Khonoldhur

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Khonoldhur is a settlement founded by an alliance of predominantly elves and dwarves, watching over a crossroads at the heart of the continent.

## History

Khonoldhur has held many names over the years, known as Mashoqiq by the folk of Ra-Larara, for whom it served as their primary keep and capital city after their secession from the Empire of Raq in 874 AG. After the Materialisation, it came to be known as Castle Jalzazhuss, taking its new name from the Jalzazhuss Den, a group of drow that fled the Underdark city of Imlegroth after its assault by Dyrrn, the Foul Labyrinth. From the mountain keep the Den patrolled the surrounding lands, watching over the Cicatrices to the south to guard against threats bubbling up to the surface from the lands below. Ever welcoming of those without home, or seeking one anew, the elves of the Jalzazhuss Den led by the Matron Mother Umrae Jalzazhuss would quickly note a steady growth in the numbers of dwarven arrivals, who promptly aided to quickly expand and construct anew to accommodate for the growing population. Finding the skills and expertise of the new additions, and in acknowledgement of their varying needs and desires, an agreement was reached between the populations of elves and dwarves, thus forming the Duumvirate. As part of this agreement, Castle Jalzazhuss was renamed once more, returning to the name first given to it by its dwarven architects, Khonoldhur.

## Government

The Duumvirate is a coalition between the Adamathane of the dwarves and Moonstode of the elves, each of which hold councils of aides, attendants and retainers responsible for overseeing districts of the city as part of bureaucratic offices known as Banners. Each of the four Banners manages a different aspect of everyday life and function, although it is the dual rulers of the Duumvirate that make the final decisions on the most important and pressing of matters.

#### The Banner of the Bulwark

Responsible for the defence of the settlement of Khonoldhur, the Banner of the Bulwark is responsible for maintaining the city's entryway, the outposts at its extremities both above and below the surface, and the training of the Bynar Blades, the well-trained and equipped soldiers of the city. Though proficient with a number of martial and simple weapons, it is for their twinned hook swords that they are most famed. Distinguished from conventional swords by the inclusion of a pronged hook similar to a shepherd's crook near the tip and a substantial butterfly style guard, these weapons are particularly adept at trapping oncoming weaponry and tripping enemies.

#### The Banner of the Magnate

Created shortly after Khonoldhur's rapid expansion into an important trade settlement, the Banner of the Magnate serves to manage the mercantile interests of the city. Taking inspiration from the city of Mol Boramm, Khonoldhur has subsequently become a hub for masonry and metalworking, as well as banking services fueled by the veins of precious metals uncovered beneath the halls and streets.

#### The Banner of the Plinth

Encompassing all manner of supportive roles, the Banner of the Plinth engages itself with the domains of providing sufficient day-to-day supplies for the populace, ranging from food and drink to education and religious needs. The station for the Galerider Rail and the Aerodrome fall under the remit of the Banner of the Plinth, but are more actively managed by the Banner of the Magnate.

#### The Banner of the Prospect

Tasked with representing Khonoldhur interests further afield, the Banner of the Prospect takes the lead in diplomacy in urban settings and scouting in those more rural. They take responsibility for watching over the Cicatrixes to the south, with regular expedition parties sent forth into the Shifting Dunes to aid in this task.

## Crime

For many criminals, the prospect of a subterranean city largely devoid of natural sunlight is a desirable locale. The arrival of the Great Conduit has made transport links to the city easier than ever before, which has served as both a blessing and bane for those acting out of illicit interests, the free-flow of individuals bringing new targets and an easy route of departure, but likewise turning the gaze of many in power towards the settlement with intentions to root out any lingering miscreants and vagabonds.

Despite this, many organisations with criminal links and arguably felonious goals continue to operate freely, most notable amongst these the Arken Den.

## Geography

A steep mountain pass trails through the southern edge of the Ironfangs to the entrance of Khonoldhur, now flanked by watchhouses operated by the Banner of the Bulwark and the Banner of the Prospect in conjunction. Beyond the main gate, shaped from stone in place of the timber used elsewhere in the continent, a long bridge overlooked by a defensive bastion serves as the primary route into the city, constructed in the traditional Mol Borammian style. Beyond the settlement is split across three tiers, one ascending towards the mountain peak, one roughly level with the entryway and a third descending into the depths.

### The Climb

The most recently constructed district, The Climb is a tiered region of the city of Khonoldhur that ascends through the mountain to reach a natural col near its summit. While significantly shorter than many of the neighbouring peaks, the air that rushes into this region, open to the outside world as it is, is chill and bracing, and so the wealthier proprietors have taken to constructing their stalls, storehouses and businesses within the mountain immediately adjacent to the region, with those poorer forced to make trade exposed to the elements. Both the station on the Great Conduit for the Galerider Rail and the Aethnarch of Aviacrest's Aerodrome are located on the edges of the Climb, and so the area has become a primary site of trade and commerce within the city. The external route leading up the Climb is fraught with uneven frozen crags, sheer cliffs slick with ice and harrying winds, and so is considered largely impossible for most, although the Banner of the Prospect is said to maintain a few secret routes unknown to the general populace.

### The Heart

Most of the city of Khonoldhur's expanse is found roughly level with its entranceway, where vast stretches of the mountain's interior have been hollowed out by means of mining and magic to house the majority of the populace. Beating with the pulse of life, the Heart is the location of countless homesteads, taverns, forges and emporiums serving the local populace, in contrast to those found within The Climb, which more actively target travellers and other visitors. Roughly oval in shape, the district is subdivided by walls that can be closed to seal off portions of the city in times of invasion, distress or danger. Closest to the main route into the city by land is the barracks of the Bynar Blades, and on the far end is the Palace of the Duumvirate, a collection of angular and squat towers and elegant and lithe spires shared between the Adamathane and the Moonstode.

### The Roots

The deepest part of Khonoldhur is almost exclusively given over to the Cabochon Mines, from which predominantly dwarven labourers pull significant yields of iron, copper, lead, sulphur and zinc, as well as precious metals and gemstones in the deeper stretches. The Banner of the Bulwark maintains a strong presence throughout the region, with Bynar Blade troops making regular patrols in the darkest and most extensive tunnel systems, although once an ore vein is expended, it has become typical to collapse the mine shaft if they descend below a certain depth.