City of Länkuuhsta

**Länkuuhsta** also known as **The Forge** is a city best known for their forges which had produced masterfully crafted bronze arms and armor. It is a fortress city in the Brightmarch region of the Lake Federation. The city was primarily Metsamic, having been founded by mercenaries from the west.

## History

### Founding

Länkuuhsta, as well as its sister city Vahjevgiiv, was founded in 579BA by Metsamic mercenaries under hire of the Khamgunai during the Amber Wars. The founding of the cities upset the Khamgunai and drew the new cities into the wars in 594BA. In response, the Metsamic mercenaries rebelled against their clients and defended the cities along with Metsamic reinforcements from the west.

During an invasion by centaurs led by Naegol in 564BA, Länkuuhsta joined a coordinated effort to drive them out. After Naegol was defeated and the centaurs routed, Länkuuhsta joined the Amberpact and entered into a period of peace.

During the Amber Wars, Länkuuhsta gained control of copper and tin mines which proved invaluable to them. Over the years they perfected the techniques of making and working bronze, bringing it to a point where their bronze goods were better than steel.

### Turbulent Times

In 1427 Länkuuhsta assisted Vahjevgiiv in conquering the great city of Qarshtuluu with plans for further conquest. The surrounding cities banded together in defense against the two Metsamic cities including the reformation of Ghuvkeshevdel. While these wars were going on, in 1433 the Great Incursion started, a massive centaur invasion. The centaurs reached as far up as Vahjevgiiv, but were held back by Länkuuhsta and Vahjevgiiv’s armies. Länkuuhsta’s enemies Ghuvkeshevdel and the other northern cities formed the Grand League and assisted Länkuuhsta and Vahjevgiiv in pushing back the centaurs.

The Grand League, having proven successful against the centaurs, united all the cities of the lakes in a federation to protect against the centaurs. The first act of the federation though, was to break up Länkuuhsta and Vahjevgiiv. Making the cities return what cities they conquered, as well as giving up their own land to veterans of the Great Incursion, creating the City of Akuutengen. This greatly disrupted Länkuuhsta, as part of the land taken away was their copper and tin mines. The forges of Länkuuhsta took a hit, no longer able to easily access the ores to make their famous bronze.

## Economy

The economy of Länkuuhsta was primarily based on exports of bronze arms and armor. The crafts were said to be stronger than steel and were widely in demand. Länkuuhsta had a system of apprenticeship in order to maintain its standard of quality with rising needs of labor. In its past, it mined copper and tin from land to the south and used that to make its bronze. After the land with the mines were lost following the birth of the Lake Federation, the economy of Länkuuhsta took a great hit.

## Military

Having been formed by mercenaries, Länkuuhsta has been a very militarily focused city from its inception. Bolstered by the crafts of its own forges, Länkuuhsta had a powerful and well-equipped military. The soldiers of Länkuuhsta have had a reputation of never retreating, only settling for victory or death. This tradition has been passed down, as well as other teachings, at Länkuuhsta’s Westfort Academy. Having been renovated from the fort made when the city was first founded, the Westfort houses a grand military academy to train leaders of all kinds, both in their military as well as their administration.