Ker-Malastred
Capital of the Kriores
Demographics
The underground districts of Ker-Malastred are almost entirely populated by the Kriores, serving as their capital and largest settlement. At the top of society are the noble tiijinouriou, the smallest class demographic, about 10% of the population. Apprentice Journeymen, overseeing the planning and administration of the city take up another 10% of the population. They are followed by craftsmen and soldiers, with the vast majority of the population serving as miners and shepherds. The Boléguéans maintain a large presence in the undercity, making up 5% of the population, while a large troupe of Gargoul have taken up residence, assisting in the development of the forges and other new technologies.
The upper town represents a more traditional and diverse location, a traditional town built on the surface. Kriores maintain a large population here, the largest individual group. The majority of the population is other Korrigan, most notably the Teuz, Poulpiquet and the Boléguéans. Bediz, Sidhe and Fomorian peoples make up notably smaller communities, largely of Lethaned origin.
Traders, craftsmen, shepherds and farmers are the most common occupations in the upper town among the non-kriores population.
Government
Ker-Malastred falls into a unique political position with a complicated history of overlapping claims and disputed boundaries, granted Sovereignty by Gradlon Mwar of Kernev, making it the de jure capital of Korrigan lands "in the shadows beneath Garguntua's Spine". Some argue this is restricted to the underground regions, while others claim that it allows Korrigan claims to the mountain range itself. The Kriores claim that this grant supersedes those of later claimants, such as the County of Gwened, the Barony of Redon and the Throne of Menez Hom. The Kriores metropolis recognizes the authority of the largely defunct High King of Letha, but have recognized the Sovereignty of the Dukes of Letha.
The city is lead by the Kunduer/Kunduerez, who is traditionally also the Mac'htiern, a largely ceremonial regional chieftain serving as High King over all Kriores settlements in the Meneziou Are and, to a practical effect, all Kriores on the Peninsula, save for the Jetins of the Northern Ar Mor. While it is not required that the Kunduerez of Ker-Malastred is also the Mac'htiern, this is almost always the case.
The Kunduerez is supported by a noble class, the master architects tiijinouriou, who oversee long term planning, specifically the direction of mineral rich water to craft the tunnels and structures of the ever-expanding city. These in turn are supported by a large network of journeymen architects, who oversee smaller projects and day to day administration. Typically, the noble classes are in charge of the district or industry of the projects they specialize in.
Defences
Ker-Malastred lacks traditional fortifications, but the undercity is well-defended, drawing its advantages from its underground location. The main access points funnel attackers down a single path, easy to collapse, trap or otherwise stymie, ultimately ending at a sheer drop of a kilometer into the lake below. Countless side tunnels, channels and ramps make it easy for the Kriores to circumvent sieges or ambush attackers in the tunnels. The confusing, winding nature, often at odds with traditional notions of gravity or distance, makes navigation difficult in the best of circumstances. Lastly, the use of the Unseelie district as a last refuge allows for the survival of the cities people and its most precious resources. However, the Unseelie district is more limited in its ability to circumvent a siege, resulting in a more traditional siege dynamic. Its ample stores of food and water allow it to stand for quite some time, and the Unseelie district has not yet fallen to a hostile force.
Industry & Trade
A motto is inscribed in Ogham Script above the entrance to the many businesses and homes in the upper town and central cavern, roughly translated to "the domain that counts its [coins] is not Malestadt" or a "House rich in [livres] never creaks ". These sayings are common in the city, representing the collected wealth of the Kriores people, whose widespread mining operations bring them access to rare metals, ores and gems on an unparalleled level. Gold, silver and copper are kept by the Kriores, fashioned into jewelry, cloth-of-gold and other treasures, while more common materials like lead and tin are sold to surface traders, bringing in coin and resources.
The majority of industry is dedicated to the procurement and refinement of these mined materials, as well as the sale and trade of these. It is presumed that the anchored "location" of the Goblin Market is somewhere inside the labyrinthine cavern system, which would make Malastred the single largest commercial market in the world. However, the extra -dimensional nature of this space makes proving this difficult to determine.
Infrastructure
The upper town of Ker-Malastred is a curious, but altogether unremarkable surface village, with a square ring of half-timbered buildings, typically two or three stories tall, arranged around a central square. Beyond this square, the city has grown organically, resembling other cities with large Korrigan populations. A large minehead sits in the center of the square, a towering stone and wood structure of buttresses, trusses and arches, dominating the centre of the town. Several platforms, ranging from a capable of carrying a single Bediz to several large carriages lower from here down a sloped track to a large, hand carved cavern and a series of near-surface tunnels, serving as a processing station and warehouse. A large sloped tunnel leads to a second elevator, this one lowering platforms vertically into the main chamber. A series of side-tunnels, elevators and mine-cart tracks allow alternate access to the upper portions of the chamber.
Here, the true scale of the Kriores capital is shown as the elevator shaft opens up to reveal a massive, bowl-like dome, several kilometers across, hanging over an irregular, elliptical underground lake, its smooth surface resembling a black mirror. Massive stalactites, joined together by an elabotate network of natural arches and wooden platforms, sparkle with a thousands lights shining from within, reflecting across the west surface. Massive, rippling curtains of living stone and terraces full of steaming water flow down the sides of the room, with upper chambers visible from the descending cage. The entire room is reflected in perfect detail on the lake, resembling stalagmites. The cage drops into a floating platform at the centre of the lake, where boats carry goods and passengers to the shores, islands or columns rising from the waters.
The lake hides Malastred's greatest secret, that the mirror image in the lake is actually a city in itself, deceptively similar and only accessible through arkane means through the columns in the lake. This mirror city is the Unseelie settlement, while the suspended structures belong to the Seelie. If the upper city is destroyed or attacked, the population can flee to the lower city, safe from attack as projectiles harmlessly enter the water. During times of destruction, the lake will ripple and distort. Upon the end of hostilities, the pristine reflection will return, the upper levels magically reforming. Only living stone construction reforms, and wooden structures must be rebuilt.
Mineral rich water from underground springs or filtered rainwater, is the most important asset of the city, used to carve tunnels and form living stone structures. Carved troughs, wooden and metal channels, pipes and aqueducts bring water throughout the city, while cable-cars and minecart bridges criss-cross between the hanging stones.
The interior of many living rock structures contain dwellings, public spaces, forges and workshops, while store-rooms and mining facilities are found behind the cavern walls. Excavation of stone and ore is nearly constant, with the miner classes working almost non-stop in establishing new channels.
A large underground canal traverses much of the mountain range from Ker-Malastred to Brest, dubbed the "Dark River", this largely unlit canal has been under construction for centuries, and while a full path exists, it is considered quite dangerous, prone to cave ins, monsters and unstable Bleed. The Lightning Trail crosses a side-cavern, emerging and vanishing into solid walls.
Guilds and Factions
The Brekilien League, a pan-Korrigan political movement arguing for Korrigan control of the Meneziou Are is quite active in the city, standing in opposition with an isolationist faction and a faction favouring the current status quo concerning the Throne of Menez Hom and Kriores position with Bediz Letha.
History
The Kriores were first granted lands "in the Shadow of Garguantua's Spine" by Gradlon Mwar, High King of Dumnonia and Kernev, in recognition for their assistance during the War of the Two Brothers, beginning construction in 35 SI.
The Fall of Ys brought about the end of a golden age of Bediz/Kriores relations, and the destruction of the city, once protected by Kriores-built seawalls, led to devastation in Malastred via an underground canal with the doomed city, which flooded a large portion of the fledgling city.
in 393 SI, after a period of rebuilding, Ker-Malastred threw its support behind Conomor the Cursed against their common enemy, the Petty Kingdom of Gwened. While Conomor's Garwaf Sea-Wolves received more infamy, the Kriores proved a crucial ally in undermining Gwened's defenses. A Kornikaned assault on Malastred, led by Belphoebe the Huntress and the Teuz Satyrane, breached the upper chamber, and while unable to take the Unseelie District, effectively removed Kriores support from the crucial Battle of Relec.
In 736, at the height of the Odet Raids, a contingent of Marie-Morgane Beg-Sabrenn, exploring the tunnels beneath Ys emerged in the lake of Malestrad, establishing the first relations between the Beacon City and a terrestrial race.
The Kriores sequestered themselves in the mines during the civil wars of Letha and the Fomorian Interregnum, reemerging to support Konstanza de Leon in her war against Gallia. Their claim on the caverns beneath the mountains was reaffirmed, beginning a new level of cooperation and integration with the surface. The upper town, once a small Teuz hamlet, grew into the city that stands today.
Tourism
The majority of travelers to Ker-Malastred rarely venture beyond the market stalls around the minehead on the surface. Those who do venture beneath the surface may find that time in the cavern passes Kairos, and the twisting, changing tunnels may lead the unprepared astray. As such, unwary Bediz visitors are often discouraged to visit the lower city without a guide.
Founding Date
35 SI
Type
Metropolis
Inhabitant Demonym
Malestroyens
Location under
Ruling/Owning Rank
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