Alberich

**Alberich** is the capital of Aurelius. It is a huge, snowy city in the North-West of Thaums

## History

### Growles

Before it became a human settlement, what is now Alberich was a large community of Bearfolk. It was an interconnected community of different peaceful tribes - grizzlys, black bears and polar bear folk all lived in relative harmony together in a place they named Growles. At some point, an army of humans led by Eustis Thaum led a disadvantaged but successful attack on the region, driving all of the bearfolk out and making Growles their new home. Much of this history is muddied and unknown but it is thought that their motives lied in racial superiority and desperation for a good home. The year long campaign ended in The Battle of Growles which saw the bear folk completely defeated and driven away.

The bear folk were scattered after this, delegated to smaller communities which were later also ransacked by humans of different generations. Now the three bear folk races are completely separated and reside in different areas of Aurelius and Kabaw. This war spawned the song Ballad of the Bears and Lambs.

Eustis Thaum and his people settled in Growles, naming the region Thaums after their leader.

### **Alberich** and Eustis

Eustis had two sons - James Thaum and Leonard Thaum. Eustis challenged his sons to expand his kingdom out of Growles by rounding up more people and building their own regions. James founded Kluningard (now Alberich Common) and Leonard founded Eustis. They became lords over their respective regions until their father died and the two ruled Thaums together. This was the only time two kings ruled simultaneously. After the untimely death of Leonard Thaum to a newly emerging disease named Thelmis, James's son took the throne - Clermon Thaum.

### Thaums Palace

Thaums Palace was a huge endeavour to build the world's most beautiful and enormous palace. It would be white and blue and would be the central place of living for the royal family and government. It would also contain a museum and theatre. It was commissioned by Clermon Thaum to be in the exact centre of the kingdom in Kluningard. He therefore switched the kingdom's capital from Growles to Kluningard. The palace would be a project spanning three generations, being worked on by Leonard Thaum II (Clermon's son) and Casper Thaum, his grandson.

## Districts

### Alberich Common

Alberich Common the central, metropolitan area of Alberich, containing the majority of tourism and business in the city. This includes The Niveous (the Aurelius government building and home of the Lord President of Aurelius), The Bibliodrome (the grand library and archive of Aurelius and former palace of the King of Thaums) and Alberich University.

### Slooshwater Warren

Slooshwater Warren is a majority Harengon community within Alberich.

### Vergals

Verglas is the coastal district of Alberich containing all of its ports and docks. It is the centre of trade for the entire country along with the docks in Minerva.

### Concodore

**Concodore** is the second largest district of Alberich, located in the north-east of the city outside the main walls. It has it's own university (University of Concodore) and its own mountain range, attached to the rest of the Northern mountains of Thaums.

### Growles

**Growles** is known as the roughest, poorest area of Alberich

### Glass Forest

**The Glass Forest** is located on the Southern outskirts of Alberich, mostly consisting of snowy forests, plains full of ice spikes, small communities and parkland. It has the largest population of Owlins outside of Sabratha.

## Trivia

* Alberich Common is based heavily on Edinburgh, especially the strip leading up to The Bibliodome being based on Castlehill, a highly historic and touristic street leading upto Edinburgh Castle.
* Many of the Districts of Alberich are named after London Underground Stations. Eustis (while it is named after Eustis Thaum) is an illusion to Euston,Growles is based on Barking, Alberich Common is based on Clapham Common and Slooshwater Warren is based on Warren Street,

## Appearances

* The Graverobbers of Ludenguard *(First mentioned)*
* The Cranberry Conundrum *(First appearance)*
* Common Cold
* Butcher's Arcade
* A Full House
* Friends in High Places
* Six Thieves Under
* Burnt at Both Ends
* Dying Embers
* Death at the Gates
* Maiden Voyage