Shtvakhír

Shtvakhír is a fortified settlement on the bank of the Mír river in the state of Vht'shjenjé , located at a choke-point where the gorge narrows down. Shtvakhír is located on the eastern bank, while on the western bank lies the smaller Sheshtvarenjé settlement of Serishtynk'ae. It is the main maritime gateway into Vht'shjenjé territory and thus facilitates a port for ships sailing up and down the river. Unique among Vht'shjenjé places is that it also houses foreign ships; indeed, it is the only place within the state where foreigners are allowed entry. No outsider has ever been allowed to travel north of Shtvakhír, but instead they have made their home here. Thus, it is by far the most well-known location to foreigners, mostly of Syannic origin.
Although the fortress of Shtvakhír is largely above ground, dominated by a huge 50-meter statue of Shjevtyrín overlooking the mighty valley, the heart of the old city is hidden beneath the mountain. The city was once called Ch'kth'chír and was the capital city of the Mósharenja federation, rivaling Varvardnársh in size and splendour. It was destroyed in the final battle of the Thousand-Year War, when its defenders flooded large portions of the city to avoid capture. Still, the upper sections of the city were captured by the invaders. The eastern half of the city was annexed into Vht'shjenjé while the Sheshtvarenjé annexed the western side. 
The interior of the old city still bears witness of the final battle, with caved-in halls, defaced shrines dedicated to insect deities and a huge corridor lined with stone memorials dedicated to the heroes of the final battle. However, most of the remaining city has been restored to facilitate life and it is said that the people of Shtvakhír are far more open and jovial than their northern brethren. 
Shtvakhír is mostly famous for two things; the great marketplace and the hospice.
The Marketplace of Shtvakhír is the largest in Vht'shjenjé, even larger than the ancient bazaar of Varvardnársh. It also has by far the greatest access to foreign imported goods, mainly from other regions of the Iron Desert by also from Syan. The marketplace is constructed like a giant cylinder hollowed out of the mountain, with corridors running along its sides, with bridges crossing the gap. Daylight pours down from the hollow top of the cylinder, but the corridors themselves are constantly lit by colourful glass lanterns that bathe the entire market in red, blue, green and violet. Different stalls will house different colours, and for those in the know the colours carry messages that can be decoded. There are also numerous places for conviviality, drinking wine and the recitation of poetry. Secular culture has a stronger presence here than in Varvardnársh and music has a more cheerful tone. Rumor has it though that the Ihtsikhá are quietly watching the city.
The great hospice of Shtvakhír was founded by the chiurgeon-general Vshtjrtsír by the end of the Thousand-Year War as a promise to general Nashenirén. It is a place dedicated to healing and care, and is unique in the Iron Desert. It houses a large subterranean garden growing medicinal herbs imported from all over the world, houses more than a hundred beds for patients, a library of more than 5.000 scrolls on various sciences, and even workshops for the manufacture of glass vials and bronze instruments. It is the home of some of the most sophisticated healers in the world, and offers treatment ranging from herbal tinctures, acupuncture, bloodletting and sophisticated surgery.
Category:Cities