Fushmyr
A large fortress at the centre of the Mktulax Domains. It serves as the capital of the Rieshim Domain, and is considered to be the most important settlement in the domains.
Demographics
- Hobgoblin 95%.
- Other 5%.
Defences
Fushmy has high stone walls dotted with towers. The walls stand around 25ft high with towers rising another 15ft above that. Both walls and towers have roofs to keep off the snow and hail which frequently fall in the domains.
There are four gates allowing access through the walls. On the north, south, and west sides there are two layers of gates. The outer gate is sometimes allowed to be breached easily so that attackers can be lured into the space between the gates before dropping a portcullis and trapping the attackers.
On the east Fushmyr is protected by the river. The Hartag bridge, which spans the river, has fortifications at both ends and forms an effective killing ground against those trying to cross. Any force that does cross the river will then have to contend with Fushmyr's walls. This set of defences is usually referred to as the triple gates.
Once through the outer wall defenders will find themselves faced with further walls which separate Fushmyr's districts and the inner wall which protects the centre of the fortress city.
Infrastructure
While not the original intention, Fushmyr has become a centre for trade. Goods flow along the river and from every corner of the domains, bringing wealth to the town. The goods and coin available in Fushmyr have attracted crafters from across the domains which has in turn attracted more people wishinmg to buy and sell.
A vast number of smithies operate in the city with the sound of armour and weapons being forged an inescapable reminder of why Fushmyr was built. On the east side of the city furnaces churn out the constant stream of metal needed to support the smithies with the river being a convenient place to dump the waste products. Water is also diverted from the river to help power the various mills.
Quays have been built on the west bank of the river to ease the transport of goods and troops. While the Hartag bridge prevents larger boats from passing, smaller vessels can travel through the arches. In any case there is usually little reason for boats to need to move past Fushmyr as trade happens to the south and troops are mostly sent to guard against the Fearshroud Domain in the north.
History
Fushmyr was contrsucted in The Third Age following the loss of Castle Dominant to the forces of The Empire and Clan Magrannor. Despite Dominant's defences finally falling it had more than proved it's worth in holding off The Empire for may years, and every warlord wanted a similar structure in their own domains. The domain of Reishim was the first to put this into action, making use of the river to transport materials needed for construction. The central keep was the first thing to be constructed, followed by what is now known as the inner wall. Within a year of being built the new fortress was attacked by legions from Drimyr and Aberus. Though the attackers were repulsed there was extensive damage to the walls, and it was decided that they needed to made taller and further reinforced.
An attack from Grus convinced Warlord Hartag to construct defences at the bridge which now bears his name. This was followed by the construction of the quays to ease the unloading of supplies. As the defences expanded Fushmyr began to look safer than many existing settlements and the members of the legions began clamouring for their families to have a place there. This made sense to Hartag as he was sure his warriors would fight more fiercely if they were also protecting their families. This led to the construction of the outer walls and the creation of the different districts in Fushmyr.
Hartag died before the outer walls were completed but his successor Lyrthel continued the great work, adding the mills and foundries to support the increasing population and military presence. The growing power of Fushmyr drew more attacks from the neighbouring domains, and an alliance between Kefli and Mukulus was able to take it from Lyrthel. Their occupation did not last long as they had underestimated how ineffective some of their legions' tactics would be in holding somewhere like Fushmyr when the population is against you. With this lesson learned the other warlords began focusing on building their own cities rather than trying to seize Fushmyr.
The warlords of Reishim decided to make good use of their central postion and strength of their defences by making Fushmyr a neutral place for discussions between domains. As it controlled the many of the major roads inking the domains it was also able to restrict which armies could easily pass and resupply. That is not to say that they tried to prevent conflict. The successive warlords were only to happy to allow other armies to pass, just as long as they paid a suitable fee in coin or goods.
Fushmyr's position as the pre-eminent settlement in the domains was reinforced towards the end of the Third Age when the lead mages and priests from each domain agreed to establish a central storehouse of knowledge in the city. Though independent of the Reishim domain, this storehouse was staffed by powerful casters who were intolerant of any who would disturb their work.
When the second wave of demon attacks signaled the end of the Third Age, it was to Fushmyr that many fled. Like with the first wave of attacks, the hobgoblins' deity struck a bargain with the demon lords to limit the number of greater demons that attacked the Mktulax Domains. The legions still had to contend with the hordes of lesser demons, and while several other fortresses fell, Fushmyr reamined mostly intact. When the demon attacks finished Fushmyr resumed it's place as the centre of the domains,
Fushmyr continued on during the fourth age much as it had during the third until Paragast emerged leading his Unstoppable Force. Previous warlords who had wanted to conquer all of the domains had generally tried to start with Fushmyr (a choice which usually led to an end to their ambitions). In contrast, Paragast left Reishim and Fushmyr alone while he conquered the east. It will never be known how he would have faired attacking Fushmyr across Hartag bridge as the Warlord of Reishim was killed when a tower in Fushmyr collapsed in a freak accident. The next leader of Fushmyr, Warlord Tudack, was sympathetic to Paragast's cause an Fushmyr was handed over without a fight. Since then it has been the headquarters for the Unstoppable Force.
Architecture
Fushmyr was based on the design of Castle Dominant (known in the south as Fort Elegar. The walls and towers are built in open imitation of the fort, but inside the design has been adapted to needs of the Mktulax. Streets and buildings are positioned for the convenience of defenders rather than residents, and anything that was considered soft or wasteful was discarded when the designs were drawn up.
With an abundence of dark stone and no shortage of goblin tribes to enslave as a labour force, the hobgoblins dod not have to compromise for the sake of costs, and in some ways Fushmyr may have superior defences to the fortress it was based on.
Buildings in Fushmyr are contructed of stone or brick, with tiled roofs. Although many argued for making roofs flat and turning each building into an archery platform, the weather meant that high narrow roofs were a more practical option. Though there is relatively little crime in Fushmyr there is enough that most buildings have a lock on the door. By law all outer doors must also be able to be barred from the inside incase attackers manage to penetrate the outer defences.
Houses in Fushmyr tend to have some of their rooms underground. Some of this is for storage, but sleeping quarters also tend to be underground as it makes it easier to keep out the wind and cold.
Geography
Those that hold Fushmyr, hold the heart of the Mktulax
Type
City
Owning Organization
Plan Gone Awry
When Fushmyr was first planned it was envisaged as a stronghold with every building and street planned out. The warlord of Reishim had assumed that places like Castle Dominant were disorganised because of a lack of planning and hadn't realised how hard it is to keep control of expansions and new buildings. While the centre of Fushmyr remains true to the original plan, the outer districts have become a muddled mess.
Fushmyr.png
Fushmyr from the triple gates
by
Tanai Cuinsear
East side of Fushmyr across Hartag bridge.
Created in Flowscape
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