Ludnik

The City of the Dwarves.

Ludnik was just up ahead of the Elf Village, and it seems that the city was built where the mines were. It’s not in Solzonak country and, in fact, it doesn’t belong to any country (Ch. 387). It is a mining town at the foot of two mountains (Ch. 390).

Yuna thought there would be many stone houses because it is a city where dwarves live, but that was not the case, and there were many common wooden buildings. Many blacksmith shops are made of stone because accidents may happen involving fire.

Adventurers go there buy weapons and armour, and merchants buy various products, a lot of metal products are on sale.

**Dwarves**

Dwarves are not very tall. Even grown men are not that tall. They are about the same height as Yuna or a little taller. Female dwarves are the same height as her or a little shorter. Because they are short, Yuna has mistaken them for lively children when viewed from a distance. Ghazal and Gold are both described as bearded with no male so far being described as clean shaven. Yuna has confused female dwarves for little girls and struggles to determine their age.

## Notable Features

### **Tribulation Gate**

* The gate opens once a year for a few days to test the skills of the blacksmiths, to see how much they have grown over the course of a year. It’s said to be a place to test the skills of apprentice craftsmen.
* At the trial gate, it seems that a blacksmith who made a sword and an adventurer, a person who’ll handle the sword are needed. It’s true that blacksmiths don’t fight monsters, animals, or people. So it’s the adventurer’s job to handle the sword.

#### Rules

Ch. 405 (expanded with 5 more in Ch. 406)

1. Each person can only challenge the Gate of Trials once.
2. You must be registered with the Blacksmith Guild.
3. If you want to participate, you must be with the blacksmith who made the weapon.
4. Do not participate with weapons made by others as your own. (If you are found out, you will not be allowed to participate for three years)
5. Apprentices and new blacksmiths are given priority on Day 1.
6. The Blacksmith Guild does not guarantee whether the gates will close earlier than scheduled. (The following year, you will have priority)
7. Don’t tell anyone about the trials.
8. Neither magical attacks nor defences are allowed. If the object gets touched by it, the trial will end.
9. Adding magical power to a weapon to attack is allowed.
10. The use of the protective gear is allowed.
11. The trial will end when you take a certain amount of damage. You will not be seriously injured during the trials.
12. The trials will be concluded after five sessions.

## Notable Characters in Ludnik

* **Rojina**
	+ Ghazal and Gold's Former Master
	+ Ricca's father
* **Viola**
	+ Rojina's wife
	+ She has short hair
* **Ricca**
	+ Rojina and Viola's daughter
	+ 18 years old
	+ Her slightly long hair was tied up with a ribbon, making her look a little young.
	+ she is very strongly implied to have a crush on Ghazal.
* **Xelo**
	+ A blacksmith who made Jade and Senia's mithril weapons
* **Tarotoba**
	+ Guildmaster of the Blacksmiths

### Characters from Ludnik

* **Ghazal**
	+ He made Yuna's mithril fighting knives
	+ recommended by Gold and gave Yuna an introduction letter.
* **Gold**
	+ He made Fina's original carving knife and maintained it for her
	+ married to Nert
	+ he also made 2 mithril carving knives used by Fina and Shuri (under Fina's supervision).
* **Nert**
	+ a dwarf orphan from Ludnik, when Gold said he was leaving the city, she went with him (Ch. 384).
	+ Her and Gold have a daughter.
	+ Yuna confused her for a normal child.