Blackgate City

Little is known about this old city located deep underground, asides from that the Red-Mountain Dwarves have reclaimed parts of it decades ago and use it as a connection point for some of their mining expeditions. Throughout the years, some caravans have been guided to this city, which are the only source of information we have. According to them, the dwarves themselves also seem to know little about the original city.
Supposedly, a small scouting group of cavern elves and drow first discovered the city, reporting back to the dwarves about what they found. For over a year the dwarves and their allies carefully explored the perimeter before moving into the city itself. Eventually they dared consider the place safe enough to rebuild parts of it.
As for who lived there before, or what caused it to become abandoned, the dwarves stay mum. But the occasional loose tongue mentions traces of battle against a large creature, with many dying without a fight yet others having gone down fighting. These traces are old, but the dwarves are not foolish enough to assume the situation will not occur again.

Current status

Nowadays Blackgate City had three of its gates rebuilt, as well as a significant part of its walls and tunnels. The locals refuse to show most of their fortifications to visitors, only letting them use specific corridors designed to let entire caravans pass through. It does seem as if they managed to rebuild enough to seek shelter whenever needed.
The dwarves, as well as their allies, now use the city as a midway point on their expeditions, as well as a trading post for anything they do not want to first bring to their home mountains. These expeditions can take years and would take years more circumventing the city, making its safety paramount.

Owners

Red-Mountain Dwarves

Residents

• Primarily Red-Mountain Dwarves
• Smaller group of Cavern Elves
• Rumoured small amount of Drow

State

Partially reconstructed

Construction

Fortified, partially collapsed