Icarros
Icarros differs greatly from the other dwarven strongholds scattered across the Stoneheart Mountains. Built atop the remnants of an ancient Hyperborean outpost, which in turn rested upon the ruined foundation of a shrine dedicated to a deity lost to the annals of time, Icarros lacks the thick walls and imposing defenses found in Erod Flan or Abad Durhai. Instead, the city entrusts its defenses to its elevation and the mountain’s natural protections. The city’s residents occupy a network of chambers and tunnels carved into the mountainside. At a staggering height of 19,223 feet, it takes most humanoids several weeks to acclimate to the dizzying altitude, making it impossible to simply march up the mountain, which is accessible by several well-worn passes. Constantly buffeted by strong winds and bitter cold, Icarros’ residents rely upon their resourcefulness and cleverness to survive under these brutal conditions. For a few brief months during the mild summer, the dwarves farm the terraced landscape while making hunting forays in the valleys and foothills surrounding the mountain. For the remainder of the year, Icarros’ inhabitants hunker down within their mountain halls, subsisting on their stores from the fleeting growing season as well as lichens, mushrooms, and other plants harvested from artificial greenhouses within the heart of their mountain.
Icarros is the northernmost bulwark of dwarven civilization in the Stoneheart Mountains and the political capital of Clan Tusov. Isolated from their dwarven brethren to the south, Icarros’ residents share few of the cultural traits of their counterparts. Indeed, these mountain dwarves are slightly taller than average, which leads many of them to believe they possess some Nûklander lineage. They usually attribute their unique physical characteristics to the clan’s brief interactions with the Hundaei, which makes them exceptionally wary of any Hyperborean resurgence in the area or settlements that emulate their traditions and practices.
The dwarves of Clan Tusov place more emphasis on loyalty and fidelity to their leaders than familial bonds. They live by the motto, “One’s deeds outweigh their blood.” The ideology stems from the fact that Icarros began its existence as a remote frontier outpost for dwarves who caused trouble within their own clans. In time, dwarves who fell out of favor with their clans and those seeking a higher status voluntarily migrated to the mountaintop settlement. The city’s ruler, Her Exalted Highness Mother Edele Wargawn Tusov, rewards subjects who embrace this philosophy rather than tout their family’s accomplishments. The prevailing outlook works hand in hand with her patronage of Grox who also extols the virtues of personal gain over the public good. Her exalted highness embodies these principles and uses her control of the legal system to funnel more riches into her coffers at the expense of others. Those who run afoul of her grand ambitions face her retinue of devious judges and fiery prosecutors, disparagingly referred to by many as the Immutable Gavels. To avoid her legion of solicitors, many dwarves quietly lead anonymous lives in what outwardly appears to be an oppressive society. Others see opportunity in a domain where talent supersedes birthright. The sky is the limit as long as one’s interests do not conflict with those of her exalted highness.
Despite Icarros’ impressive altitude, the mountain’s summit towers an additional 12,000 feet above the city. Rumors insist yetis and an unknown offshoot race of humanoids live among the clouds at these dangerous elevations. While these tales circulate through the city like seeds on the wind, finding anyone who has seen either of these creatures proves nearly impossible.
Capital
Icarros, City of
Type
Capital
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