- Name: Kor Gorum
- Size: Medium City
- Location: Mountains South of Crobhear Lake, with an entrance off the lake going into the mountain spur just west of the lake.
- Population: Medium population
- Government: Monarchy
Overview
Demographic
The Holdfast of Kor Gorum is almost universally Dwarven in make, with a few merchants allowed access to the city proper. Anyone in a position of power is certainly a Dwarf, and most likely a member of a family who had been one of the original Templar families in the Hold.
Designation
Fortress turned into a Trade City.
The Holdfast was built upon a massive vein of platinum, so trade had always been envisioned as a resource for this Hold. It grew into a more proper Trade City as time grew on, with a massive bazaar along the passage from the Water Gate to the city proper. This bazaar is where the majority of non Dwarves are allowed to remain, with few let into the city proper.
The Holdfast was built upon a massive vein of platinum, so trade had always been envisioned as a resource for this Hold. It grew into a more proper Trade City as time grew on, with a massive bazaar along the passage from the Water Gate to the city proper. This bazaar is where the majority of non Dwarves are allowed to remain, with few let into the city proper.
Description
Architecture
Almost the entire city is built beneath the mountain, allowing the Dwarves to practice a three dimensional architecture. There are dwellings within hollowed out stalagmites and stalactites, as well as more conventional dwellings built upon the cavern floors. Nearly all of the stairs and ramps between levels of the city are hidden in the cavern walls with the exception of the large ramp that leads down to the heart of the Hold from the main gates. This route has many cut backs, and small fortresses are built along the way in case the gates are forced ever. Through out the various forms of architecture, though, it is very apparent that the city's roots are as a military fortress, every building within the mountain can act as a miniature holdfast.
Points of Interest
Khrord Palace - This massive palace sits at the heart of the Holdfast, built from a massive stalactite over the city. This building houses the royal family, as well as the elite King's Guard. The current King is Hargrim Khrord, father of Kharyck Khrord[1]
Templar Commandery[2] - This building is much smaller than the palace that hangs above it, but the stalagmite that it was built from was still quite large. This building houses the administration and training units of the Templar Order that originated Kor Gorum.
Templar Commandery[2] - This building is much smaller than the palace that hangs above it, but the stalagmite that it was built from was still quite large. This building houses the administration and training units of the Templar Order that originated Kor Gorum.
History
Background
Kor Gorum was originally built as a fortress of the Templar Order, before the First Schism. This fortress was built to guard the Spine, and provide wealth to the Order from the massive platinum mines beneath the Hold. In the centuries since the Second Schism of the Templar Order, the Hold became more of its own city. The original Templar families became various levels of nobility, and more Dwarves flocked to the city. The city soon closed its gates to all but the trade coming into and going out from the Water Gate, not wanting to stress it's supplies. This developed into a unique dichotomy within the city. Those that lived near the Water Gate, outside of what is considered the City Proper, grew to be the typical denizens of a trade city, with the typical outlooks. Those that lived within the City Proper, however, grew far more insular and wary of outsiders (which includes the denizens of Water Gate).
Lore
The ruling family of Kor Gorum are the descendants of the last Knight Commander of the Dwarven Templar Order. Once they became the Royal Family, they did away with the ranking structure of the Templars, making all Templars of their Order equal to one another, largely. They are still distinct from other units of the Holds military, and will interact with but separate from the Constabulary and the Army.
There are few mages within Kor Garum, and they largely live among the outsiders of Water Gate. There is a small community of them there, and they are called on to aid both the Royal Family and the various military units of the Hold from time to time.
There are few mages within Kor Garum, and they largely live among the outsiders of Water Gate. There is a small community of them there, and they are called on to aid both the Royal Family and the various military units of the Hold from time to time.