Gracklstugh, City of Blades
Seat of the duergar Deepkingdom, Graeklstisgh is the strongest gray dwarf realm in the Northdark and arguably in all of the Underdark. The ceiling is perpetually covered with thick, reeking smoke that rises from the city's countless forges and smelters. The duergar smiths who live here turn out quality weapons and armor of all kinds. Most of their wares are for sale, and their largest markets are other duergar and drow.
At first glance, Graeklstugh seems like Hell's own foundry. The main cavern is dominated by colossal stalagmites that have been hollowed out and converted into great stinking smelters. The city glows with firelight and the ruddy yellow gleam of hot iron at all times, and the air is filled with hissing steam, reeking smoke, and the endless clanging of hammers. The folk of Gracklstugh practice many trades besides smithwork, but the heart of the city is the working of metal.
The red dragon Themberchaud, known as the Wyrmsmith of Gracklstugh, keeps the forges of the city hot with his fiery breath. An order of duergar cleric/psions tends to the red dragon and guards his hoard while he slithers around the city, blasting the forges to life with his flame. In return for this magnanimous service, Themberchaud's hoard is regularly fattened, and he feasts on ill-tempered slaves.
Gracklstugh is a city of endless toil. Each trade or craft practiced in the city is the domain of a specific clan. Important trades such as foundry work are the province of several competing clans, but other clans working at less important (or necessary) tasks often consist of a few dozen craftsfolk at best. The families that govern each clan comprise the city's nobility, and the leader of a clan is known as a laird. Unlike the drow Houses, duergar clans do not engage in endless vendettas and schemes of advancement; gray dwarves who find themselves at the bottom of the pecking order tend to resign themselves to their fate or work harder to advance, rather than plotting to pull down their betters.
The power in Gracklstugh lies somewhere with the lairds of the great clans (particularly the merchant clans), the throne and the scheming derro savants that live within the city. Horgar intends to take up the reins of rulership with a firm, unwavering grasp, and reclaim the power that his grandfathers wielded in bygone years. Naturally, the great lairds and the derro have no wish to see him succeed.
At first glance, Graeklstugh seems like Hell's own foundry. The main cavern is dominated by colossal stalagmites that have been hollowed out and converted into great stinking smelters. The city glows with firelight and the ruddy yellow gleam of hot iron at all times, and the air is filled with hissing steam, reeking smoke, and the endless clanging of hammers. The folk of Gracklstugh practice many trades besides smithwork, but the heart of the city is the working of metal.
The red dragon Themberchaud, known as the Wyrmsmith of Gracklstugh, keeps the forges of the city hot with his fiery breath. An order of duergar cleric/psions tends to the red dragon and guards his hoard while he slithers around the city, blasting the forges to life with his flame. In return for this magnanimous service, Themberchaud's hoard is regularly fattened, and he feasts on ill-tempered slaves.
Gracklstugh is a city of endless toil. Each trade or craft practiced in the city is the domain of a specific clan. Important trades such as foundry work are the province of several competing clans, but other clans working at less important (or necessary) tasks often consist of a few dozen craftsfolk at best. The families that govern each clan comprise the city's nobility, and the leader of a clan is known as a laird. Unlike the drow Houses, duergar clans do not engage in endless vendettas and schemes of advancement; gray dwarves who find themselves at the bottom of the pecking order tend to resign themselves to their fate or work harder to advance, rather than plotting to pull down their betters.
The power in Gracklstugh lies somewhere with the lairds of the great clans (particularly the merchant clans), the throne and the scheming derro savants that live within the city. Horgar intends to take up the reins of rulership with a firm, unwavering grasp, and reclaim the power that his grandfathers wielded in bygone years. Naturally, the great lairds and the derro have no wish to see him succeed.
Demographics
26,390 free; Mixed (duergar 86%, derro 9%, durzagon 2%, orog 2%, stone giant 1%)
13,678 slaves (goblin 39%, shield dwarf 29%, orc 19%, svirfneblin 9%, human 4%).
13,678 slaves (goblin 39%, shield dwarf 29%, orc 19%, svirfneblin 9%, human 4%).
Defences
Gracklstugh's magical defenses are weak, but the Deepkingdom boasts the best army in the Northdark - thousands of trained veterans armed and armored with superior dwarven steel. Tarngardt Steelshadow, Horgar's predecessor, was no interested in expanding through conquest, but Horgar has chosen to set a different course. He took advantage of Lolth's silence by launching a mighty invasion of Menzoberranzan.
King's Knife
Gracklstugh's soldiers carry a .variety of weapons, but each carries a short sword with a serrated edge and the likeness of the king cast on the pommel. Though much longer than a knife, this sword is called a king's knife. According to the Stone Guard tradition, a duergar soldier must carry his king's knife at all times and surrender it to the king on demand. Failure to do either is a grave dishonor.Industry & Trade
Like other major Underdark communities, Gracklstugh is strong in trade. The duergar usually prefer to carry their wares out to markets elsewhere rather than welcome external traders, so caravans containing top-quality weapons, armor, and other= metal goods constantly leave the city for Menzoberranzan, Mantol-Derith, Skullport, Sshamath, and Ooltul. The City of Blades earned its name because of its reputation for quality weapons; so no one complains to the duergar's faces about the markup for transportation costs.
History
As the overkingdom of Deep Shanatar crumbled beneath Amn and Tethyr, dwarves of all kinds moved north. Many of these were gray dwarves who had escaped illithid thralldom and fled Oryndoll. The city of Gracklstugh was founded as the first major duergar settlement in the North in -3717 DR. The industry and warlike ways of the gray dwarves allowed them to stake their claim on the excellent site, with easy access to The Darklake.
Gracklstugh grew rapidly into a major city. In -3392 DR, King Horgar Steelshadow II declared his sovereignty over all duergar communities in the Northdark and took the first steps toward forging the Deepkingdom. Although many outlying duergar clans resisted Graeklstugh, Steelshadow's armies overpowered each such outpost and brought it into the fold.
The Deepkingdom of the duergar has endured for four and a half millennia, sometimes united and aggressive beneath a strong king, other times weak and divided by clan struggles. For the past few centuries, the Deepkingdom has been slowly retreating, and the duergar kings have pulled their reach back to the small area surrounding Gracklstugh itself.
The recent death of King Tarngardt Steelshadow and the accession of his grandson, Horgar Steelshadow IV, has signaled a bold shift in the city's fortunes. Publicly, Tarngardt had balanced the Council of Lairds, the Council of Savants (powerful derro savants Clan Caingorm (a stone giant clan that has traditionally held the king's ear), and the Merchant's Council against each other - an arrangement geared to benefit the Deepkingdom. In secret, however, the Council of Savants was controlling the old king and several of his lairds through bribes, threats, and enchantments.
Thorough as they were, the savants discovered (too late) that they had put too little effort into manipulating the king's grandson, Horgar. Horgar did not fall for the savants' flattery, and he resisted their efforts to charm him. Worse yet, he created a power base of his own by purging the corrupt Stone Guard and installing loyal captains and soldiers in the king's own guard. Once he had secured his own survival, Horgar had his grandfather discreetly assassinated and ascended to the throne. Now that he is king. Horgar plans to rid the Deepkingdom of the savants entirely and at least expel, if not kill; all the derro in Gracklstugh. The savants have realized their gross miscalculation, and they are even now plotting to remove Horgar before he can do any more harm.
Meanwhile, the Council of Lairds is split. Several key lairds remain under the sway of the savants, but loyalty to the crown runs deep. If the king forces them to choose sides, the true number who would choose fealty and face the consequences of derro threats is unknown. The giants of Clan Cairngorm are unswervingly loyal to the crown, but their leader, Hgraan, personally dislikes Horgar for his ruthless ambition. Some of the giants suspect that Horgar arranged Tarngardt's death, and the new king neither confirms nor denies such rumors.
Lolth's silence and the evident weakness of Menzoberranzan to the north have provided Horgar with an excellent opportunity to divert attention from his politicking with an external war. The king figures that a successful campaign against the drow will provide him with the glory and plunder needed to secure his throne forever. If the duergar attack on Menzoberranzan should falter, Horgar plans to expose the secret plotting of the derro and fix the blame for defeat on them as the prelude to a terrible purge.
Gracklstugh grew rapidly into a major city. In -3392 DR, King Horgar Steelshadow II declared his sovereignty over all duergar communities in the Northdark and took the first steps toward forging the Deepkingdom. Although many outlying duergar clans resisted Graeklstugh, Steelshadow's armies overpowered each such outpost and brought it into the fold.
The Deepkingdom of the duergar has endured for four and a half millennia, sometimes united and aggressive beneath a strong king, other times weak and divided by clan struggles. For the past few centuries, the Deepkingdom has been slowly retreating, and the duergar kings have pulled their reach back to the small area surrounding Gracklstugh itself.
The recent death of King Tarngardt Steelshadow and the accession of his grandson, Horgar Steelshadow IV, has signaled a bold shift in the city's fortunes. Publicly, Tarngardt had balanced the Council of Lairds, the Council of Savants (powerful derro savants Clan Caingorm (a stone giant clan that has traditionally held the king's ear), and the Merchant's Council against each other - an arrangement geared to benefit the Deepkingdom. In secret, however, the Council of Savants was controlling the old king and several of his lairds through bribes, threats, and enchantments.
Thorough as they were, the savants discovered (too late) that they had put too little effort into manipulating the king's grandson, Horgar. Horgar did not fall for the savants' flattery, and he resisted their efforts to charm him. Worse yet, he created a power base of his own by purging the corrupt Stone Guard and installing loyal captains and soldiers in the king's own guard. Once he had secured his own survival, Horgar had his grandfather discreetly assassinated and ascended to the throne. Now that he is king. Horgar plans to rid the Deepkingdom of the savants entirely and at least expel, if not kill; all the derro in Gracklstugh. The savants have realized their gross miscalculation, and they are even now plotting to remove Horgar before he can do any more harm.
Meanwhile, the Council of Lairds is split. Several key lairds remain under the sway of the savants, but loyalty to the crown runs deep. If the king forces them to choose sides, the true number who would choose fealty and face the consequences of derro threats is unknown. The giants of Clan Cairngorm are unswervingly loyal to the crown, but their leader, Hgraan, personally dislikes Horgar for his ruthless ambition. Some of the giants suspect that Horgar arranged Tarngardt's death, and the new king neither confirms nor denies such rumors.
Lolth's silence and the evident weakness of Menzoberranzan to the north have provided Horgar with an excellent opportunity to divert attention from his politicking with an external war. The king figures that a successful campaign against the drow will provide him with the glory and plunder needed to secure his throne forever. If the duergar attack on Menzoberranzan should falter, Horgar plans to expose the secret plotting of the derro and fix the blame for defeat on them as the prelude to a terrible purge.
Points of interest
Visitors to Gracklstugh most often arrive by boat, landing in the Darklake district. Several inns, taverns, and businesses catering to travelers can be found here, as well as dismal marketplaces for duergar wares. The gray dwarves do not permit folk of other races to venture any deeper into the city without a sizable escort.
The eastern section of the rift is the city's derro quarter. Almost all of Gracklstugh's derro congregate here, generally keeping to themselves. The savants have their own secret passages leading to the Underdark beyond the city, and derro can come or go by these routes as they please.
King Horgar has taken to visiting Cairngorm Cavern twice every tenday to confer with the Stonespeaker, though his visits rarely last more than an hour. Their relationship is cool, but the amount of time they spend together seems suspicious to the derro.
Laduguer's Furrow
This rift breaks the city into northern and southern districts. Nearly 200 feet deep, the rift has a packed gravel floor and extends roughly 1/4 mile beyond the main grotto of the city in both directions. Dwellings are carved into the sides of the rift, and wide ramps lead to-the bottom from the main level of the city.The eastern section of the rift is the city's derro quarter. Almost all of Gracklstugh's derro congregate here, generally keeping to themselves. The savants have their own secret passages leading to the Underdark beyond the city, and derro can come or go by these routes as they please.
Cairngorm Cavern
This remote section of the city, set back several hundred feet from the main cavern, houses the stone giants of Clan Cairngorm. Their dwellings are spartan but suited to their needs. Led by the strict Stonespeaker Hgraan, the giants are loyal to the Deep King and do not fear the derro.King Horgar has taken to visiting Cairngorm Cavern twice every tenday to confer with the Stonespeaker, though his visits rarely last more than an hour. Their relationship is cool, but the amount of time they spend together seems suspicious to the derro.
Darklake Docks
These busy docks are used primarily by flat-bottomed rafts made of zurkhwood and lacquered puffball floats. Some of these ramshackle barges are powered by mindless undead, such as skeletons or zombies, that are bolted to the oars or paddlewheels and used as tireless necromantic engines. The rafts are ungainly, but each cart carry tons of trade goods, and the duergar send out shipments with pure dwarven consistency.Geography
Below the Evermoors at a depth of 5 miles, the bustling duergar city of Gracklstugh straddles a narrow rift known as Laduguer's Furrow. The north end of the settlement is a pebbly beach on the Darklake. Gracklstugh proper is a huge city, but its various outlying districts and fungus fields occupy the tunnels for miles around, pushing the total population of the Deepkingdom to around 90,000 duergar, plus another 60,000 slaves.
