The Dragons Skull

High upon the Mountain of Uruz there is a city which lies hidden within the Skull of Fyrphas, an ancient dragon. From its frontal bone, where many local cultures believe that the third eye is located, sits the Mind-Throne of Fyrphas . Despite its isolationist tendencies the city welcomes any who are able to find it, for those that enter the maw are few. They have no need to prove themselves, for to scale the mountain and face its perils is no easy feat. Many villagers who live near the base of the mountain have received strange visions, waking nightmares, of the ancient dragon. Fyrphas summons them, beckoning them to an early death. For to sit upon the throne is to invite madness. Few have been able to harness its power.
Those that inhabit this city have carved homes into the bones of the beast, carving their own civilization into Fyrphas the Ancients skull and neck. The bone walls hold a faint warmth, an unnatural warmth where unbearable cold should be. Hundreds more are sustained by the nutrient enriched soil, wherein crops manage to flourish in clearings of forests, and the few animals that are raised grow far larger than their counterparts. A small lake has formed beneath the massive jaw of the beast, from which waters pool into the lake constantly. During the seasons of great rains, excess water trickles down the mountain easier. The strange water holds mercurial properties. Those that study magic, alchemists in particular often employ commoners to collect as much of it as they are able to.
Though they are distant the the world, and choose to ignore the majority of the worlds issues, they retain an excellent relationship with Allenar, the famed City of the Elves. While they show little care for the lofty ideals the city represents, of Elves long separated becomes on people once again, they show a surprising interest in the location of the city. The city was unwittingly built in the shadow of the Dragons ribs, and the people believe that perhaps there is a faint remainder of the Dragons Heart buried within the city.
Although they are a people who pride themselves in their secrecy, those that know of them speak highly of their expertly crafted armor and weapons. Intricate designs, emulating the ancient heroes of the cultures they crushed adorn all their works of art. They have no one who rules over them, though there is an elf woman who cares for the throne. While she is respected by the populace, she dares not sit upon the throne, lest she be consumed by the madness therein.

Demographics

Race	Percentage	Common Occupation
Half-Orcs	49	Descendants of conquerors, once feared, they have let the axe fall. They have fattened themselves off the spoils of war. The children of the greatest warriors, the Thunder Warriors, inherited enough wealth to last a lifetime, allowing them to fund businesses, though most choose to live a life of a profligate. A disturbing number have found themselves living as urchins, a fleeting shadow of their former glory. Many of these orcs have been forced to relocate, and without the protection of the wards have been effected by the spirit of the dragon. Their territories range from just outside the skull, to the base of the mountain. These degenerates, dressed in the furs and bones of slain beasts, assault any traveler that dares enter their domain, for they are driven into a state of fury that far exceeds their ancestors.
Humans	24	Comprising the majority of the war bands were humans forced, or paid to fight. While they are physically weaker on average than their half cousins, they proved surprisingly difficult to manipulate. Rather, they were used mainly for assassination. Their use of poison earned them the title of 'plague carriers'. Today the majority are general laborers, with a few alchemists.
Dwarf	17	The Dwarfs that were conscripted into the armies of the Half-Orcs have been considered cowards, beardless by their kin. In response they unleashed the full extent of That does not diminish their skill in crafting and the arts. Regaining their freedom, and with some of the best material in the world, they seek to outdo their cousins in every way.
Tieflings	9	The Tieflings are very few, and have retained their common purpose; advisors. They are the ones which speak on behalf of the gods, conduct religious services, and perform the death rites. For a price, they will petition darker powers.
Elfs	1	To see an elf is a rare sight. No one truly knows why some chose to join the warbands.

Government

A commune, a state of working anarchy. Every member is expected to do their own work, according to their skills in order to help the community prosper. There is no law, save one; Do no harm to your neighbor. Theft, assault, murder, and defamation all fall under this category. People are simply required to aid one another as they are able to. Those that are without the community are viewed with slight distrust. With an absence of law enforcement it is up to the people to judge one another and to met out any punishments for crimes done.

Defences

"The Warrior Caste", though not officially recognized, are those that claim to still have the heart of a warrior in them. Their offering to the greater good is in the form of defending the city against any assaults by the degenerate orcs, and being the shield wall that stands against anything that should threaten their mountain home.

Industry & Trade

The blacksmiths work ceaselessly in converting the remains of the remains of the dragon into powerful weapons and armor. There is a division among the blacksmiths, for many Dwarfs worry that the focus on the Dragon leaves them undefended towards the things that may live within the mountain. Others look upon the remains and worry that eventually there will not be enough to sustain them, and prepare for what they see as the inevitable struggle for resources.
The brewers are the closest thing to a merchant class, who work within the throat of the beast. They take the ingredients that grow abundantly and mix it with some from nearby sources, fermenting the drinks before selling it to the taverns. Many of these brewers act independently of one another, and will hire distant relatives to brave the dangers of the mountain in order to further their businesses.
Alchemists are the last of the common industries. Unlike the others they are rarely motivated by potential wealth, dreaming far beyond their current state. They are united in the belief that somewhere within the Dragon lies the secrets to its longevity and its raw power. The Mind-Throne, they believe, is not only an unreliable source but a dangerous trap, a tool for the Dragon to linger. They wish to evolve those that live there.

Infrastructure

There is little variety of buildings, or businesses for there is no need to compete with one another. Wooden bridges span the length of the dragons horns, with connections from each of the spikes leading to small lookout towers. There are two taverns, The Strong Cup, and Gazi's built on the tips of the horns, offering two amazing scenic views. There are several food storage places, an isolated field dedicated to those that study magic, and many large communal homes carved throughout the skull.

Districts

The Frontal Skull Carved out, and kept under close watch. Where the third eye is said to rest sits the Throne, a dangerous and magical imbued seat made of flesh and bone. To sit upon it welcomes the spirit of the dragon, and the excess power. Unable to sustain this, mortals begin to experience rapid exhaustion, losing the fortitude to withstand the will of the dragon. Madness overtakes the victim, visions of the ancient overwhelms the mind, seemingly possessing him.
The Jaw The Jaw is strange, for water pools from within it, the dripping water filling a lake with invigorating purity. Few have explored the darkness of the jaw and mouth, and have been able to see where the water itself comes from.
The Neck The Neck is where the majority of the homes are located, and food is stored. The neck ends suddenly, and reconnects towards the bottom of the mountain.
The Horns The Horns are not used for a lot. Wooden bridges span the width of it, allowing for beautiful walks atop the world and plenteous areas for contemplation. Two rival taverns sit on opposite ends of the Dragon.

Guilds and Factions

The Cult of the Dragon Reborn The cult believes that the dragon must be reborn. None truly knows what this entails, though those that seek to sit upon the throne often believe that they know how it will happen. A powerful necromancer may seek to bring the ancient dragon back as a Zombie Dragon, to help lead his undead forces.. A hunter may seek to bring it back in its glory, in order to hunt something truly worth their while. A powerful noble may wish to sit upon the throne, and subject the beast to her will and thus rule over all beasts.
Others believe that to sit upon the throne is to evolve further, to become perfection. A few believe that it will grant godlike powers, or will take its spirit within, a symbiotic relationship.

History

The seemingly unbeatable warband of the Half-Orc Olligar had reached its peak; after sacking the Elf City-State of Allenar, the ancient city controlled by the United Elven Peoples carrying away a golden, ancient relic of unknown origins.
With the loss of their relic, the Elves were divided once more, setting the orcs up to strike at the heart of civilization. If they could take this city there would be nothing that could stop them. Yet something grave had taken place without them realizing, a curse that could not be broken. As the wolf-riders charged into battle before the main force Olligar, the undefeated grew ill suddenly, and collapsed from his mount before the main forces could begin their charge. Though they outnumbered the defenders, an evil omen of that magnitude was not worth risking and so his heir apparent sounded the retreat, willing to sacrifice his wolf-riders to ensure the armies survival. A stray arrow struck him in the neck while his armies turned and fled and he too fell upon the field of battle dead, before he could unsheathe his weapon. In the confusion and madness that followed, more than a third of their forces were slain and countless taken as prisoners of war. Those that survived fled deep into the ruins of cities razed to the ground. wherein the lieutenants of the former chiefs began to fight among themselves for some claimed that the artifact cursed and to be returned or destroyed. Most others expressed their contempt openly for those that would allow mere superstition to ruin their advance.
A Tiefling woman, one that interceded with the gods, recieved a vision one night during their weeks of exile. She beheld an unquenchable fire and heard the voice of a great beast summon her, though she could not see who spoke. Many refused to heed the warnings, for there were many charlatans in that day that claimed to speak for the gods. Those few that chose to follow her led their forces away under the cover of darkness, using spells and herbs to keep those who posed a threat to their escape asleep. As dawns first light broke over the horizon, the White Lions were seen descending upon those that remained. Those that fled to the mountain soon noticed what appeared to be spikes jutting out of the ground, the bones of the great dragon. As they reached the peak of the mountain the beheld the damaged skull of the dragon known as Fyrphas, and made camp under its shadow.
A second dream came upon her, a second vision granted. In her vision the Tiefling saw a throne of flesh and bone, and a figure which sat upon it, ascending into a higher state of being. Her vision prompted the people to start digging around, and into the skull in order to find the Throne. Through the years, many of the dwarfs not only managed to dig deep into the bone, but were able to reinvent it, to create a beautifully crafted, functional yet simple home for themselves and their companions. Years later the throne was found. When one of the young ones sat upon the throne, their life was drained. This prompted studies to be done, and it was revealed that only one worthy of the power could sit upon the throne. So the Cult of the Reborn Dragon was formed, and so the people wait for the outsider who can sit upon the throne.

Geography

A mountainous terrain, wherein a pool of fresh water sustains the animals. Nature has slowly rebuilt itself, though there are signs of a great wreckage that befell the geography. There are several paths, which act as natural stairways leading to the peak.

Climate

The majority of the area is a coniferous forest, though it is what should be a mostly barren wasteland by laws of nature. The air is a frigid cold, yet the ground is fertile, and gives a faint warmth. The heat has started to diminish. The climate remains mostly stable all year round.

Natural Resources

Timber is found from the large trees, which cover large areas of the mountain. There are many bones and minerals that can be mined, and there are several animals bred, used for their meat, furs, and strength.

Alternative Name(s)

Dragon Peak

Type

Arcology

Population

Unknown

Inhabitant Demonym

Children of Fyrphas