Crinidak

## Common Knowledge

Some dwarves in Galkador and Taldoric may have heard myths of a lost Dwarven City somewhere in the Crinoid Mountains.

If a dwarf sits in the harshest mist of the Crinoid Mountains, and listens with their whole being, they can see glimpses of one of the greatest civilizations on Orelisle. If they can withstand it for one thousand years, they might understand the tragedy of Crinidak.

## Topography and Climate

Crinidak was a city-state based in the southern reaches of the Crinoid Mountains, which reach from the Aetorg Lands all the way down through Binturia and modern Galkador. Indeed, it is for the people of Crinidak that these mountains are named.

### Topography

#### Crinoid Mountains

The Crinoid Mountains are a massive mountain range stretching from the Aetorg Lands through Binturia and Galkador.

#### The Crimson Mist

The consequence of the crinoids’ efforts, resulting in a powerful mist of wild and corrosive essence. The Crimson Mist eats through matter and flesh with ease, and is nearly completely immune to magic. Its presence harms Death itself, and those taken by its power cannot be reaped. For some reason, dwarves are not as strongly affected, but only just.

### Climate

Crinidak’s climate was relatively cold, with average rainfall.

## Population

Crinidak was populated by dwarves and crinoids, a separate sapient species of humanoids not wholly unlike dwarves. Dwarves and crinoids shared a recent common ancestor.

* 45% Crinoid
* 45% Dwarf
* 10% Others

## Exports and Trades

### Exports

Potions, Poisons, Weaponry, Dwarven Crafts

### Imports

Crinidak at its height was completely self-sufficient, but in the periods where it ebbed in power it would often import crops and foodstuffs.

### Trades

Alchemists, formal essence-users, tacticians, engineers, mathematicians, doctors.

## Government

Crinidak was a meritocratic democracy, with one council of crinoids and another of dwarves working in unison. The leaders of each council were chosen by a democratic election, based on the candidates achievements and accomplishments. Both councils would meet and propose actions for Crinidak to take as a whole, and must reach a consensus between the two councils for that action to be taken. If the councils could not reach a consensus, then they would have four more opportunities to revise their proposals and meet with the other council once again. If after all five times a compromise or agreement could not be met, then the proposal fails fully.

Both councils recognized that there needed to be compromise for the system to function, and acted accordingly.

## Military

The Crinidak military was composed almost exclusively of dwarves and crinoids, and was filled through a mandatory 12-month service period, though many remained in service following the end of this period. Second-class citizens were barred from this service period, though some exceptions were made for extraordinary warriors or leaders of other species.

## Social Hierarchy and Culture

Crinidak’s main cultural tenets formed from two principles: strict adherence to meritocracy, and a deep-seated envy of deities. The dwarves and crinoids of Crinidak believed that a person’s worth was dependent on their merit and abilities. Any position, title, or rank that they held needed to be justified exclusively by their actions, not by nepotism or underhanded tactics.

Furthermore, they considered the intervention of any greater, outside power to be a transgression against those ideas, and eschewed their worship entirely. Despite this lack of reverence for deities, that does not mean that they did not believe that any such entities existed. Millennia of interactions with Possibility herself led to high-ranking Crinidak officials having an intimate understanding of the Elder Gods’ existence and their role in reality as a whole. This knowledge, and the knowledge that these entities favored their rivals in Old Binturia, incensed the crinoids and dwarves and this ire would only deepen when Possibility stopped visiting them (on account of their experiments with reality-bending Essence).

## Cities, Towns, and Villages

### Crinidak

The capital city, and the heart of Crinidak’s rule. Built in a heavily-fortified impact crater, this enormous metropolis extends miles underground and cuts a perfect blend between form and function. Archways adorned with the finest marbles, stone-cut sculptures and reliefs marking districts and waypoints, and flawlessly-paved stone roads illuminated by red bioluminescent moss clusters. Waterways running throughout the tunnels and even on the surface would be imbued with stamina potions, medicinal remedies, and even vitamins missing from the normal Crinidak diet to reduce fatigue, disease, and famine en masse.

### Nogrum

A facility in the Crinoid Mountains by what is modern Gtharzdamz, Nogrum was originally built to facilitate the cultivation of rare alchemical-rich plants. At some point, a deal was struck with the Fae to increase the yield and growth rate of these plants, and to help maintain their growth. These plants are transported to alchemical breweries across the Crinoid Mountains, where they are processed for potion production.

## Enemy Countries

Prior to its destruction, Crinidak held a deep-seated resentment for Old Binturia and its inhabitants

## Further Information

* Belegost
* Binturia
* Cliffhaven
* Duryem
* Dwarves
* Essence
* Myrdirit
* Old Binturia
* Pionus
* Possibility
* Taldoric