Hammerdeep-City
The city of Hammerdeep capitol of the kingdom of the same name. In dwarvish its name is Stjora-gottoth Immrekmolbrut meaning Great-Fortress of Falling Hammer, derived from the legend of Boic Bravesoul saving the kingdom from the demon Death and Gloom by ramming a gem into its head with his hammer. Before then it was called Veforgjaerjaal or simply Protection, from the wild and the threats perusing its founders.
The city was founded in 1943 DR by Jaznuid Axehorn of clan Ironmace and a group of fleeing refuges from the east. They were escaping the destruction of another dwarven city who's name has been lost to time. No one knows what happened to it but the best theory put forth was that a great warband of orcs broke through its defenses and sacked it. The city was founded after months of travel at the base of the great mountain at the center of the Orv Urngorr mountain range. Legend says that Jaznuid said "Mju bjuttagur jr avok veforgjaerjaal borfra avok, bjuttagur jr eth kralt avor avoklag" upon discovering the natural cave that would act as the basis of the fortress. Translated from dwarvish he said "Now here is our protection from our journey, here is the end of our travels." This saying became the motto of Hammerdeep, following this any weary traveler who comes to the city is entitled two days free rest.
The city itself its the picture of a dwarvish city. It is located within a large mountain within the center of a valley. On the outside many tiered platforms carved into the mountain raise high with large statues of dwarves standing within indents lining the rings. A great gate sits on each cardinal direction raised above the valley the rings the mountain with a bridge extending into the neighboring mountains connecting the city to the path network of the kingdom. The peak of the mountain itself has been carved into a large platform with an altar at the center used for religious functions, like executing enemy commanders.
Within the mountain the fortress is divided into 22 levels, seven of which are at or above the entrance. The level of the great gates is referred to as level zero, what most would call level 15 if counting from the lowest level up or level 7 if counting from the top, the six levels above it are called -1 to -6. This is the same numbering method used is every dwarven city and it has confused travelers throughout the realm. The most notable level of the fortress is level 7, 9th up from the base. This is the level where the Stjora-obur meets in the Kjunghelgot (It means king-hall but is more of a combination of a throne room, banquet hall, and grand tavern).
Within the city itself each level is referred to as a town, for example level 0 is called Kjekjehelgot, meaning Entrance Halls. Each 'town' is led by a drull (mayor), an elected official chosen by the residents of that level to represent them. The drull meet in the Drull-obur to manage the day to day of the city and matters that do not require the assistance of the Kjanth-obur. Only about half the drull are there at any given time as any decision that would require all of them would go before the Kjanth-obur.
The city produces every industry that a dwarvish city can. They have legions of miners creating a web of tunnels that expand out for miles under the earth. The raw recesses are processed in the great crucibles many dwarves wide. Refined ingots are exported en mass to the waiting forges across Útgarðar by fleets of merchants. Within Hammerdeep itself great forges produce works of steel and iron for all inhabitants of the realm. The jewelers of Hammerdeep are legendary for their skill only reviled by that of the elves of Araqar. A piece of jewelry crafted by the city sells for far more than most.
They even have their own agricultural industry with two entire levels, 3 and 5, dedicated to farming. Their staple crop is the Plum Helmet. It is a foot tall mushroom that can be used to make flour, roasted and eaten, or even fermented into alcohol. They also grow zurkhwood, tree sized mushrooms who's stalks can be used as lumber and who's grain like spores are quite sweet and used to flavor dishes. Deep beneath the earth at level 11 is a large natural cavern that acts as a natural pasture for Horn Beetles raised to be used as beasts of burden and later harvested for their meat and wings which can be used to make leather.
The city was founded in 1943 DR by Jaznuid Axehorn of clan Ironmace and a group of fleeing refuges from the east. They were escaping the destruction of another dwarven city who's name has been lost to time. No one knows what happened to it but the best theory put forth was that a great warband of orcs broke through its defenses and sacked it. The city was founded after months of travel at the base of the great mountain at the center of the Orv Urngorr mountain range. Legend says that Jaznuid said "Mju bjuttagur jr avok veforgjaerjaal borfra avok, bjuttagur jr eth kralt avor avoklag" upon discovering the natural cave that would act as the basis of the fortress. Translated from dwarvish he said "Now here is our protection from our journey, here is the end of our travels." This saying became the motto of Hammerdeep, following this any weary traveler who comes to the city is entitled two days free rest.
The city itself its the picture of a dwarvish city. It is located within a large mountain within the center of a valley. On the outside many tiered platforms carved into the mountain raise high with large statues of dwarves standing within indents lining the rings. A great gate sits on each cardinal direction raised above the valley the rings the mountain with a bridge extending into the neighboring mountains connecting the city to the path network of the kingdom. The peak of the mountain itself has been carved into a large platform with an altar at the center used for religious functions, like executing enemy commanders.
Within the mountain the fortress is divided into 22 levels, seven of which are at or above the entrance. The level of the great gates is referred to as level zero, what most would call level 15 if counting from the lowest level up or level 7 if counting from the top, the six levels above it are called -1 to -6. This is the same numbering method used is every dwarven city and it has confused travelers throughout the realm. The most notable level of the fortress is level 7, 9th up from the base. This is the level where the Stjora-obur meets in the Kjunghelgot (It means king-hall but is more of a combination of a throne room, banquet hall, and grand tavern).
Within the city itself each level is referred to as a town, for example level 0 is called Kjekjehelgot, meaning Entrance Halls. Each 'town' is led by a drull (mayor), an elected official chosen by the residents of that level to represent them. The drull meet in the Drull-obur to manage the day to day of the city and matters that do not require the assistance of the Kjanth-obur. Only about half the drull are there at any given time as any decision that would require all of them would go before the Kjanth-obur.
The city produces every industry that a dwarvish city can. They have legions of miners creating a web of tunnels that expand out for miles under the earth. The raw recesses are processed in the great crucibles many dwarves wide. Refined ingots are exported en mass to the waiting forges across Útgarðar by fleets of merchants. Within Hammerdeep itself great forges produce works of steel and iron for all inhabitants of the realm. The jewelers of Hammerdeep are legendary for their skill only reviled by that of the elves of Araqar. A piece of jewelry crafted by the city sells for far more than most.
They even have their own agricultural industry with two entire levels, 3 and 5, dedicated to farming. Their staple crop is the Plum Helmet. It is a foot tall mushroom that can be used to make flour, roasted and eaten, or even fermented into alcohol. They also grow zurkhwood, tree sized mushrooms who's stalks can be used as lumber and who's grain like spores are quite sweet and used to flavor dishes. Deep beneath the earth at level 11 is a large natural cavern that acts as a natural pasture for Horn Beetles raised to be used as beasts of burden and later harvested for their meat and wings which can be used to make leather.
Hammerdeep is a grand city to a prosperous civilization with booming industry and a powerful sense of life. It is the center of dwarven society and will most likely remain this way for many years to come.
Trivia
Notable Individuals
- On average the city consumes 8,500 kegs per year.
- Anyone is free to watch the Drull, Kjanth, or Stjora-obur debate, in fact it a recommended event to watch for bored dwarves. The fact that meetings are held in a grand tavern hall just makes it more appealing.
- Troupes of shadow puppet performers wander the halls and preform using the walls of the fortress. Its recommended for travelers to watch at least one show during their stay.
- Yafulir Diamondhammer, Clanlord of Hammerdeep and the eldest living decedent of Boic Bravesoul.
- Brillenis Blackforge, High Priestess of Moradin, leader of Priests of the Morndinsamman, and highest religious authority in the kingdom.
- Ermram Battlemantle, Drull of Kjekjehelgot and bookkeeper of Hammerdeep. He mediates trade and travelers into the fortress.
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