Kaerdoch

Kaerdoch, also known as the city of Ruins, has a long and storied history. The city itself is actually located upon the old ruins of Kaelock. A city dating back long before the last cataclysm. Only recently, by mandate of the Queen herself, has Kaerdoch allowed archeologists and purveyors been allowed to start excavating in and around the city. Great catacombs and lost temples have been uncovered. Not only do they provide a staggering amount of wealth (in gold and jewels) but also a trove of knowledge (especially of the arcane). This has put most of the magical factions in Thuringia and beyond on edge. Publicly they confess uneasiness knowing that such knowledge is the hand of uneducated men who may not know what they're handling. However rumour has it that privately these factions fear the rise of another force to contend with.

So far the only institution allowed to aid Kaerdoch in its projects is Strixhaven's Lorehold college. Due to its relative safety Kaerdoch is a favorite destination of last-year students to base their essay on.

## Landmarks

### Shattered Shovel Inn

A relatively new but successful inn. it boasts close ties to Strixhaven and is a favorite stay for both its students and guildmages. The gnome patron is fairly excentric while his wife is often seen as the brains of the operation.

### Ruins Market

The excavations and digsites often yield hundreds of smaller trinkets. These items might have an archeological importance but sadly, archeology doesn't pay for bread. Many diggers sell various trinkets here to pawn-shop like stalls. Who in turn sell the trinkets to visiting nobles. Various museums have resorted to buying up items here to expand their collection as well.

More recently there has been a scandal of falsified trinkets being sold on the ruins market. The matter is still being investigated.

### Prospectors Guild

Founded by the humans of the city and the visiting Ber Koldur dwarves. The Prospectors guild provides seasoned mathematicians, prospectors and surveyors for any project willing to pay for their services. Members of the guild are reknown for being highly trained and taking pride in their work. However, the prospectors guild is also known for squashing any competition swiftly.

### Silvercloud Spire

Here mages of Scrywatch residing in Kaerdoch come together to work their arts. The needle-like spire offers an amazing view over the city. Normally the mages would not put much value in a city like Kaerdoch, but with the rise in discovery of magical knowledge the mages have begun buying trinkets and artifacts themselves.

### Coalhouse

No matter the idillic and poetic speeches of the purveyors, mages and Lorehold students, digging and archeology can be exeedingly dirty and hard labor. These learned men and women rarely want to get their hands dirty on digging through stone. For such manual labor the coalhouse exist. Here former miners from around Kaerdoch come in the morning hoping to get hired. Many work at rock-bottom rates like 3 silver a day.

The coalhouse itself takes a cut from the pay through membership of both those doing the work and those paying for the work. This relationship - liked by neither side - is sustained through the promise of comfort and the occassional more clandestine means.

### Temple of Dumathoin

Thuringia boasts a large number of free religions in its borders. The human pantheon, often celebrating and honoring exceedingly human activity like sports or argriculture, were an ill fit for the city. When the dwarves came they brought with them a pantheon vastly more fitting to the local miners. With the rise of archeology the dwarven god Dumathoin - dwarven god of underground excavation and exploration - was chosen as the primaire god of Kaerdoch.

### Artifact Exchange

While trinkets of lesser importance are sold on the Ruins Market, artifacts and relics that were taken from the ground with the utmost care are taken here. While most artifacts are shipped to museums or institutions of learning, a not insignificant amount are sold here (often to pay for further projects). The Artifact Exchange draws nobles from across the Queendom in search for another trophy piece to add to their collection. Wealthier mages attend the Auctions hoping to find long lost magical items.