Pel-dohest (PELL-doh-HEST)
Pel-dohest is the capital city of Iyr, located on the northern shore of Lake Womander in the Dohest Valley, in the north of the Iyran peninsula. It is one of the smaller capitals by area but on average the densest by population, especially in recent years as more Iyrans seek the comforts of living in the city compared to rural and/or industrial homesteads. Its population prior to the War of the Six (c. 985AC) was around 380,000 people, which dropped to around 290,000 post-war by 1000AC.
The far older, initial settlement was the faun Coku Stead that acted as an unusual social nexus in faun and klatuut pre-history. It was established as the country's capital in 619AC, making it the youngest of the capital cities. This was largely done out of recognition of its strategic trade positioning between its neighboring countries, and the need for a centralized internal trade and education hub. With the Dohest being one of the only areas of the country with enough room and topsoil for significant agriculture, much of the country's farming and cattle-rearing takes place here.
Unlike many capitals, the country's government does not reside directly within it. Although the Earthborn Star place significant military forces to keep order in the capital, it is primarily the focal point for civilian trade and union education. Perhaps owing to its more recent establishment, it is also the first example of a city built with geometric city planning -- due to the lay of the land, it has been built as a concentric series of diamonds divided by a cross. Because the majority of the approaches to the city come from higher ground in the mountains, the city's shape is clearly visible and has led to it being called "the diamond in the valley" or "the diamond in the mountain".
Government
The Earthborn Star (remotely)
History
Speculative history suggests that Pel-dohest was the original site of the legendary Coku Stead referenced in the faun myth of "The Coku and the Kythyk’jun the Mountain-Leaper".
Founding Date
619AC
Alternative Name(s)
"The Diamond in the Mountain", "The Diamond in the Valley"
Type
Capital
Population
290,000
Inhabitant Demonym
Dohestans
Location under
Included Locations
Owning Organization
Characters in Location
Comments