Enlightened City of Kort

Kort does not have many standing military or Watch members, relying on its advantageous geography and advanced defense capabilities to keep aggressors at bay - and its welcoming society and lack of advanced weaponry to dissuade citizens from harming others. The Watch doubles as the city's defense force, wielding energy swords and laser rifles in times of invasion or when beasts threaten the city. Specifically at the lower city, the Watch members at the gates and watchtowers maintain constant training and vigilance to be as effective as possible with their weapons and tactics.    

The city-state of Kort is without a doubt the most advanced area in the entire known world. The technology and arcane ability they have discovered and honed since The Smiting has far outpaced what any other nation or individual city has been able to produce. In fact, when other cities wish to progress or develop advanced capabilities or infrastructure they often hire engineers and planners from Kort to implement their solutions.   The rest of the world is still in a Medieval or Reniassance technology level. They rely on horses, either with or without carriages or carts, for most transportation. Running water is rare and usually reserved for government buildings or the homes of nobility. Proper underground sewer systems are only seen in cities and large towns. Water mills and windmills are typical ways of powering grindstones and other basic machinery. Teleportation circles only exist in the large temples, government buildings, and other important facilities. Swords and bows are still the predominant weapons, though arcane cannons and gunpowder weaponry are becoming more commonplace.   In contrast, Kort might be compared to a late Victorian era technologically. Though many people still walk or use carts to get around town, there is a light train that can ferry people from one place to another within the city; powered by electricity held in long-lasting Kort Crystals, this system is one of the marvels of the world. Running water is everywhere in Kort, and all but a few of the poorest homes have at least one tap inside their house; public fountains are found in every park and square. The sewer system and plumbing are properly underground and are dug deep enough into the mesa that waste can stay there for decades as it decomposes; there is no outflow pipe that feeds into a river, and the large "tanks" are lined with metal so that the waste does not contaminate groundwater. Steam powered factories and mills are a frequent sight in Kort, with some fed by coal and others by the same electrical crystals that power the train system. The city is rife with permanent teleportation circles, many of which lead directly to another area of the city, allowing for ultra-rapid transit between points. Though Kort remains a peaceful city, the guards that watch the exterior rely on gunpowder and arcane weapons exclusively, and the swords are all powered by smaller versions of the electric crystals which allow a current to run along the weapons' blade.   All in all, the technology in Kort is miles ahead of what is being developed natively in other parts of the world. And for a variety of reasons, the inventors of the newest technologies keep them in Kort for several years before trying to export them or construct them elsewhere. Kort's reliance on peace and civility has provided a beacon for other nations to follow, and their proclivity for peaceful uses of technology instead of developing weapons of war and destruction will hopefully satisfy the gods that a second Smiting will not be necessary for a very, very long time.

Historically, Kort has been rather isolated from other nations and has kept to itself - for fear of others trying to steal technology or invade the city to destroy their progress. Relations with the close neighbor to the north, Tallstag, have been friendly for several centuries after tense times initially. The Everyn War that took place over the last half-century further tested Korter resilience and determination. They were able to hold off the advances of the Dumein Dominion, unlike their neighbors, and have had their independence recognized officially by the new government, ensuring no further conflict will find Kort's gates for the time being.   The leadership of Kort has expressed sadness they were unable to intervene in the war to help their neighboring Kingdom of Tallstag, though Kort was barely able to muster enough fighters for its own defense, much less that of another nation. In the few years since the Peace of Everyn was signed, Kort has already begun exporting its (older) technologies and opening up communications and diplomacy with other peoples and nations in the world. The Tribrenen's hope is that by spreading technology that makes people's lives better, war may be prevented in the future. Kort is still holding its military technology tight to its chest, as well as the Kort Crystals and their unique properties, so that they don't fall into the hands of autocrats or oppressive regimes.   Despite the slow opening and the official decrees, Kort remains wary of the Everyn Federation for fear they may decide to put the combined forces of thier new empire against the gnomish city on the cliffs. Kort has a chief diplomat in the foreign capital, as the Federation has theirs in Kort, but the relationship is still a bit frosty and unsure. Perhaps time will strengthen this into a friendship or even an alliance, but it is too soon after the war to tell.