Kantor

History

The city of Kantor was established in the early Upheaval period following the destruction of the Drakantal Empire in Arak. When the Voidspawn first appeared, attacking the Dwarves of Arak, they were overwhelmed. Pieces of the empire were able to be preserved, but its peoples were forever changed by the attacks, in more ways than one. When the Voidspawn attacked, the Dwarves that survived who were exposed to the Voidspawn's influence had their animate Flow damaged, their very life force and identity irreparably faded. This damage to their identities robbed them of strong emotions, leaving them stoic and deadpan. Additionally, it gave them a ghastly coloration to their skin, deathly pale with a slight purple hue, and eyes of pale red. When the Dwarves of Arak fled to their homeland of Reshyk, their kindred did not recognize them, and thought them revenants; believing they were there to punish them for not coming to their aid. The Dwarves of Reshyk's mainland drove them out of the mainland, and sent them to the landmass to the east that would later become known as The Ashlands.

The Ashenfolk, as they came to be known, found the Ashlands inhospitable due to the ashfall caused by the local Farnia trees. They decided to take shelter under the Basalt Peaks on the northern half of the region, and Kantor was founded. For thousands of years, the Ashenfolk were seen as malevolent spirits, and the mainland Dwarves avoided them entirely. However, during the Restoration period, some Eldenfolk visited the region, wanting to know what became of the Ashenfolk, and found them thriving. Having been disconnected from them for so long, their cultures were very different. With Runetech beginning to emerge, their approaches to magic were very different, with the Ashenfolk being more traditional, using the old magic of runes, as opposed to the modern incantations used by the rest of the world. The Ashenfolk had no contact with any of the other races of Aellorah, and were initially against any kind of reconciliation, the memory of their exile ever present.

When Reshyk closed its borders to the outside world, this included the Ashlands, further isolating them. King Balnur still held prejudice against the Ashenfolk, unable to put aside tales he had been told as a child -- though he established the city of Minok to allow the Dwarves to open a dialog with the Ashenfolk and to establish trade with them. It wouldn't be until King Rangrim's reign that ruins resurfaced in Arak of a city of the Drakantal Empire's that the Ashenfolk's fate was discovered, and the wounds between the two people began to heal. As a result, the Ashenfolk have begun to reintegrate with the mainland Dwarves, some taking residence there -- though some still cling to old prejudices, ones that will take far more than archaeological evidence to heal.

Government

Kantor is the capital city of The Ashlands, and one of only a few inhabited by the Ashenfolk, due to the low population density of their people. The Ashenfolk are governed by a monarchy with a royal family, the Hardak family; which has ruled over their people since the late Reckoning period, after the previous royal family was executed for unknown crimes against the Dwarven people. The previous royal family's name, Vastek, remains a curse in the Ashenfolk dialect to modern day. The Hardak family is descended from a noble family that dates back to the Drakantal Empire. There seem to be very few who disapprove of King Thorfin Hardak, the current ruler of the Ashlands; as the Ashenfolk consider him a fair and just king. However, not all members of the Hardak family have been so unproblematic.

King Thorfin had to do damage control for much of his early rule due to the heretical leadership of his father, King Karstan. His father was considered a deviant by his people, displaying emotion the Ashenfolk had not seen in generations. However, his emotion was most often expressed as anger, which he directed at the Runescribes of Karsil Allor. This began early in his reign when the Ashenfolk believed they had been forsaken by Aellor, and Karstan blamed the Runescribes for this, believing they had in some way conspired against the Ashenfolk people. For many years this was limited to verbal abuse, but eventually he became violent, even horrifically executing some by tossing them into the geysers of the Moil Kalvik. This single act turned his people against him, as the Ashenfolk consider the waters of the Moil Kalvik to be sacred, and believed that Karstan had tainted them. Thorfin, disgusted by his father's actions, had him arrested by the Ska Jian, who were just as upset by Karstan's actions as any other, and had him locked away in the city's prison, and kept him there until his death.

Thorfin's willingness to imprison his own father showed his commitment to his people, and restored the people's faith in the Hardak royal family.

Economy

Due to their isolation, the Ashenfolk abandoned currency long ago. They decided to provide for their own, and have created a number of public facilities, workshops, and services to cater to the needs of the people. As a result, many residents of Kantor do not have many personal possessions beyond decorations in their home that they have created themselves. Many of the decorations and art pieces found in Kantor make use of the plentiful basalt from above them, as well as mica and some metals found in the Deephollow.

However, with the discovery of the Ashenfolk's ancestry and the mending of relations between themselves and the mainland Dwarves, their isolation has finally ended. Rather than introduce currency back into their society, they have decided to remain free of such things, and they choose to sell their goods in Minok and Ilmerglain to raise money so that their people can venture out into the world to explore and bring stories and knowledge back to their people. One of their most valuable export goods is the jewelry they make from basalt, which is tumbled and polished, and highly coveted by those around Aellorah who have never seen the material. It has also been discovered that the basalt is very good at containing enchantments, making it suitable for all manner of magical goods.

The Runescribes of Kantor have also taken to producing talismans, which are runes scribed onto a material called Tekrum, to sell to outsiders, giving them access to the Ashenfolk's magic, for a price. However, the runes that the Runescribes are permitted to sell to outsiders are heavily regulated, as many runes offer powerful effects not available to the magic of the outside.

Notable Locations

• Basalt Peaks - Above Kantor is a small mountain range colloquially known as the Basalt Peaks. These peaks, as the name implies, are made from a material called basalt; a type of mineral rock which is black in color and forms non-uniform octagonal spires of varying elevation. None know the origin of this material, as it seems to not be the result of a Wellspring eruption, but it is the only place in the world where it can be found. The material seems to grow slowly, giving the Ashenfolk below a steady supply of the material which they have used to build their homes and some crafts, including jewelry. Strangely, those who mine the basalt from these mountains report sometimes feeling a pulse from the ground, describing it as the mountain's "heartbeat". These miners have also reported strange sounds on the wind blowing through the mountain passes, coming and going rhythmically, like breathing.
• Ska Wylvan - On the eastern edge of Kantor lies the Ska Wylvan, a large structure that serves as the royal "palace", though you might be fooled by its decor. The Ska Wylvan is not a grandiose palace, with the finest fabrics and art. It is a simple home for a humble king, currently Thorfin Hardak. It is primarily decorated with crafts from the city's most celebrated craftsmen, as King Thorfin believes in displaying the pride of his people, what they consider to be their greatest accomplishments. He insists on using round tables for dining so as not to give the impression that he considers himself better than any of his subjects. One of its most defining features is the mica mosaics on the building's ceilings, which when lit by the palace's lanterns, give off an otherworldly sparkling spectacle. The Ska Jian, King Thorfin's personal guard, have a garrison in the palace.
• Karsil Allor - A temple dedicated to Aellor at the heart of the city. The city's Runescribes also use this temple as a place to perform ritual magic in dedication to Aellor, and religious services. The gathering hall has large drums and a choir that intones during these ceremonies. The temple has fallen into disrepair in the Age of Extermination due to the belief that the Ashenfolk have been forsaken by Aellor, as she does not heed their worship as she once did. There has been a crisis of faith among the Ashenfolk during this new age. The temple is currently tended by the Runescribe called Runemaster Ormar.
• Geir Soldan - A grand archive where the chronicles of the Ashenfolk are kept. This library can be seen as an analog equivalent to Hat'aellor in Stavandyr.
• Moil Kalvik - These hot springs, situated at the center of Kantor, are very important to the Ashenfolk. The water that comes from its geysers are believed to be sacred, a gift from Aellor herself. The excess water is used to brew Ajongir among other things. The water is seen as purifying, with the Ashenfolk paying visits frequently to cleanse themselves. The water itself has some medicinal benefits for the skin, as well as accelerating recovery from sickness. The Ashenfolk do not allow anything to enter its waters besides the body. The springs are segregated by gender, as the Ashenfolk are not as liberal with nudity as the Humans.
• Rulir Gelkan - Meaning "lonely waterfall", this massive waterfall in the very back of the city pours into a small lake that filters through several waterways created by the Ashenfolk that run through the city providing fresh water. In some areas of the city, you can see fish swimming in the canal waters. It is forbidden to bathe in the waters of the Rulir Gelkan, due to it providing the city's main water supply, under penalty of public humiliation. But the waterfall is not simply a scenic attraction; it hides one of the more popular markets in Kantor. A path leading behind the waterfall leads to a small cavern where there are a number of restaurants and street food stalls. It is a popular destination for recreation, and there are several games played here as well. The lights from the market can be seen through the waterfall.

Culture

Being located directly underneath the Basalt Peaks, basalt is used extensively in Kantor as a building material, for jewelry, art, and infrastructure. The Ashenfolk's homes are made of basalt, as well as many paths and decorations throughout the city. The basalt in the peaks above grows continually, so it must be mined to prevent it from growing too high and crumbling down on the Ashenfolk below. None are certain of the origins of the peaks, as they seem to predate all recorded Wellspring eruptions, but they provide a continual source of construction material. Houses are built all along the cavern floor, with some even built into the cavern walls and on stalagmites and stalactites. Mica is also used as a decoration in many buildings and houses to make their houses sparkle, and is cut into sheets and used for lamps that adorn the city streets, which are magically lit by the Runescribes, and give off an ethereal glow that gives the city an otherworldly feel.

In addition to being useful in art and infrastructure, the basalt of the peaks seems to fertilize the land around it, providing very nutrient dense soil. Combined with the ash fall from the Farnia trees, which compost the land, the soil in the Ashlands is the best for growing crops in all of Aellorah. The Ashenfolk have an abundance of food, all of which is packed with nutrients. The food culture in Kantor is quite varied, but a few things are common. The Ashenfolk use a lot of butter, and are fond of fermented foods and alcohols. A popular alcoholic drink called Ajongir is made from a grain that is grown on the surface that is mixed with the mineral water from the hot springs, which provides some health benefits, but which also results in a very strong drink. Oddly enough, despite the Ashenfolk's repressed emotions, alcohol seems to make them very giddy.

The Ashenfolk have a public bathing culture due to the Moil Kalvik hot springs found at the center of the cavern in which Kantor is located. The high pressure of the Deephollow deep below the city forces water up through oddly shaped tunnels at a rapid pace, with the friction heating the water, until it bursts out of the ground as a geyser, which fills several small pools that the Ashenfolk have built bath houses around. The hot spring water is viewed as sacred, as a gift from Aellor, and some of it is used to brew Ajongir, and it is used in some rituals. The Ashenfolk like to use the springs as an endurance test, with some seeing who can stay in them the longest without passing out. There is an unspoken tradition some participate in of hazing outsiders by convincing them that they must drink some of the bath water after a long bath to purify yourself -- but this is just a prank played on them, and even for the Ashenfolk, the water will scald your tongue.

The Ashenfolk are more fundamentalist than the mainland Dwarves, worshipping Aellor, and practicing the arts of Runescribing and Filamentory magic. Though there has been a crisis of faith among many during the Age of Extermination due to the fact that Aellor has been quiet for centuries, with many believing she has forsaken them. The once grand temple of Karsil Allor has fallen into disrepair and sees a fraction of the attendees it once hosted. However, worship of Aellor is still prevalent in the city, with King Thorfin being a devout follower.

Defenses

The Ashenfolk have a standing guard force that is extended from the Ska Jian, King Thorfin's personal guard. They do not have the relative numbers in comparison to other cities, but the Ska Jian also have Runescribes in their employ who provide talismans to the rest of the Ska Jian. The city's defense forces are geared more towards protecting the townsfolk from monstrosities within the Deephollow, rather than external threats, due to the Ashenfolk's long isolation. It has been more than a millennia since they were last threatened by an external military force. The horrors dwelling within the Deephollow are a much more persistent and immediate danger. There are a handful of smaller settlements throughout the Deephollow around Kantor which have smaller defense forces of their own, but the ones in Kantor patrol the many passages of the Deephollow around the city to check on other settlements and keep monsters away from the city.

The Runescribes of Kantor have implemented a number of magical defenses around the city's perimeter underground, lining passages with runes that trigger when anything but a Dwarf comes near them. These defenses can be anything from explosives, to snares, and even more complex traps which convert stone above the creatures into liquid and back again once it has fallen on them. The Ashenfolk are very creative with their traps, and non-Dwarves would be foolish to approach the city from the Deephollow without informing them first.

The caverns in which Kantor dwells in provide a natural defense from surface threats, but the city's above-ground farms are protected by the Ska Jian.

Crime

Kantor has the lowest crime rate on all of Aellorah for several reasons. Due to the Ashenfolk eliminating currency from the equation, and rejecting materialism, there is no theft in the city. Due to their lack of strong emotion, murder is an extreme rarity, and there is almost never a drunken brawl unless it is for fun. The Ashenfolk are content with their lives, so there isn't much need to deviate from the standard lifestyle besides for excitement, which can be found in many other ways, especially now that their isolation has come to an end.

That said, crime still exists in Kantor, just not in the form many would assume. Kantor has its own rigid set of laws. One of the most obvious ones that is observed is that it is illegal to bathe in the waters of the Rulir Gelkan waterfall, as it provides the city's water source. It is also illegal to taint the holy waters of the Moil Kalvik with anything but the body, requiring those wishing to bathe there to strip and clean themselves before entering. Even urinating in the hot springs is punishable by a full month in prison after being paraded around town and having rotten food thrown at you. Water is sacred to the Ashenfolk, so think carefully about how you behave if you plan to bathe in Kantor.