Kotsmurk

'A city of stone. Built by the first of us to survive the storms. Now we set sail from here to ride their swells, no fear in our hearts. How we have changed.' - Tribal Leader in Kotsmurk

Written by Yerran

The Capital City of the Stormheld Bastion, the city boasts the largest population, the tribal council and unique geography to protect it from the magical storms, known by the locals as The Rage of Castellian.

The City

The city houses between 15-20,000 people at any one time, and has room for more. The cave is huge with two entrances to the north and south, with the sea extending between them. A naturally occurring stone structure separates the two entrances blocking much of the city from any eastern tides, weather and hostile creatures and invasions. The sea stretches far back into the cave splitting the city into a north and south area. Buildings and quaysides dot the north and south area as well as around the base of the pillar and then stretch up the cave wall, carved from the very stone itself and up onto the cave's ceiling. From here houses stare downward at the world below them. Across the city are also giant stone pillars, carved from the base to the cave's ceiling with runes and histories of the Vorago, that support it in cases of extreme stress.

Created to Protect

The cave offers natural protection from the Rage of Castellian that regularly erupts from the maelstrom as well as predators and further dangers that stalk the island above. This natural refuge has lasted the test of time, persisting through the dangers of the cataclysm, a hostile occupation and the drums of liberation. The architecture and structure of the city reflect much of this with ancient walls, forts and buildings carved from the stoneface itself. Behind the facade of these buildings are warrens of tunnels and gates that allow people to retreat in safety into the mountain itself. Some of these are natural, though others are man-made. From here people are able to reach the surface through some constructed gates and other monitored positions. During the Yeshi occupation, many tribal freedom fighters resided deep within this cave system and would enter the city secretly through tunnels unknown to the occupiers.

However it is not just the natural protection and creations over the years that make Kotsmurk a natural refuge, but also the make-up of the land itself. Like many things in the Shattered Shelf, the stone has been exposed to the magic spewing from the Maelstrom, altering the world in surprising ways. This has affected the stone of the shattered shelf, turning some deeper islands into Airite with unique traits, but for others it has increased their density to unrivalled proportions without increasing its weight, making the stone itself incredibly sturdy. This offers a great boon for the protection and longevity of Kotsmurk. Many in the city see this twist of fate as a blessing from the Wave Mother and Storm Father, a gift granted them in return for the suffering they have endured over the years.

History

Shortly after the Cataclysm the face of Shattered Shelf was changed completely, with half of the land smashed into oblivion or driven below the ocean. The islands that weren't, offered the only protection to the races that lived there, and the huge cave at Kotsmurk became the centre of that safety upon the island, while the denizens learnt to deal with and avoid the magical storms and mutated creatures and beings that now trod the land, twisted by the maelstroms magic. This magic twisted many of them over time, helping them to live in such a volatile environment and creating the Vorago as a race of people.

These people carved their buildings into the rock and did all they could to ensure the huge cave never collapsed. As the tribe of Kotsmurk grew it became a centre of their culture on the island. Later during Yeshi occupation, it became a hub of their trade and administrative power before Castellian Harlscurl, The First Stormrider freed it and the island in the first move of the Stormheart Rebellion. Since those days a statue of him stands upon a plinth jutting out from the pillar separating the north and south entrances, a lighthouse behind him, looking out at the world beyond, and guarding the city forevermore.

A Tale of Venya

Learn more about the world, its history and the factions here.

Scars of Liberation

During the rebellion that threw the Yeshi from the city, large battles and destructive magics shook the streets and shattered buildings, leaving long-lasting scars deep within the rock. In a last bid attempt to quell the uprising, the Yeshi sought to collapse the roof of the cave attempting to smash the giant pillars, though with little success as the magically altered stone was denser and stronger than they originally believed. When this didn't work they dislodged several buildings from the ceiling and sent them crashing into the floor. Luckily their efforts were stopped before they could cause any lasting damage. Since then the denizens have gone through great efforts to restore the destroyed buildings, eager to restore their history and culture.

Kotsmurk in The Shattered Shelf

Western Sabal & The Southern Shattered Shelf

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