Rhodóros Range

The **Rhodóros Range** are the mountains and highlands east of Anastea. They are the source of the Rhodon River's eastern tributaries, of the Esphas River, and they guard the eastern flank of the heartlands of the Empire of Rhotalon.

## History

The Rhodóros Range has long been inhabited before the Empire of Rhotalon was established. Indigenous elementalfolk and nomadic kairouleans were its earliest recorded dwellers, although their presence was sporadic. Beaverfolk from the nearby Rhodon were the first race to build permanent settlements, followed by owlfolk from Gouphia who made nest-cities on its peaks. One of the oldest permanent sites surviving to this day is that of Roupakios, founded by minotaurs from the colony of Zilistrai. The first dwarves arrived around 3500 B.R., migrating across the Rhodon from Brystigia. Migrations from lizardfolk and centaurs from Kentauria were also recorded.

By the time of Rhotalon's founding in 3000 B.R., dwarves had attained a key role in the range, founding many statelets and becoming prominent in already-existing ones such as Roupakios. These mountain nations were able to put up a united front against initial invasions by the Rhotalonic legions, and instead the Empire opted to shower them in gifts and consider them allies. As the Empire expanded and came to surround the range, most of its states were incorporated directly over the course of centuries. Since then, the Rhodóros Range has been integral to the Empire, which favoured the immigration of more dwarves from Hyperkara and the development of its slopes through terracing, while its people adopted Talonic language and developed the Rhodoroi culture. The hills serve as the primary line of defense against Kentaurian invasion, and thanks to thousands of years of planned settlement these lands are highly productive.

## Politics

The Rhodoroi's organization traces back to that of dwarven clans from Hyperkara. Most people are divided into clans, each of which has their own settlement or network of settlements that is governed by a council of the four eldest clan members. These clans each have their own courts in which internal disputes are handled, while issues between two clans are handled by the Imperial Court located in Nikelominos. These clans altogether were governed by the Megas Arkon in Nikelominos, who is the highest ranking official in the Rhodóros Range, having both civil and military authority.

## Population

At the Imperial Census for the Rhodóros Range's population, dwarves normally account for over a third but less than half, and they are considered the most affluent race overall; the range is also home to significant populations of hoppitoi, hobgoblins, owlfolk and elementalfolk - both indigenous earthfolk and Rhotalonic waterfolk - in addition to beaverfolk, ratfolk, lizardfolk, minotaurs and kairouleans.

Nikelominos is the largest city and lies on the western side of the range, and it is here that most of the people with ties to the Imperial capital live. Most dwarves reside in elevated settlements that they have lived in for millennia, and over the last few centuries a large influx of workforce, particularly hoppitoi, has made their way into the terraced farmsteads surrounding these settlements, often as tenants of the dwarven clan that owns the land itself. While none of the dwarven settlements are particularly big, the amount of these settlements, with densely exploited farmlands that have been cultivated for millennia, means that the population of the Rhodóros Range is significantly high. East of the Rhodóros Range flows the Boxeppa River, among which many border forts have been built during the rule of the Empire. As a result, many hobgoblins live along this river.

## Economy

The Rhodóros Range is largely agricultural but has been developed by the local clans to have a high output of crops thanks to careful crop management and soil enrichment. Farmlands are divided into communally clan-owned lands that are leased out to individuals from the clan. These lands tend to grow staple crops such as corn, peas, or lentils, in addition to vegetables and fruit orchards.

In the less cultivable areas of the range, large herds of livestock are instead bred for dairy, meat, leather and wool. Many dwarven holders hire tenants to tend to their farmlands and themselves focus on a craft, and as a result cottage industry is abundant. Water and windmills are extensively used throughout the range for industrial purposes such as milling wheat into flour and sawing wood. Water management is a staple of these lands and one can find many dams and irrigation canals to ensure that each farmstead has easy access to water. Most settlements are made of stone, with thick walls and a large granary in which food is stored communally for each clan. Quarries and mines for metals and gems are far from rare as well.