is located off the main Merchant Road, tucked away, with a shop window showing all sorts of jewellery and low magic items that have been sold to the store.

Guilds

Performers Guild

The Performers Guild of Lakeside are ran out of a large theatre in Guild Square. The building is three stories, with the first story being split into the lobby, lower seating and stage, the second and third floors are split, have more seating that looks downwards towards the stage and offices, small rehearsal rooms, and writing rooms. The stage is a Proscenium Stage, with trapdoors along the stage that open up into the under stage for stage pieces or actors/performers to make a dramatic entrance, rising from below. Backstage the theatre descends into a basement where the green room and performers dressing rooms sit.

Bounty Hunter's Guild

The Bounty Hunter's Guild, a recognised organisation across Rularia, and has expanded into Erendoc, and beginning to expand into Venka. The original guild was established in Horan's Rise during Rularia's 4th era, and grew as Rularia became a united front. The Lakeside branch of the guild operates all the bounties and jobs for members inside the regions of Clan Dragonsbreath. The building is a large four story building that towers above the other buildings around Guild Square, only sitting in the shadow of Dragon Skull Keep. The first floor is an open planned area, with four large doors opening up to the north, south, east and west, in the centre of the room is a fight ring, where members of the guild can train against each other. There are training dummies and archery targets around the room as well for solo training. The second floor is reached via two staircases, one in the north east corner, and one in the south west, with a mezzanine overlooking the fight ring. The second floor is sectioned off into offices and meeting rooms for the clerks and administrators of the Guild. The northern area of the second floor is separated into a large office, for the Governess of the Lakeside Guild branch, with a large window leading to a balcony. The third floor is accessed by stairs on the second floor, one in the north west corner and one in the south east, and is separated into rooms for members to stay in whilst in town. Many members still prefer to stay in a tavern or inn, but the guild rooms are free for use by any members. The fourth floor is mainly storage, but many members believe their is something or someone mysterious hidden away. Some say it's an oracle only used by the Governess, some claim its a repository of ancient artefacts. The Governess of the Lakeside branch is a woman by the name of Lyra.

Chef's Guild

The Chef's guild is a large circular building, with a domed roof. The building is spilt into rings, with open arches moving through each ring on the 8 points of the compass. The first ring is filled with seats, the second ring has lots of different vendors of food and beverages from all over Rularia. During the Lakeside festival vendors from Erendoc and Venka come to spread their culture through their foods. The final and inner ring has a large pillar with stairs wrapping around, and platforms leading off from the staircase into open offices for members of the guild to operate from.

Pubs/Inns/Restaurants

The Loud Bears Bar

A small back ally dive bar and inn, known to be the local haunt for Shifters, Lycan's and animilistic people (Ursinefolk, Harengon, Tabaxi, Leonin, so on). It is owned by Ori Longclaw, a black bear Ursinefolk, who wears a white shirt with the sleeves rolled up, an large apron, and small spectacles on the end of his snout when reading. The second and third floors are rooms to rent, with each room having a window that either looks outwards to the alleyway or outwards to the small backroad behind the tavern.

Dancing Dragon Inn

A three storied building, with a large area for seating downstairs, and an open view into the kitchen. The kitchen itself has a large oven in the centre shaped like a Dragon, with its jaws open to cook food inside. The bar of the tavern is a ring in the centre of the room, with a pillar in the centre, and shelves of beverages hanging around the pillar. The second and third floor being rooms for rent, with a basement for storing beverages; in the basement is a room enchanted with a frost enchantment to keep the drinks and food inside cool. The owner of the tavern, Ranelyn 'Nana' Hearthkeeper, an older Dwarven lady in her late second century. Fine, wispy grey hair falling down to her waist, with a slight stubble across her face, preferring to keep clean shaven. She is a slightly rounder woman, with a soft voice, always ready with a warm fire, good food, and better ale. The barkeep her grandson, Kilim Hearthkeeper. A young dwarven lad, barley older than a half century, wild ginger hair, tied back into a very messy bun, and a short beard. He keeps fit, a strong lad lifting barrels and crates that his grandmother can no longer can.

Felled Tree Bistro

The Felled Tree Bistro is a small restaurant built inside an around a tree that was struck by lightning and ended up dying. The Felled Tree Bistro built a building around the dead tree, using the tree as a set piece in the centre of the building, using it to grow herbs and seasonings used in the food sold. The owner, a Wood Elf named Lillien Loraven, they moved to Lakeside as a child from Northemia, moving with their family, growing up mainly in the Dwarven city. They are in their late first century, with short brown hair.

Government Buildings

Dragon's Skull Keep

The Dragon's Skull Keep is the original castle built by Gorand Dragonsbreath. Its name comes from the large Dragon skull the castle is built in and around, said to have been a large Greatwyrm that Gorand slew, which bestowed upon him the legendary power he is claimed to have possessed. A Draconic breath attack. The castle itself has expanded beyond the original keep, with clear design changes present depending on the Dragonsbreath clan member who heralded an expansion. The original keep was built mainly inside the Dragon's skull, built using other elements of the Dragon's skeleton, towers coming out around the skull built from ribcages or teeth. The areas of the keep that were made from stone to reinforce the skull or in bridges were made from the Bracken stone of the Condrata Range. There is very little wood in the original keep, any that existed has either rotted away or been replaced over the years with harder woods available through importing. The next development of the Keep came in 326 2e when Lord Orion Dragonsbreath expanded the keep, alongside a great expansion of Lakeside as a whole. Orion developed the castle more by using the new quarries to the south around the Whitrock Basin, and the white limestone found around the area. Records of the construction claim that Orion chose to expand using the limestone instead of the Bracken stone to make the castle appear as though it continued to grow using bones. Though this has come to be disputed as the records were either from poets or bards, rather than actual official documentation. It was around this time that the architecture of Lakeside was adapted to have the Burnt Orange painted slate roofs, a design that was added to the Keep. The castle had a small expansion after Orions, coming around 600 2e by Orion's grandson, Lord Morkarin Dragonsbreath. This expansion is the smallest of them all, only adding the Court Wizard tower to the keep, the entire tower's stone being enchanted with a warding spell, as well as cleansing, to prevent the tower from weathering and staining. The next expansion has been the most controversial one, coming in 623 3e, many years after the coronation of the Dragon Queen Mifeath in Polantia, and whilst Dragon kind are valued as equals in Polantia, in Ixmoria some still held onto the adversity against the Dragons. As such, Lord Thorston 'Wyrm Blade' Dragonsbreath, heralded his expansion of the keep by taking the remains of Dragons he felled in the Dwarves' war against the Dragons and using them in his expansion of the keep. Though none as large as the Great Wyrm skull used by Gorand originally, Thorston's crowning accomplishment was the slaying of the Dragon Kiraxith, an ancient Black Dragon that had come to reside in the Condrata Range during the early part of the 3rd era. Throughout Kiraxith's claim over the mountains they had been responsible for the closing of three separate mines in the Range, and so when Thorston felled the creature, he was regarded as a hero. Kiraxiths skull can still be found in the keep, having the 'Black Drake Gate' built inside the skull. The scales of many other Dragons were also installed across the keep as defences against any future Dragons that may attack the city. This expansion was, and still is especially to the Dragon kind, and the Dragons alive during this time, seen as needless cruelty against their kind. And whilst the Dwarves swore to Polantia towards the end of the 3rd era, around 1045 3e, that they would no longer kill the Dragons who attacked their people, without first involving Polantia to see if the Dragonborn nation could broker negotiations with the Dragon in question, they refused to remove the remains used in the construction of Dragon Skull Keep, as well as other locations across Ixmoria built with Dragon remains. The main vocal person in their refusal of removing the remains was the elderly son of Thorston, Roriton Dragonsbreath. The final and most recent development of Dragon's Skull Keep, came a few years before the Draconic Resurgence, around 313 4e / 15 BDR. With the aid of the Wizard Yorien 'Wizbeard' Irrid, of Yorien's House of Magic, who alongside his work as a business owner, was the appointed Court Wizard of Lord Benmus Dragonbreath, the aforementioned Lord sought to engrave warding enchantments across the Keep, not just in the wizard's tower. Benmus had enchantments against physical attacks engraved around the Keep, as well as enchantments against Divination and Teleportation. Benmus also oversaw the installation of many Erendocian siege weapons along the Keeps walls, being the first in Ixmoria, to begin using technology created by the distant people of the western continent in everyday use and defence, adopting the use of Sparkglass and primitive versions of Lightbox technology as lights throughout the keep, instead of torches or magical lights.

Religious Sites

Temple to Moradin

The Northern point of the religious quarter's star of Temples, and the eldest Temple in Lakeside. Dedicated to Moradin the site originally had the hut of the region's shaman years before Lakesides founding. Once the Dragon Skull Keep was built and more people gathered around it, the hut was built around, and preserved, with the Temple dedicated to Moradin, the Dwarven God of Creation. It was said by the people around that time that the shaman was a descendant of Moradin, and that by building their city around the home of this descendant, the community would be blessed by Moradin and continue to grow and prosper. Over time the temple has grown into the site it is today, a large building, comprised mainly of Bracken Stone, with large black Marble pillars outside. Adorning the temple are etchings of the history of Lakeside, with golden accents lining the walls and pillars throughout the temple. The entrance is flanked by two large statues of Moradin, each holding a Sun and Moon, carved out of the same black marble as the pillars out front. However, the Suns are made out of dark orange Fire Rocks, and the Moons made out of the white Limestone from the Whitrock Quarries. Inside the Temple is the original shaman hut, preserved by the priests and clerics dedicated to Moradin. Around the hut is the Temples herb garden, where the clerics grow all the medicinal herbs and flora they need. Above the hut is a large glass dome, letting in sunlight for the garden, and hanging from the dome a sphere made of three bronze rings. Those rings create a miniature version of the sun, as well as simulated rainfall, with some added nutrients to aid the growth of the plants.

Temple to Helm

The Eastern point of the religious quarter's star of Temples, dedicated to Helm, God of Protection. The temple is a large building made of Bracken Stone, with large white metal plates adorned to the side of the walls and pillars, symbolising armour Helm is known for. The large dark wooden doors of the temple have carvings of warhammers, set against a backdrop of stars.

Temple of Kiri-Jolith

The Western point of the religious quarters star of Temples, is dedicated to Kiri-Jolith, God of Honour and War. The temple is designed like a fort, with exterior walls surrounding a inner keep. Along the walls are battlements shaped like Dwarves holding shields, the walls being built out of Bracken Stone, with timber reinforcements, the statuesque battlements being chiselled marble.

Temple to Onatar

The South Western point of the star of Temples is dedicated to Onatar, being built as a large workshop, with cogs lining the walls and two large anvil statues out the front.

Temple of Ulaa

The South Eastern point of the star of Temples is dedicated to Ulaa. The temple is built inside an artificial hill in the city, with a park atop the hill. The inside of the temple is filled with various types of stone and precious metals and gemstones, the Dwarves believing that Ulaa is responsible for every type of metal, stone and gem, and without her no other Dwarven God could exist; baring Moradin.

Security/Military Buildings

The Boat House Barracks

The barracks of Lakeside, named The Boat House Barracks, are situated on the shoreline of Lakeside, it's main site being an old shipyard from when Clan Dragonsbreath held a portion of the Ixmorian Navy. The barracks have slowly grown outside the shipyard, along the shoreline, with the backside of the site against the walls of the Dragon's Skull Keep. The barracks are walled in, their walls shorter than that of the Keep, but still highly defended, with siege weapons, catapults and ballista's, lining the walls, the walls designed with an outward slope, preventing the use of ladders to scale them. The Dwarves of Dragonsbreath army are trained at the Boat House, and are trained to fight on dirt, sand, and in water; aquatic combat training unique for this region of Ixmoria, Clan Stormborn are the only region that put their soldiers through similar training.

Entertainment Buildings

Tourism

The Annual Lakeside Festival

Takes Place: 12th-18th Uller The annual festival of Lakeside attracts visitors from all over, historically only being the other Dwarven cities, then the other Rularian countries, and with the invention and implement of the Waylines, tourists from Erendoc and Venka. The festival is an opportunity for people to come together and compete in a variety of contests, from a musical talent showcase, to a contest of strength and battle spirit. During the festival the whole city comes together for the length of the week long festivities, only those in hospitality continuing to work, the week of festivities being a great boost to their business. The festival was originally established in the 1st era of Rularia shortly after Clan Dragontide united and settled Lakeside. The original festival was about bringing the families of the Clan to come together, share stories, showcase their talents, and grow together. As the other Ixmorian Clans formed, they started to flock to Lakeside's festival, eager to share their stories and have a time of peace amongst all Dwarves, something that is believed to be the catalyst to the formation of the Capital and the Ixmorian Parliament. In the festival that followed the Dark-Wing Empire war, Lakeside saw the largest influx of outsiders coming to the festival, Dragonborn who fought alongside the Dwarves, Humans eager to prove themselves after their country was saved, the only outsiders who weren't massively present were the Elves, still unsure of their place in Rularia after the broken promises of their King. In that contest, the winner of the Warrior challenge was the Dragonborn prince Vrakdorium, the irony of a Dragon-kin winning Clan Dragonsbreath's melee was not lost on the Dwarves, nor the others in Rularia.

Architecture

The city of Lakeside is mainly comprised of the Hill Dwarven architectural stylings of the rest of Ixmoria; being a stone lower floor and foundation made of the local stone (in Lakeside the stone being Bracken Stone, a dark grey Sedimentary stone mined from the nearby Condrata Range), with the second floor being made from a dark hard wood, with a Burnt Orange painted Slate roofs.

Geography

The geography of Lakeside, is as the name says, by a Lake. Nestled along the southern shore of the Condrata Lake, the city stands against the flat grasslands as a beacon seen for miles. The best place for the average person to take in the beauty of the city is either from the Lake, looking southward at the city, the Dragon Skull Keep and the rest of the city reflected in the water, or from the outside the Western gate of the city, seeing the city set against the snow-capped Condrata mountains, the masts of the fishing vessels gently rising and falling against the waves.

Natural Resources

Farmlands Clam and Pearl Farms Freshwater Seaweed

Founding Date

514 1e / 3419 BDR

Alternative Name(s)

Kirentol (Lakeside in Dwarvish)

Population

50,780 as of 280 DR

Inhabitant Demonym

Lake Folk (Orginially Lake Dwarves)

Location under

Ixmoria - Country

Owning Organization

Clan Dragonbreath

Related Reports (Primary)