Guldarom
Demographics
The city of Guldarom consists almost exclusively of dwarves, though there is the odd human or half orc living amongst their ranks. There are next to no elves in the city, as the majority of elves devote themselves to some form of magic, which is banned within the city limits.
Government
Guldarom is led by a council of high ranking dwarven officials, led by General Stolgric Redheart. The council has been in place since the city's liberation and even lasted through the Great War. The Stone Circle, as they were known, keep their business very closely guarded and are notorious for their scepticism and paranoia.
Defences
The entire city is built within a great fortress. After their liberation, the Stone Circle sought to use their craftsmanship and labour to defend their city from any manner of future attacks, constructing barricades and fortifications. The city also has the benefit of being constructed at the foot of the Guldarom mountains, providing natural defence from the north.
Industry & Trade
Due to the total magic ban, almost all citizens of Guldarom are manual labourers or craftsmen. They care little for finesse, preferring quality and durability over style. The mountain forges are renowned for crafting some of the most reliable, hard-wearing steel across Arunia. The city also produces a fair number of warriors, as since their liberation the Stone Circle has placed an emphasis on defence and their military to prevent future tragedy, and many of the residents share this sentiment.
History
The history of Guldarom has been one filled with strife. Long before the Great War, it existed as little more than a small settlement of dwarves. Komodraxus, during the early part of his reign (pre-lichdom) reached out and made promises of alliance. The mountain soil had turned infertile and the settlement had been unable to grow sufficient crops. Komodraxus offered to provide fertile lands and a bountiful harvest in exchange for their servitude. At this point in time, the dwarves were trusting and in awe at his magical abilities, and agreed with little hesitation.
However, little did they know, Komodraxus' intentions were far from benevolent. As soon as they signed a contract to finalise the deal, he enslaved the dwarves with his dark magic and put them to work forging steel for his armies. The settlement grew into a town and then a city, kept under Komodraxus' thumb by guards formed from his magic. Their enslavement continued until around 10 years before the Great War, when an underground rebellion began to emerge, led by Stolgric Redheart. Drumming up support from the locals, the dwarves eventually turn Komodraxus' own steel against him and after a bloody battle, managed to liberate the city.
The Stone Circle was installed as leaders and production of defences and weaponry immediately began. While the dwarves always intended on bringing the fight to Empala and confronting Komodraxus, they refused to form any alliances. Their enslavement had created a deep mistrust in magic that resulted on a permanent ban on magic, and they turned down any kind of alliance with the Mage's Guild for a long while (despite many offers of working together).
This persisted until the Peasant's Revolt began (led by Jonad) approached them and requested their aid. Despite their initial hesitance to work alongside any mages, Redheart took a shine to Jonad's defiant attitude in the face of danger and entered the tenuous alliance.
After the war was won, Redheart pushed for Jonad and his armies to track down the devils and vampires that had entered the war and slay them to prevent any future conflict. However, Jonad made the decision to seal the planes instead. Redheart and his people retreaded back to Guldarom where they continued to produce weaponry and expand their fortress city, maintaining only a tenuous peace with Jonad and returning to a life of relative isolation.
Architecture
True to nature of the dwarves, function takes precedence over style in the architecture of Guldarom. Built primarily for defensive purposes, the city is essentially a fortress crafted from the mountain stone.
Geography
Despite its relative proximity to the sea, the dwarves of Guldarom have never taken much interested in seafaring. Instead, they turn to the mountain on which their city is constructed, with great forges carved into its base.
Type
Large city
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