Morkoth

Morkoth is the headquarters of Midheld Manufacturing in Midheld. It is located at the center of the Pilfered Badlands.

## Geography

### Geographical Features

Morkoth sits in the center of a wasteland, and as such there is little of note geographically in the region.

### Districts of Morkoth

Morkoth is primarily made up of large manufacturing districts, which are filled with factories, workers' homes, and storage warehouses. The rest of the city includes slums, shops, upper-class residences, and entertainment.

#### The Golden Fortress

The Golden Fortress and its outbuildings are the home of the Castellan of Morkoth. The personal guard of the Castellan, the Council, some other members of the bureaucracy, and a variety of servants and slaves are also housed in the Fortress's complex.

#### Textile Quarter

Weavers, both living and machine, work day and night in this district, making both cloth and clothes in the large factories here.

#### Woodworking Quarter

Although most woodworking is still done by hand, the mages of Morkoth have found a way to speed up some of the process with their arcane machines. Furniture, toys, building materials, and pieces for other projects (such as handles for weapons and tools) are made here.

#### War Quarter

While they are found in all of the manufacturing districts, the smokestacks of the War Quarter are larger, more plentiful, and more active than the rest of the city combined. Factories here smelt metals from ore, create alloys, and cast them into tools, weapons, and armor. It is well known that the warforged are also made here, although nobody seems to be aware of where exactly that happens.

A tall, jet-black obelisk stands in the center of Brunet Square in the War Quarter. The monument commemorates the workers who gave their lives for the advancement of technology.

#### Executives' Quarter

Large walled estates dominate this area of Morkoth. Executives of companies, factory owners, and upper-level Midheld Manufacturing executives all have homes here.

Places of Interest

#### Entertainment District

While some of the locations in the Entertainment District are geared towards all, most of these places are patronized by the upper- and middle-class. Theaters, museums, fine dining, and upscale shops can be found here for Morkoth's elite, while a couple different arenas, including gladiator fights and a Siegeball arena, are enjoyed by anyone with some free time and a few coppers.

Places of Interest

#### The Dregs

The name for the collected slums of Morkoth, The Dregs are by far the largest residential district in the city. The majority of these slums is located in the northern part of the city, but the slums found outside of the walls and near some of the factories are also known as The Dregs.

## Government

The Castellan, along with a small council, rule from the Golden Fortress. However, it is a poorly-kept secret that the CEO of Midheld Manufacturing, as well as the executives and factory owners of the city, hold enough sway over the Castellan and their council that they are able to sway their opinions to fit with the needs of their companies, factories, etc.

Maricela Clarke is the current Castellan of Morkoth. Cato Deathbringer is the current CEO of Midheld Manufacturing.

## Trade

As the headquarters of Midheld Manufacturing, Morkoth creates many goods for trade to other cities and kingdoms. Their goods, while a lower quality than the handmade things from other craftsmen, are so cheap and plentiful that they are widely used throughout Aleria. Morkoth trades their goods with nearly every nation on the continent, and some of their goods even get sent across the waters to Thraxia.

With its location in the middle of a wasteland, Morkoth must import many basics for living. Food and water are its primary imports, and the difficulty of getting these items to the city means that they are quite expensive for the people of the city.

## Defenses

The Golden Guard is the main defense force of the city, acting as the Castellan's personal army. The city has walls as well, which surround the majority of Morkoth's buildings. However, the best defense the city has is its location. The Pilfered Badlands are virtually empty of flora and fauna, but they do have some dangerous creatures well off the beaten path. An army would need to make itself very well known by marching along the roads, or it would need to risk the dangers of the Badlands. Either way, Morkoth would be well prepared to deal with them, should they even make it to the city.

## History

### Rumors & Legends

The people of Morkoth believe that, when Galleria emerged from the Primordial Flood, she emerged where Morkoth now stands. The stories tell that as her tears went near and far to water the lands and grow the plants, they left the place she stood dry. Thus, no flora can grow in the Pilfered Badlands.

#### Nagpa

The Pilfered Badlands house Morkoth, a few roads to and from the city, and little else in the way of civilization. The rest of the Badlands are a barren place, home to all sorts of horrible creatures. The worst of these have escaped the wrath of the Raven Queen in Shadowfell. Once powerful wizards who had gone again her wishes, the creatures now known as nagpas survive all over the multiverse. One seems to have appeared in the Badlands, and travelers would be wise to avoid its lair.