Volerum

A dwarven hold in a tropical jungle in southern Mettye, Volerum is famous for the open-minded attitude of its inhabitants (both dwarves and gnomes) and their numerous scientific and technological advancements, including air-ships, cannons and telescopes. Numerous academies and workshops export mechanical wonders across the Emel Sea.
  Volerum was opposed to Taorminite expansion into Mettye, and joined forces with the Grithi to prevent the Taorminites from encircling Lake Soloth.  The hold at first came under the sway of Mabag Pachamel Grith, whose navy had the means to cut it off from sea-borne trade, but since then joined forces with other cities in the Ischindar Sea to oppose the Grithi and keep their forces contained within the Emel Sea.
  With the oncoming Perluxion and the return of magic, a new flood of students have come to Volerum's libraries and universities eager to learn about the arcane theories and contraptions being developed there.