Dalman

The city of Dalman rests on the calm water of Dhandyurigan lake, surrounded by fields of grass from horizon to horizon. (The Wiradjuri language is an Australian language that is used as the basis for the Dalman language).

## Lore

Over a millenia ago, Dhandyurigan lake and some of the branching rivers it was bound to, were host to bronze age agrarian city states populated by an ethnogroup of humans called the Dhirra. As centuries passed on, a small kingdom would form that would eventually collapse due to increasing aridity in the region, which lead to widespread famines. Urban settlements diminished until nomadic pastoralist groups of goblins living in communities near the edges of Dhirra territory would move in to dominate the region. This population of goblins were mobile and able to conduct raids that would interfere with trade, taxes and tribute. Out of the ashes of the Dhirra, goblins would inherit the land with the means of surviving the harsh realities of a fallen civilization. For the Dhirra this period was a dark time, but for the goblins it was the start of a new bountiful era. A single tribe of goblins known as the Yilawari, would successfully conquer a city on the lake, enslaving many of the human inhabitants. Over time, the goblin conquerors would adopt human customs and technologies. This city would come to be known as Dalman, which translates to, “the land of plenty.” Once it had become established, the Dalman city state would start several brutal campaigns to unite the rest of the disparate goblin tribes and gain control over swathes of land along the river.

## Inhabitants of Dalman

At the head of Dalman society was the Balgar, then the government officials, nobles or priests, followed by soldiers, scribes, merchants, craftsmen and finally the lowest class of farmers and slaves. Although most farmers and slaves are Dhirra, some are also goblins or prisoners captured from raids. Balgars acted similar to kings since they followed hereditary rule, however no preference was given to either male or female children in succession. However this title has since been renamed to Rakhat after Dalman was conquered by the desert peoples of the East. Although Dhirra slaves are often mistreated by goblins, as is the nature of slavery, there is also a small population of Dhirra that are seen as equals in Dalman society. For it is possible for a Dalman slave to gain freedom but only through a remarkable act recognized by a Dalman noble. Once that slave is freed their descendants are also granted freedom as well. But this is only an exception and is by no means a common occurrence. Ultimately, Dalman society opinion about humans is tolerant enough that trade and cooperation occurs with other human cultures.

## Geography

The city was originally built on a large island in Dhandyurigan lake, over time expanding with a system of canals and causeways in place of roads. The area of the original island was extended through the creation of small artificial islands that were later consolidated. Each area of the city is organized into places offering different services. The goblins of Dalman also use small, rectangular plots of land to grow crops in the shallow lake beds. The lake acts like a natural moat, which gave the city a defensive advantage that allowed the Dhirra living there to fend off the waves of goblin tribes for much longer than other Dhirra city states after the collapse of the ancient Dhirra kingdom. Dalman is also connected to a far reaching river that branches as far north as Zarstad and as far west as the beaches of Derlania. This allows for a faster method of trade than traveling by foot or on horseback and access to valuable Visii tin used for bronze that Dalman merchants acquire in Joraje. The territory that Dalman controls is one small part of an expansive grassland bordered by mountains to the South, a small desert in the East, territory held by foreign neighbors in the swamps of the North and the painted badlands of the West.

## Architecture

The walls of Dalman buildings are constructed with intricately carved stone and pillars of rock jutting from the corners. The greys of the stone are complimented by colorful curved roofs with trim and corners of blackened stone. A typical dwelling for a Dalman goblin has all of these characteristics mentioned, often being circular with a hole in the center of the roof to let out smoke. Whereas, other more important buildings are more complex in shape and often much grander in scale. The lowest class of slaves and farmers live in wooden hovels with thatch roofs in the outskirts of the city of Dalman. The style of Dalman architecture appears to be a hybridization of ancient Dhirra stone buildings and the round tents of the nomadic goblins who migrated in centuries before.

## In-game History

* Founded July 20, 2021
* Conquered September 4, 2021
* Joins the nation of Hesharakhat Ilurath September 4, 2021