Kal Pathras
Overview
Demographic and life in the city
Kal Palthras has a large population, common jobs for peasants are mining, smithing, and farming. The surface dwarves usually handle the mining and smithing while the other races handle farming though the jobs are interchangeable. The district square is located near the gates leading to the nobility. It's where merchants ply their trade selling weapons, armor, food and other miscellaneous items.
Traveling merchants come to the city in hopes to trade with the nobles who reside underground hearing that they are very generous in spending their coin. Entrance to the nobility, however, is very strict and only a few traveling merchants are allowed in. The peasants are lovers of food and story, heading out to the two taverns: The Goats Delight known for their excellent Goats milk or the Leaky Spoon after a long day of work to share stories, eat and dance away the stress.
The Dwarven noble families who reside underground enjoy socializing with one another. Despite expressing their dislike to the Dwarves who exiled them, the two families continue their customs and traditions through recording their history and discussing genealogy with one another. The nobility enjoys the craftsmanship and the arts, having annual contests to see who can create the best piece of art. Inside the noble district of Kal Palthras is massive, a third of the size of the largest Dwarven Kingdom.
It is full of jewels and statues of past heroes, sparkling waterfalls that were used as heating baths and roads were full of nobles socializing about their day to day activities. Education is highly valued with Dwarven Alchemists and the best Smithers getting together and trying to advance their crafts. Scholars would spend all day teaching the children about science, math, and history.
The relationship between the people who live in Outtrumm Drukat and the Kiltor and Karal families are tense. The families look down on the surface Dwarves and the other people who reside outside of the city, feeling that they are inferior and would die out if not for their intervention. The surface Dwarves and peasants would often snark that the families breed with each other to keep their bloodline "pure" and taunt them for being in denial that they've been exiled using the term "exile" as an insult (though not at their faces). Nevertheless, the surface Dwarves and peasants maintain security and grunt work like mining and smithing while the families take control of the business, planning and train the elite units. Though one can't help but feel that an all war between the two factions is due to happen anytime
The military for Kal Parthras stands approximately 30,000 strong. The main force is Dwarves who are armed with shields and swords, lances, maces, warhammers or Halberds. For ranged weapons, they are automatic crossbows that fire bolts at a very fast rate or they throw Axes. The cavalry consists of War Goats who are heavily armored and can plow through a line with relative ease. The Dwarven Special Forces also called The Leshon Khuzi are considered to be the best Dwarven warriors in the city. They wear the best armor and wield the best weaponry. Leshon Khuzi trained daily and were taught secret Dwarven fighting techniques that would give them an edge in battle. Becoming one is not easy and is reserved for the nobility though surface Dwarves were allowed in, it was very rare.
The Leshon Khuzi are commanders or scouts to guarding the mines. They carry out missions that were considered to be impossible and sometimes come back unscathed. Kal Pathras military relies on Ballistas with some bolts full of explosives. Due to residents from other races demanding that they want to join the fight, the nobles have formed a group called the Nommaz Doh (Or drunk fools) the Nommaz Doh largely consists of volunteers and conscripts.
Relying mostly on guerilla tactics, the peasant's combat skills are so minimal that a soldier fresh off training camp could kill them with ease but with heart (and plenty of alcohol.) the peasants can display surprising valor and will hold their ground against even the most elite of soldiers. The "best" peasant fighters train with a sergeant and are equipped with Gambisons, pieces of rusted Iron Armor, a rusted short sword and a pike. The "elite" peasant group are just ordered to hold their pikes forward to counter cavalry charges. Most of the commanders have no problem using the peasants as cannon fodder so their soldiers won't take the brunt of the casualties. However, do not mistake the peasants as just "farmers with pitchforks."
Description
Architecture and Geography
Kal Palthras is a city whose homes and taverns are carved into the rocks. The weather can be very cold during the winter to the point where it's impossible to reach the city because of the snowed-in passages. The journey to Kal Pathras can be extremely difficult due to the mountains of Southern Hills being bleak and inhospitable with rock slides being common. There are secret tunnels that the citizens use in order to spring ambushes on their foes or to flee however the locations to these secret tunnels are only known to the Kal Pathras military and nobles. Since the southern hills are located near the shore, Kal Pathras lands have fertile soil, rivers, and lakes. In terms of wildlife, Stone Giants patrol the mountains ambushing anyone: citizen or not.
Bvettes bury themselves underground, springing ambushes to any unsuspecting person. Owlbears are also very common residing in the numerous caves of the Southern Hills. Griffons dominate the skies, using their long sharp talons to maim travelers and animals and either eat them or carry the Griffin carries prey to their lair so they can be eaten. While there are Cyclops lurking in the mountains, they are rare due to the Stone Giants pushing them out of the mountain path. There are reports of battles between Cyclops and Stone Giants raging on the way to Kal Palthras. Unfortunately, travelers are often caught in the crossfire.
Mountain Goats are also found around Kal Pathras in which the Dwarves domesticate them for either for their milk or as cavalry for the Dwarves. While most of the dangerous animals live outside of the city, citizens will need to watch out for Gelatinous Cubes that grow from the dirt and garbage that people leave behind. Because of the outbreaks from the jelly creatures over the years resulting in numerous deaths, the leaders of Outtrumm Drukat put out laws saying that every home must be scrubbed clean of any thrash or dirt. The mines are sometimes plagued by Stone and Iron Golems, there have been annual reports of miner deaths by these creatures, as such the Leshon Khuzi are deployed to fight them.
Because of the difficulty getting to Kal Pathras, mountain guides are employed by the nobles to escort travelers through the perilous and winding paths towards the Dwarven Cities. The guides are mostly either Human or Dwarven who receive intense training on how to avoid Stone Giants and other creatures and the best paths to navigate the mountains.
Points of Interest
Noble city
Outtrumm Drukat
The Goats Delight
The Leaky Spoon
Outtrumm Drukat
The Goats Delight
The Leaky Spoon
History
Background
Located on the Southern Hills miles away from the city of Elbion, Kal Palthras was once an ancient trading post that was abandoned by the Dwarves for unknown reasons. It was found again in the by the Kiltor and the Karal family: A smiting and artisan family who were exiled from the Dwarven homeland due to both of their fathers nearly killing a noble who ripped them off on a job. The two families expanded on Kal Parthas making deals with other Dwarves on the surface to assist them in expanding the city. To prevent inbreeding, the two families invited rich surface Dwarves to join them as nobility. Kal Pathras became a prime trading hub again with minerals that are found in the Mountains surrounding the city. Other races live in the city, though they live in the outside area called Outtrumm Drukat.
Lore
"300 years ago, we were just two poor families who stumbled upon an abandoned trading hub. Now we are one of if not the best Dwarven City in the world!"
-Batrand Kiltor Head of House Kiltor