Taldoric

Map of Taldoric

## Common Knowledge

Taldoric produces many technological marvels of iron and steel, but only the dwarves are allowed within the mountain city. Outsiders believe the city is built within a cursed volcano, as the mountain pours out smoke constantly.

## Topography and Climate

### Topography

#### Mount Taldor

Mount Taldor is an impressively tall mountain, standing at over a mile tall. The mountain is an ancient volcano that had been extinct for millions of years prior to its discovery. The lower mountain has very steep slopes, with its shallowest slope being its southern face, believed to have collapsed ages ago during its last eruption into the sea. The summit of the mountain is quite flat, and houses the majority of the surface city of Taldoric. Mount Taldor was named following its first ascent, allegedly after the first words spoken by the dwarf as they reached its peak.

#### Taldor Pit

The center of Mount Taldor’s peak is defined largely by its large, central pit, stretching close to half a mile in width at its widest point towards the summit. Within this pit the undercity of Taldoric is housed, stretching roughly 25 miles down to the current base. If a dwarf were to fall unimpeded down this pit, they would fall for roughly 10 minutes before reaching the bottom.

#### Underdark Entrances

There are multiple entrances into the Underdark from Taldoric. The oldest known one was discovered in ancient times, and is about 5 miles deep (4 miles from the surface). The more commonly used one was discovered during the Age of Kings, roughly 17 miles underground, as it is far safer and more easily navigated by merchants.

#### The Sea of Alina

To the southern coast of Taldoric, roughly a mile from the base of Mount Taldor, the Sea of Alina gently brushes against the land. This sea provides excellent trade to Taldoric and is the hub through which the majority of trade is conducted.

#### Taldoric Mountain Range

The majority of Taldoric is covered in a craggy mountain range that makes much of the land inhospitable to the mortal races.

### Climate

Temperate, above-average rainfall. Humid, high-altitude. Harsh winters.

## Population

### Capital - Taldoric

1,000,000

100% dwarves

<1% miscellaneous (mostly Duergar and various beastfolk)

### Thamduar

163,000

80% dwarves

20% dark elves

<1% miscellaneous (mostly Duergar and various beastfolk)

## Exports and Trades

### Exports

Dwarven crafts, precious metals, rare gemstones, goats

### Imports

Spices, fruits, exotic wares, Galkadorian Ale, lumber

### Trade

Galkador, Aldenlied, Calahay, Sym’fadè Confederacy, Etton, Cliffhaven (formerly), Talios, Ziltarin, Oscoria, U.S.O., Kuragma, Symfade Confederacy, anyone else who’s interested.

Literally anyone and anywhere their merchants can reach.

## Government

### Currently

Plutocratic Republic. Any citizen of Taldoric who owns at least 100 gold bars [roughly equal to $700k USD] is entitled to a seat on a democratic body which votes on legislation and elects a prime minister. Anyone who lacks this amount of money, or cannot prove their ownership of such funds, has no influence over the country’s governance.

### Classically

Monarchy ruled by a king, and advised by a royal council.

## Military

Taldoric scarcely ever faces the threat of surface invasion. The myth of Mount Taldor and the surrounding mountain range as “cursed land” typically deters would-be invaders. Regardless, Taldoric has a large standing army that patrols the borders and many twisting caverns beneath the surface. In addition to their army, due to strong trade between Taldoric and its surface settlements, many of the villages are heavily armed with dwarven weapons.

## Social Hierarchy and Culture

Taldoric is noted most by its entirely-dwarven population. While most other dwarven population centers are partially of other races, any non-dwarves living in Taldoric do so in secret, as non-dwarves are not allowed within the city. This rule only applies to the dwarven cities beneath the surface, though an exception exists for Dark Elves in Thamduar.

While many other nations have horses as their primary means of transportation, the dwarves of Taldoric rely mainly upon goats for mounted transport. The goats of Taldoric are specially bred to be able to climb the near-vertical walls of the Taldor Pit, and can transport the same amount of weight as a horse of the same size.

The dwarven population of Taldoric finds itself largely split between a wealthy upper class and an impoverished lower class, with only a small and relatively insignificant middle class. The culture of the different classes is significantly different to the point that it would be best to describe them separately.

### Upper Class

The upper classes of Taldoric find themselves holding significant power and wealth within the city. Most members of the upper class live in the Second Mile District and Third Mile District, with fewer and fewer members residing the deeper into the Taldor Pit one goes. Most of the significant families of the upper class of Taldoric inherited their wealth from their ancestors, much of which was obtained during the Taldoric Steel Age. The majority of this wealth was taken from Duergar slave labor, though much came from the invention, production, and distribution of the many inventions of the Taldoric Steel Age that find themselves built into the infrastructure of modern Taldoric.

The upper class of Taldoric believe themselves to be the cultural core of Taldoric, and find it their purpose in life to use their wealth to expand upon and maintain dwarven culture as a whole. One popular hobby amongst the upper class is inventing mechanical devices that serve insignificant functional purpose beyond acting as discussion points at parties. Many of the ballrooms of Taldoric’s upper class are inundated with moving floors, mechanical devices, and shifting walls that serve to complicate the various cultural rituals of Taldoric. An upper-class party in Taldoric is a complex mixture of standard societal expectations and of knowledge regarding which levers do what.

Another hobby of the rich of Taldoric is magic, still heavily restricted amongst the lower class to this day, but nearly lawless amongst the nobility. Mechanical artificing is a popular subject, though often the magic of the devices serves as little more than as a power source or as an interface through which the devices are used.

Upper class dwarven families tended to be large, with a fairly high degree of familial cohesion. Children learn at a young age to be mindful of the mechanical wonders of the typical noble house, though mechanical prosthetic devices are fairly commonplace among all citizens of Taldoric, of all classes.

### Lower Class

The lower classes of Taldoric find themselves with little involvement in governmental affairs. The lower class constitutes the majority of the population of Taldoric, and consequently occupy the majority of the districts of the city. Most of the lower class population of Taldoric are concentrated between the Fifth Mile and Twentieth Mile districts of the city, as the first five belong to the upper class, and the lower five are mostly industrial mining districts. The majority of the lower class of Taldoric can trace their families back to the Taldoric Age of Kings, as Taldoric has boasted impressively poor class mobility for millenia.

The lower classes of Taldoric find themselves to be the spiritual center of Taldoric, as the religious communities of lower Taldoric are widespread and hold a surprising amount of power in local affairs, often out-competing the local influence of the upper classes. Many of the dwarves here serve as miners, craftspeople, and soldiers, though soldiers tend to fare better than the rest. Many of the working class work 8-9 hour days, though miners tend to work 10-11 hour days, both much longer than their contemporaries in other nations. Many workers who have suffered injuries due to the nature of their work wear mechanical prosthetic devices, often freely provided by those they work for as both compensation for their hardship and as an incentive to continue working, though such injuries often allow for months of paid time off to allow for a full and proper recovery. Despite the difficulties of the lower class in Taldoric, the population is on average much healthier than the peasantry of other nations.

Similarly to the upper class, many members of the lower class spend their free time tinkering with mechanical devices. These devices tend to be less ornate than their upper-class counterparts, but often function just as well, if not better, and tend to serve more functional purposes.

The lower-class families of Taldoric are massive; they tend to live in extremely large houses that are similar in scale to the public buildings of other nations, inhabited by many families whose heads grew up together, often in the same house. Most of these structures are built into the walls of tunnels dug out from the central pit, with public buildings and shops built into the walls of the pit themselves. Families often take turns taking care of each other’s children, though there are often dozens of children to a house; as such, teenagers often work cooperatively to tend to their younger siblings and cousins in the place of their parents.

## Cities, Towns, and Villages

### Taldoric (Surface City)

The surface city of Taldoric serves as a trade and processing center for the city, allowing for imports and exports to and from the surface to be processed before entering the undercity. This surface city lies on the ridge of the Taldor Pit, atop Mount Taldor, and circles the central pit, at a thickness of a mile on average. The main stations and supports for the Taldoric Lifts are located here.

The Borodir Wall lines the edge of the surface city; these fortified walls were constructed in ancient times to help aid in protecting the city. These walls also host the outlet pipes for the city’s smoke pipes, which funnel smoke from the Undercity up to the surface and safely vented into the air, where they produce a constant stream of smoke from the mountain’s peak.

### Taldoric (Undercity)

As the capital of the nation, Taldoric is the largest city in the nation, and the largest dwarven city on Temporis. Built on and within Mount Taldor, Taldoric was founded prior to the creation of the Beast Below by the dwarves as they left the Crinoids. Taldoric is an exclusively dwarven city; not even half dwarves are allowed. Part of the justification for this policy is the extensive public transport system within the city being designed for and around dwarves, unable to function properly for non-dwarves. Additionally, the architecture of the city is unfriendly towards the taller races, with most doorways being less than 5 feet tall, and most ceilings close to 6.

The main undercity of Taldoric best resembles a vertical-wall open-pit mine, spiraling down miles underground. Buildings are carved into the stone walls of the mine, along the four main spiralling paths and the many tunnels built into the walls of the pit running parallel to them. Each of the four paths are roughly 150 feet apart, such that a spiral around the pit on a single path will drop roughly 600 feet over 1.5 miles of path. Metal wire rope cables stretch across the cavern, often in pairs intended for travel in opposite directions. Wealthier districts of the city see the use of mechanical gondolas rather than ziplines for travel across the chasm.

The city's sprawling mines span thousands of miles of both natural and artificial tunnels and shafts, going as far down as the Underdark in some places. Each Fifth-Mile district generally serves mostly as a mining district, though the Twenty-First through Twenty-Fifth Mile districts are mostly industrial spaces. Ventilation shafts lining both the mine tunnels and the central pit reach out to the surface where fresh air is exchanged. Similarly, pipes funnel smoke from the city’s forging districts up to the Borodir Wall, where they vent out, producing the city’s distinct smoke column.

Garomir Keep is housed in the Third Mile district (3 miles from the surface, 2 miles underground). This impressive Keep was initially built between 1,560 and 1,734, though improvements were made in the 2,180s to further fortify its defences. Garomir Keep served as the Royal Palace for much of Taldoric’s history, and now serves as the primary military bastion of the city. Built roughly a half-mile out from the central pit, Garomir Keep is primarily a fortified bunker with multiple guard tunnels surrounding it to monitor tunneling during sieges.

### Thamduar

One of the oldest cities in Taldoric, Thamduar was founded as a trade hub between Taldoric and the Underdark, built along an ancient trade route, roughly halfway between the surface and the Underdark. It is often cited as the birthplace of the Duergar, though those who remain stick to the shadows as outcasts and exiles. Those coming from the Underdark seeking trade with Taldoric usually do so here, and some don’t leave when they’re done. This is notable as the only city that is ruled by Taldoric proper that allows non-dwarves within the confines of the city, though this is restricted exclusively to dark elves.

### Molhamdam

A port town just shy of Taldoric’s eastern border with Galkador, where many trade ventures are launched.

### Ruidur

A port town near Taldoric’s southern coastline, where many trade ventures are launched. Has a notably high elven and dwelven population, due to its relative proximity to Aldenlied.

### Surface Settlements

Other, smaller, surface settlements exist, but are mostly rural villages. Their connection to Taldoric still keeps these places well-armed.

## Alliances

### Allied Countries

Kuragma (military, economic), Galkador (informal)

### UOC Status

 Not a member of the United Orelisian Council.

## Enemy Countries

They have no formal enemies but will defend their borders with extreme prejudice.

## Founding and History

### ~41,300 Before Beast

Mount Taldor is climbed for the first time and is named after the first words spoken by the dwarven mountaineer who reached its peak

### ~37,598 Before Beast

The Crinoid dwarves settle Taldor

Taldoric is founded

### ~20,748 Before Beast

The dwarves of Taldoric discover a consistent method of creating steel

### ~13,940 Before Beast

Contact with the Dark Elves is made after the uncovering of an entrance to the Underdark 5 miles underground

Thamduar develops underground as a trade city to the Underdark under the control of Taldoric, roughly halfway along the trade route to the Underdark

### ~7,069 Before Beast

Dark Dwelves (Dark Elf Dwarves) begin to appear

Duergar begin to appear as mostly-dwarves with some Dark Elven heritage

Magic is popularized in Thamduar

### ~85 Before Beast

Trade with the Underdark ends

Non-dwarves are criminalized in Taldoric

Duergar are made to be lower class citizens

Many Duergar move to Thamduar

### ~0

Thamduar declares independence from Taldoric

Dark Elves are decriminalized in Thamduar

Trade resumes between Thamduar and the Underdark

Duergar are criminalized in Taldoric

Magic is outlawed in Taldoric

### ~48

Thamduarian forces breach the Taldoric front

Taldoric accepts defeat and ends the war

### ~1,234

A small cluster of Adamantine ore is discovered and mined, prompting vain prospecting attempts that turn up nothing else

The adamantine is unable to be worked and is kept as a novelty by the royal family

### ~1,256

The royal family makes a deal with a dragon to learn the secrets of adamantine forging

Magic is decriminalized for the nobility in Taldoric

### ~1,266

A solar eclipse occurs over Taldoric

The royal blade, Steinskeri, is forged from mythril and the Adamantine ore

### ~1,523

The primary vein of ore of Mount Taldor is discovered

Taldoric gains access to obscene quantities of raw metals

### ~1,550

Trade is disrupted between the Underdark and Thamduar

### ~1,560

Work begins on Garomir Keep

Taldoric declares war on Thamduar

### ~1,613

Thamduar surrenders to Taldoric and is brought under their power

The Duergar of Thamduar are enslaved

Trade begins between Taldoric and the Underdark

### ~1,712

Surface trade begins between the dwarves and dragons

### ~1,734

Garomir Keep is completed

Taldoric pays off some dragons to defend their borders

### ~1,769

Galkador attempts to invade Taldoric

Galkadorian forces are repelled by Taldoric-bought dragons

### ~2,056

A duergar slave uprising results in the deaths of hundreds of duergar, but also in better conditions for them

### ~3,000s

Dragons begin to make increasingly expensive demands

Relations with dragons breaks down

Dragons begin to significantly harass Taldoric

### ~3,126

Siege weaponry is invented for use against dragons

### ~3,195

Ballista-mounted nets see their first recorded use against flying creatures

### ~Late 3000s

Surface trading with surrounding nations begins

Trading becomes culturally significant in Taldoric

### ~4,624

Members of the Steel Order begin to infiltrate the royal council

### ~5,794

The royal council consists entirely of members of the Steel Order

### ~5,880

The young King of Taldoric is trapped in an unending nightmare, beginning a succession crisis

The King of Taldoric dies in a coma without an heir

### ~5,887

The royal council elect to function together as a permanent parliament, and appoint a Prime Minister

The nobility gain the ability to vote for members of the royal council/parliament

The Taldoric Steel Age begins

### ~5,913

Magic is decriminalized for all citizens of Taldoric

Duergar slaves continue to be punished harshly for using magic

### ~5,924

Taldoric begins development of industrial infrastructure

### ~5,937

Construction begins on Taldoric’s smoke pipes

### ~5,963

Taldoric’s smoke pipes are completed

Rumors begin to propagate on the surface that Mount Taldor is a volcano

### ~6,024

Steel wire cables are invented for use in mining and transportation of materials

### ~6,042

Taldoric installs an early version of the Taldoric lifts using the newly-invented steel wire cables

Taldoric experiences a massive leap in industrial productivity

### ~6,247

The Taldoric Zipline system is constructed, allowing dwarves with access to a portable zipline pulley (“Zippers”) to freely and quickly cross the central pit

### ~6,263

Significant improvements are made to the design of Zippers, increasing safety tenfold while reducing weight

### ~6,423

Mechanical gondolas are invented for industrial use

### ~6,442

Significant improvements are made to the design of mechanical gondolas that increase their safety, efficiency, and marketability

### ~6,452

Mechanical gondolas begin to see commercial use in the upper districts of Taldoric

### ~6,666

Mechanical elevators are invented for industrial use

### ~6,699

The design of mechanical elevators are improved, increasing their safety, efficiency, and marketability

### ~6,704

Mechanical elevators begin to see commercial use in the upper districts of Taldoric

### ~6,969

The cultural practice of BASE jumping down the Taldor Pit using elemental magic to protect oneself is invented and subsequently criminalized

### ~7,018

A minor earthquake occurs, damaging some mine tunnels

324 duergar slaves are killing in a tunnel collapse exacerbated by poor working conditions

The rumor that Mount Taldor is a cursed volcano is now believed by the majority of outsiders

### ~7,019

The duergar begin a mass slave rebellion in Taldoric

### ~7,021

The duergar are forced to flee to the caves after a failed attempt to take Garomir Keep

Duergar are criminalized in Taldoric

Duergar begin to populate the underground across Orelisle

Trading begins to become associated with power and wealth as Taldoric loses much of its labor force

### ~7,000s

Dwarven populations across western Orelisle slowly increase as traders from Taldoric decide to settle down elsewhere, mainly in Amerale, Talios, Cliffhaven, and Myrdirit

### ~7,259

Mechanical drills are invented for industrial usage

### ~7,304

Significant improvements are made to mechanical drills, making them lightweight, portable, and self-powered

Mechanical drills begin to see use in the mining industries of Taldoric

### ~7,351

First large-scale mechanical drills are invented for industrial use

### ~7,352

First attempts to make the mechanical drills self-automated fail

### ~7,355

Follow-up attempts to make mechanical drills self-automated succeed after using the souls of captured duergar

### ~7,356

Many automated drills act erratically, causing damage to property. Fines paid, but the drills are still manufactured

### ~7,364

All automated drills simultaneously stop accepting new commands, act erratically

Production stops on automated drills

### ~7,365

The automated drills commence their assault on the upper levels of Taldoric

Bounties are placed on the automated drills

### ~7,382

Large-scale boring drills are outlawed

Necromancy is outlawed

### ~7,823

An automated drill managed to cut through the Taldoric ventilation system and got stuck. 18 dwarves fall before the machine is deactivated and repairs are made to the vents.

### ~8,102

An automated drill narrowly misses Garomir Keep. A new dwarven curse word is invented that roughly translates to “metal dipshit”

### ~8,438

Trade begins between Malderi and Taldoric

### ~8,914

“Zipline jousting” is invented and subsequently outlawed

### ~9,264

The last of the automated drills is driven off. Taldoric is at peace.

Someone suggests creating automated merchants. They are stoned to death.

### ~9,265

Against the wishes of the general public, someone creates an automated merchant. They are promptly stoned to death.

### ~9,513

Belegostian period of Isolationism ends

Trade begins between Belegost and Taldoric

Some decree is made that ensures the continued health of the lower class of Taldoric

### ~9,696

BASE jumping down the Taldor pit is legalized

### ~9,976

Automaton battle pits become a cultural staple of the Taldoric upper class

### ~9,999

Notable politician Gromar Deepbelt II dies by falling down every stair on the Taldor Pit. Miraculously, he managed to survive until the last step.

Slinkies are invented.

### ~10,008

The eldest brothers of the Rocksplitter clan die after attempting to zipline joust each other, with predictably fatal results; the Rocksplitter clan falls into hushed embarrassment.