Kasvenkelm

Small City: Population 10,128 (100% dwarves)

History

Kasvenkelm is a truly ancient city, dating all the way back to the Age of the Founders, predating almost every other modern settlement on the Reshyk mainland. It was founded by the Iskinfolk due to its ease of access to the Deephollow and defensible position. The city is built on a plateau at the base of a mountain overlooking a basin which collects runoff from tarns in the mountain and then drains out to the sea. The basin is surrounded by dense forests which are home to a Wellspring anomaly known as Sva Estenarel Toaskat ("the forest of the dead"), which seems to have formed during the Age of Darkness. The city has a heavy focus on mining and exploration of the Deephollow beneath them; it is considered a sister city to Dolenna in Myr.

The city was founded primarily due to its defensible position, as the Iskinfolk were at war with the Eldenfolk following a rebellion against the Kingdom of Dalwar, one of the first monarchies in Reshyk's history. The Iskinfolk had seen poor treatment due to their differences and lesser proficiency in magic, and it came to a head when a large number of Iskinfolk were branded traitors for attempting to form a guild to control their working conditions and to receive fair pay; and they were summarily executed. This new rival nation liberated Iskinfolk all across northern Reshyk and secured their position above the Lordankelm ("Lordan Basin"), where they formed Kasvenkelm to serve as their safe haven.

This war was a very long time ago, and most have forgotten it. Many Eldenfolk reside in Kasvenkelm unaware of their ancestor's sordid actions. But this is not the only secret in Kasvenkelm's past. Many Iskinfolk who founded the city chose to flee into the Deephollow; some to explore it, and some to flee the Kingdom of Dalwar. When they never returned, some thought them cowards or traitors, while others believed they had been killed by the many creatures that haunt the Deephollow. But the truth is that these Iskinfolk persisted, forming colonies deep underground. Over time, the environment changed them, giving them pale white skin and taking their sight in favor of other senses. They became what are now known as the Deskarfolk, Dwarves who live deep underground. These Deskarfolk are tribal and are often confused with the Ashenfolk, due to their similar skin tones, habitats, and practicing Runescribing.

Due to the cultural fears surrounding Ashenfolk, the Deskarfolk are similarly feared by the Iskinfolk, believing them to be malevolent spirits of Dwarves long dead who seek to drag them to the Deephollow to devour their souls. Despite being recently disproven due to an expedition in Arak which showed that the Ashenfolk were simply Dwarves who had been changed by a narrow brush with death at the hands of the Voidspawn, having their souls partially devoured, many Iskinfolk refuse to accept these revelations and continue to feud with the Deskarfolk in skirmishes in the Deephollow.

Government

Though Kasvenkelm was once the heart of the rebellion against the Kingdom of Dalwar, it has long been a member of the Imperium Arcanum, and as such, there is a local Chamberlain designated to handle the city's administration. Kasvenkelm is represented by Chamberlain Jeskar Koltrek, an Iskinfolk man of 394 years born and raised in Kasvenkelm who has a background in mining, which makes him relatable to many of the city folk. He was appointed by Grand Chamberlain Asella in 282 AE, after the previous Chamberlain, an Eldenfolk woman named Wylma Eluvensa, died in a Runetech-related accident that destroyed a large section of the city.

This reheated some old feuds, as the Iskinfolk are less progressive in magic usage than the Eldenfolk, and they decided to demand that an Iskinfolk be appointed to have their interests considered first so that rampant Runetech development wouldn't cause another disaster in the city. Jeskar was chosen for his leadership experience and respect among the locals, as he was the foreman of the city's largest mining operation. He accepted begrudgingly, as he does not enjoy the administrative role, and prefers to be in the mines. He regularly checks on the mining companies himself as an excuse to return to the familiar smell of the natural stone and ore.

Economy

Being a part of the Imperium Arcanum, there is no longer a need for currency on the mainland of Reshyk. The residents of Kasvenkelm labor to provide for their neighbors and to build and improve their quality of life. All residents have homes, whether their own, or in clan or guild lodging; and all residents are provided with food. Runetech solved many problems with growing crops in Reshyk's cold climate, so it is a post-scarcity society. All able-bodied Dwarves have a profession and work until they are 600 years old, at which point they can retire and no longer have to work to earn their keep.

Kasvenkelm is the source of much of Reshyk's metal supply, making them critical to the nation's infrastructure and industries. They have access to many metals through the Deephollow, but the only material that appears to be unique to the region is Mardanoar, a colorless gemstone that changes color when exposed to charged Flow, with the color reflecting the school of magic associated with the magic it has encountered. Though many have used this gemstone decoratively, it has found some limited application in Runetech as a detector.

Notable Locations

• Kasvenskar - This large cavern serves as the entry point for the majority of the mining operations in the city, and for those exploring the Deephollow. It lies at the bottom of the western mountain. Many of the city's mining clans have guild houses built around the entrance, and the city's refineries and blacksmiths can be found near here. The refineries have been built up the slope of the mountain, built partially into the mountain, so that the heavy smog produced is above the city line.
• Lordankelm - This large basin is over 120 miles in diameter at its widest point, and has several rivers where it drains off into the ocean. The water comes from several tarns atop the mountains above Kasvenkelm which run down the mountain into the basin. The basin serves as a source for the Dwarves of Kasvenkelm to fish and transport cargo to the sea. The basin is also known for being extremely deep, as it is connected to the Deephollow. It is not uncommon for predators to surface from the Deephollow and attack ships. This used to be a more significant problem, but with the advent of Runetech, many of these predators can easily be warded away with defense turrets.
• Deskarsven Gelswiok - Located under the waters of the basin, this observatory has a number of Eldenfolk who study the creatures that emerge from the Deephollow and stalk the depths. Due to Runetech advancements, they have the ability to explore the basin in submersible vehicles and dive down into the Deephollow. Despite these advancements, no one knows how deep the basin goes, as no craft has been able to reach the bottom due to the high pressures at the extreme depths they have reached. Some believe the basin connects all the way to the other side of the planet, somewhere off the coast of the Dreaming Wastes of Arak.
• Weldarel Toaskat - The forests surrounding Kasvenkelm, home to the Wellspring anomaly known as Sva Estenarel Toaskat, which causes any who die within the forest's bounds to be bound to it in death as a spirit. There are spirits all throughout the forest who can occasionally be heard wailing in the distance. It is strongly advised to avoid going anywhere near the forest at night, and if you hear the wailing of the spirits, to immediately flee. The spirits are not all hostile, but many have been trapped there so long that they have long been corrupted past the point of no return. The forests almost completely encircle the basin, hiding it well from the outside world.

Culture

The majority of Kasvenkelm's population are Iskinfolk, who feel the ripple effects of a long generational feud with the Eldenfolk that dates back to the Age of Creation. Though the Eldenfolk co-mingle with them well, a number of families and clans still consider them outsiders and want to preserve Kasvenkelm's history of being a sanctuary from the rest of Reshyk. The Iskinfolk are not outwardly hostile toward the Eldenfolk, but many choose not to associate with them unless absolutely necessary.

The Deephollow is deeply ingrained into the city's way of life, with their focus on mining and exploration. Some who prefer the underground even have homes within the Deephollow. Though this is less common in modern day due to the return of the Deskarfolk. These Dwarves, native to the Deephollow, are unbeknownst to the Iskinfolk, their distant cousins. When the city was first founded, many did not believe Kasvenkelm would provide adequate asylum from the Kingdom of Dalwar, and chose to retreat into the Deephollow. Thousands of years of adapting to the Deephollow's high-pressure environment resulted in their skin losing its pigmentation and their bodies becoming shorter, but gaining resistance to the environment itself. However, record of this group's retreat into the Deephollow was never documented, and thus they were forgotten. Their return has stoked the flames of another generational trauma, the fear of the Ashenfolk, as the Deskarfolk look very similar. This has led to an increasing number of skirmishes that threaten to become a full-blown war.

Despite its issues of xenophobia, there are several groups in the city trying to dismantle the fear-mongering and heal the divide between the three peoples. The group known as Lekaliar Tomal is an advocacy group consisting of Dwarves that have traveled the world in search of other cultures' teachings and wish to unite the Dwarves by healing the wounds between all variations of their kin. They have solid relations with the Deskarfolk and are trying to stop the war that has been brewing for some time, the flames of which were fanned by King Rangrim when he was under the corrupting influence of Maven from 320 AE to 325 AE.

Underneath the social issues plaguing the city, the Iskinfolk have plenty of food unique to the region. The diverse ecosystems available to them give them many different types of crops and food sources. Fish is very prevalent in their cuisine due to the large basin, though there is a growing interest in eating the strange creatures that emerge from the Deephollow. Entire industries have been formed around hunting and making food out of the large beasts that attack the city's trade vessels. Currently, the two most popular street foods are Moilar Wabiren, a skewer of small balls of mutton wrapped around melted cheese and soaked in an herb sauce; and Bram Ulbaren, onions that are roasted with garlic, cheese, and herbs inside.

There are a few local holidays worth noting. The first of Aellen marks the start of Mul Dwamek, a week dedicated to the hardworking miners of Kasvenkelm, during which they take a break from work and focus on recreation; meanwhile, the rest of the city gives them gifts and caters to them. The city also observes Reskif on the 25th of Quenten, with the local breweries competing to be awarded the honor of 'best ale', bringing their latest works to the festival to be judged by all. Kasvenkelm celebrates Reskif a bit differently than Ilmerglain, where the winners receive a medal to display in their brewery so that visitors can know the quality of the brewers by seeing how many medals they have on display. During the month of Esten, when the Lordankelm has frozen over, Kasvenkelm holds an ice-fishing competition called Imak Halhet. This competition draws a lot of attention from around the city, and holes are bored through the ice. The competition runs from the start of second span to the end of third span, and whoever manages to catch the most fish is awarded a bar of gold, a tradition which predates the abolition of currency in Reshyk, and which now serves more as a status symbol than a monetary reward. However, there is one rare fish known as the Iskinimak which is seen so rarely, that if you manage to catch one, you win the contest automatically regardless of how many you have caught.

Defenses

Kasvenkelm was specifically chosen for its defensibility, being enclosed on all sides by high mountain peaks and a dense forest with a somewhat dangerous anomaly. It has been thousands of years since these defenses were needed to protect them from other Dwarves, but there are still threats to the city. With the forests being so dense, there are a large number of bestial creatures, both passive and otherwise. Though they are merely pests when near the town borders, travelers must take care when traveling on foot through the Weldarel Toaskat to avoid the Yeti that dwell within.

The city's borders are protected by Runetech weaponry, such as the Svall Gevek; a mounted turret like a ballista that fires concentrated bursts of magical force, powered by Flow Cells. Due to the geography, city walls are not practical, but they are hardly needed given how secluded the city is, as most threats come from the forest or deep within the basin. There are a number of towers set up at the city limits with Svall Gevek turrets, protected by shielding that can be activated at will. There is a small flotilla of ships that patrols the Lordankelm to protect fishermen and divers from the monstrous creatures that emerge from the Deephollow.

Inside the mountain, mining companies rely on the protection of the Runeguard, as well as magical shielding, to keep monsters and Deskarfolk away. However, the Deskarfolk inexplicably seem to be able to bypass these defenses using their Runescribing abilities. The Deskarfolk seem able to completely disable Runetech by using runes to separate the component metals of the alloys used in Runetech, or by creating passages through the stone to bypass shielding entirely. The Runesmiths of Kasvenkelm have been racing to try to find a way to prevent this for years, but have been unsuccessful.

Crime

The types of crime typically found in most settlements are still found in Kasvenkelm, though they're less common. Theft is much more rare in a society where currency is not a barrier to providing for your basic needs. Those who still steal mostly do so for the thrill. Murder is fortunately quite rare in Kasvenkelm. And in a place where money does not equal power, corruption simply takes different forms. Many of the Iskinfolk have negative opinions of the Eldenfolk in the city, which can cause some tension; however, they absolutely despise the Deskarfolk.

The city has been more or less at war with the Deskarfolk for a very long time, with the locals treating them as monsters, believing them to be Ashenfolk. They have refused to believe the findings in Arak that revealed the Ashenfolk to be their distant ancestors, and still view them as if they are corrupted evil spirits of long dead Dwarves due to the Deskarfolk's similar appearance to the Ashenfolk. The Imperium Arcanum immediately began rebuilding its relations with the Ashenfolk of Kantor after an archaeological expedition revealed them to be the remnants of an ancient Dwarven civilization in Arak; however, the residents of Kasvenkelm have ignored King Rangrim's orders to cease their war against the Deskarfolk, leading some to believe that King Rangrim may have to take a harder stance soon against Kasvenkelm's actions as a show of good faith to King Thorfin.

The Deskarfolk do not have Runetech, which would lead many to believe that they should be excessively outmatched. However, the Deskarfolk do practice the ancient art of Runescribing, which has affirmed the Iskinfolk's belief that they are Ashenfolk. Despite not having the raw power that Runetech possesses, the Deskarfolk seem inexplicably to be able to bypass Runetech defenses and to dismantle Runetech weapons, a fact that has baffled Runesmiths across Reshyk. The Dwarves' reliance on Runetech, and the Deskarfolk's ability to so easily counteract it has bred a fear that may result in a calamitous response if the tension is not soon diffused.