Urd-Azhar

Urd-Azhâr (Neo-Khuzdul translation: City of Propserity in Traveler's Tongue) is the capital city of the High-Kingdom of Khrumaz and the home hold of Clan Steamhammer. The city is ruled by Uzbad Vaelis I. Runehammer and governed in the name of the Uzbad by Bavor Hammerfist, the Thane of Urd-Azhâr and leader of Clan Steamhammer. 
Located in the centre of the High-Kingdom of Khrumaz, the city of Urd-Azhâr is one of the most ambitious projects of the High-Kingdom of Khrumaz. The city servers as the political and cultural centre, as well as a holy-site where once the Ankoran Machine-God Vari awoke. While the Uzbad, referred to as "king" in Traveler's Tongue, governs the Kingdom from Urd-Azhâr, the city itself is governed by the Thane who is always the leader of Clan Steamhammer.
== History ==
=== Reign of the Mad King ===
Urd-Azhâr was founded by Thorgrim Stoneheart with the intention of building a giant stronghold to protect the Dwarven race. Thorgrim began with proclaiming himself as king without having any specific support. During the planning and the construction-process, he proved to be very incompetent planner, with giving unclear instructions to the architects. Thorgrim refused to establish a trade network, which led to severe shortages of essential building-materials. He often engaged in building by himself. However, his non-existent verbal communication and the inability to properly use a masonry hammer led to much infighting between the king and his architects - especially his leading-architect Bavor Hammerfist. This ultimately resulted in many of the architects leaving the city. Due to his poor planning skills, Urd-Azhâr saw little to no progress in its construction during his reign - additionally, because most of the time Thorgrims architects were busy cleaning up Thorgrim's disfigured buildings.
=== Khrumazi Restoration ===
Thorgrims poor governing-abilities led to a lot of unrest among the Dwarven people. He openly began to denounce his own kin and to tyrannize the dwarves of the nation. His phenotype and mind became more and more corrupt as a result of him openly worshiping and praising Chaos. A council of Dwarves was assembled, which included all the most influential figures of Khrumazi politics. With the power of the council, the king was removed from his office and exiled from the lands. The council then elected Vaelis I Runehammer to become the new Uzbad of the High-Kingdom of Khrumaz. Vaelis established the Council of Khrumaz as a supporting pillar of dwarven governance. The title of Thane was introduced to the realm for those who governed a Dwarven hold. Vaelis appointed Bavor Hammerfist to become the new Thane of Urd-Azhâr. He gave Bavor full autonomy in the construction of Urd-Azhâr, which led to Urd-Azhâr making massive progress during the upcoming weeks. 
== Government ==
The government of Urd-Azhâr has special differences compared to the other Dwarven holds of Khrumaz. The Thane of Urd-Azhâr governs the city in the name of the Uzbad, the Uzbad however has the right to intervene in the governance and to give direct orders to the Thane. In the most cases however, the Thane has a lot of autonomy in the capitals' governance. 
==== Thane and Underthane ====
The Thane is always the leader of Clan Steamhammer. This position is currently held by Bavor Hammerfist. The Thane is accompanied by the Underthane, the successor and deputy of the city. The Underthane receives specific tasks from the Thane to support him with the administration of the city. Those tasks can vary, depending on what the Thane chooses to share. If the Thane is unable to fulfill his duty to govern Urd-Azhâr, the Underthane takes up the work of the Thane until the Thane is back into office. The current Underthane of Urd-Azhâr is Dagur Grudgebearer. 
==== Societal order ====
The cities ranking-system is split into three different so-called pillars, filled by different professions. These professions are the Miners and Builders, the Engineers and the City-Guard. Each pillar represents an important part of the capitals' society. 
The Miners and Builders are the main construction-force of Urd-Azhâr. These diligent workers are the source of Urd-Azhârs architectural power. The Miners and Builders are led by the Chief Constructor. This position is currently held by Grom Forgebeard.
The Engineers are the beating heart of Urd-Azhârs society. Each engineer is an anointed member of the Steamhammer-Clan. Filled with innovative talent, the engineers are the tinkering force behind every new dwarven invention. Their magnificent machinery powered by Coal and Steam currently leads the dwarves to an era of industrialization. Especially the military benefits strongly from the engineers inventions - be it in the form of Organ-Canons or Steam-Tanks. The engineers are administered by the Master-Engineer of Urd-Azhâr who gets his commands from the Clan-Leader of the Steamhammer-Clan.
The City-Guard consists of loyal and brave guardsmen who protect the diligent citizens of Urd-Azhâr. They serve as a police-unit that enforces the laws of the Uzbad. While their headquarters are in the Tower of Runehand at the top of the mountain, they can be found in every corner of the city. 
== Locations ==
=== The Entrance Hall ===
The Entrance Hall is the first hall in the City of Urd-Azhâr. It serves as the first defense for the city and as the architectural introduction into the city. Decorated by statues of mighty Dwarven guardians and masoned murals, the entrance hall gives every visitor a first impression of the Dwarven building-style throughout Urd-Azhâr.
=== The Great Staircase ===
The Great Staircase is known as the second hall of Urd-Azhâr. As is it's name sake, the Great Staircase is a gigantic staircase that goes from the Main Hall to the Tower of Runehammer. A statue of the Dwarven Machine-God Vari is portrayed in the centre of the hall to honor Urd-Azhâr as Varis awakening-place.
=== The Main Hall ===
The Main Hall is the central element of the capital city. Here, houses, market-squares, taverns, and many different shops and stores are present throughout. Many connections to other important halls can be found here, such as the Throneroom, the Steamhammer Clan-Halls, or the Great Temple of Khrumaz. 
=== The Steamhammer Clan-Halls ===
The Steamhammer Clan-Halls are the beating heart and centre of all the innovations of the Kingdom of Khrumaz. In this halls the engineers of Urd-Azhâr develop new technologies that aim to improve the life of the dwarven society and especially the military prowess of the Kingdom. Steam-Tanks and Organ-Guns are just a few known military inventions that can be tracked back to the Steamhammer-Clan and it's industrious halls.
=== The Marble Throne ===
The Marble Throne is the centre of power in the Kingdom of Khrumaz. Located in the Throneroom, the Marble Throne stands tall as a symbol of prowess and absolute reign. It is currently occupied by the Uzbad Vaelis I. Runehammer and his loving wife, the Queen-Consort. The Throneroom is surrounded by many different royal and diplomatic chambers, be it the Council Chamber where the Thanes of Urd-Azhâr meet or the kings royal residence-chambers. 
=== Tower of Runehammer ===
The Tower of Runehammer is a large citadel atop of Urd-Azhâr's highest mountain. It serves as a garrison and headquarters to the City-Guard, housing training-sites, barracks and conference-rooms. The Narakûn, translating to "captain" in Traveler's Tongue, of the City-Guard administers the guard from here.
Category:Dwarves
Category:Abexilas