Barlang Varos

Barlang Varous is a Rau Zlo dark dwarf citadel located in the subterranean expanse known as the Bos Magara. It is a relatively new settlement and vassal state of the Kingdom Of Rauz Talo. In just over 300 years the fledgling outpost has grown in both size and power under the leaderships of its founder Calsis Skullhammer. Despite its remote location it provides the kingdom with the important resource known as Soul Fire Ink.

Demographics

This citadel and exploratory outpost consists entirely of Rau Zlo dark dwarves.  Any other humanoid species are immediately jailed, interrogated, and eventually disposed of. 
Residents here consist of about 700 permanent militia and 1400 additional dwarves. Of those nonmilitia, approximately 400 are married with 400 children. 200 are single middle aged adults and an additional 200 are single elderly adults. 200 dwarves are in prison for various crimes and they consist of 22 female and 128 male dwarves.  The number of other jailed species are not counted and are unknown.

Government

The government is run with an iron fist by Calsis Skullhammer and his Liderroko generals. All issues follow the chain of command and are eventually presented to Calsis himself. They are then discussed and the generals carefully present their counsel. They may make suggestions but the final decisions are made by Calsis. He usually appoints one of the generals to tackle the task at hand. Over the years certain generals have shown an attitude for handling particular types of issues and have now been given the authority to handle those issues on their own. Calsis just requests a quick briefing on the issues, solutions, and final results.

Defences

As time passed, the citadel faced two major problems. One was an expanding population that required more space and resources and the other problem came from increased attacks from the inhabitants of the vast cavern. Concerned with stretching his defenses too thin, Calsis Skullhammer was hesitant to construct new walls that required an enormous amount of rock material that was dwindling fast.
He and the Liderroko decided to only have two outer walls. One would be built at the far edge of the populace with an area approximated for 50 years of growth and the other wall would be spaced an additional estimated 50 years of growth beyond that. All of the other walls would be torn down and repurposed to construct those walls starting with the closest one. Temporary military training grounds were established between the two walls and a huge bronze warning bell was positioned between the guard towers of the western gate in addition to its steel portcullis. Additional guard towers were equally spaced across the huge wall and each was equipped with ballista and catapults.
As the new fortifications drained the government’s coffers a secret peace treaty was struck with the survivors of Pitharcos. The dwarven citadel would provide them with food, weapons, and prisoners and in exchange they would coordinate their attacks on the dark elves of Hellaborg and the Grote nests. This bought the dark dwarves time to expand and fortify the citadel as well as create a buffer zone between them and most dangers beyond their walls. The Pitharcons would do the fighting and take the losses while the dwarves grew stronger.
Aside from the physical defenses, the dwarves have a standing military of 700 soldiers, 25 elite Rokorys, and can enlist an additional 300 civilian combatants in emergencies.

Industry & Trade

Most dwarves here either work in the military, gather the resources of the Bos Magara, or run the day to day operations of a growing settlement. The citadel itself is mainly concerned with importing materials that it cannot find in the subterranean cavern. There is great need to bring in iron, steel, and wood. Manufactured steel weapons and items are cheaper to import than to process here. Crossbows and bolts are a constant need in this dangerous environment as are a variety of alcoholic beverages.
In return the citadel exports gemstones, salt, and Halite crystals. However the main reason for the settlement is to export the Soul Fire Ink back to the other Rau Zlo regions. Without this ink they cannot create the powerful Soul Sigils in their unique Soul Fire Tattoos, that give the dark dwarves various enhanced abilities.

Infrastructure

The initial infrastructure mainly focused on setting up a defensive military position and protecting the inhabitants from the dangers of the Bos Magara. The focus was then switched to obtaining vital resources and transporting those materials from the dangerous cavern back to the citadel. As the settlement grew new walls had to be built further out into the expanse and as the mine sites became deleted new ones became farther and farther from town. The factories, refineries, warehouses, and water towers are all located inside the walls of the expanding town. As the years have progressed and the outpost became more of a town, the residents have been building may of the more customary establishments. Inns, taverns, smiths, banks, merchant shops, and many others have been slowly springing up with the town's prosperity.

Districts

There are three main districts to Barlan Varos. In the north houses the citadel itself, with the government buildings, military barracks, and armory. The southern district holds the prisons, a fledgling black market, and often the homes of the poor. The middle district contains most of the markets, shops, and middle class houses. The main gates leading to the subterranean The Bos Magara are also located at the western edge of the middle district. On the eastern edge of the district is the great staircase that leads up to the tunnels that will eventually lead back to the Kingdom Of Rauz Talo and the other Rau Zlo lands. Spread throughout all of the districts are several water towers that collect the fresh water that drips from the cavern ceiling above.

Assets

The citadel does not have much in the way of assets after their last expansion. They have been hoarding all of the captured elven weapons and magical devices as well as stock piling crossbows and bolts. Several crates of Black Hopstool fungi are dried and ready for use if battle comes.
The treasury hold small amounts of platinum, gold, silver, and copper. Several garnets, amethyst points, and halite crystals are available if needed. An emergency collection of a few Firepearls are also hidden away for desperate times.

Guilds and Factions

Several guilds are trying to establish themselves here but have thus far been unsuccessful. Many believe the reason is due to the great distance away from the other Rau Zlo territories and the relative young age of the settlement itself.

History

Barlang Varous was founded about 319 years ago in 424 A.S. by the dark dwarf, Calsis Skullhammer. He discovered the great cavern after leading a group of Rau Zlo through a series of new fissures that opened up during the Sundering and the Binding. After a great journey the passage opened 500 feet up in the cliff wall of the Bos Magara. There they descended to the cavern floor using a clever set of ropes and pulley systems. Here they set up their base along the rocky eastern edge of the new land and explored their surroundings.
Almost immediately they encountered harsh conditions and hostile species. Maintaining a secure base was a difficult task but the determination of their leader saw them through the hardships that came their way. Poisonous plants, dangerous animals, clashes with the Albin, raids from Pitharcos, and battles with the Hellaborg dark elves, has all hardened the dwarves into a fierce and resilient group.
Although attacks still occur sporadically, the biggest treat that the dwarves now face may indeed come from within. With the discovery of The Blue Lava Pool Of Kekla Va in 598 A.S. and the formation of The Witnesses Of Kekla Va in 618 A.S. there is growing concern among the Liderroko that the Witnesses are growing stronger despite all attempts to stamp them out. Once supremely confident, the generals are now uncertain what the future may hold for them all.

Points of interest

The only real points of interest here lie outside of the city walls. If one is willing to take on a little risk they can visit the Amethyst Hills and see the chain lightning displays. Others try to visit The Blue Lava Pool Of Kekla Va, that are held in high regard by The Witnesses Of Kekla Va. A few of the more prominent members of society have been talking about possibly starting up a state sponsored arena for gladiators and pit fighters. Officially talks are in the preliminary stages so far.

Tourism

Few dwarves come here for the sole purpose of tourism, as there is little to see or do here at this remote and dangerous location. A few do come to see The Blue Lava Pool Of Kekla Va, but they are usually discouraged from doing so and are redirected to see the chain lightning of the Amethyst Hills instead. Others that come here, usually do so as a means of striking up trade agreements or are looking for work or to possibly escape something else. Those that don't mind the danger and isolation usually stay on to become residential soldiers or security for the town or the mining crews. Some adventurers do brave the wilds and others offer a skilled trade.

Architecture

Most of the common buildings and walls are made out of grey andesite rock that has been quarried from nearby sources. The citadel itself is composed of black granite also quarried from the local region and the government buildings are made from black and white diorite rock. Buildings are constructed in the typical Rau Zlo fashion and are designed to be quick and efficient to build and are either square or rectangular in shape with flat rooftops.

Geography

Barlang Varos sits are the base of the most eastern side of the Bos Magara. 500 feet up the face of the wall is where the dark dwarves first looked out upon the enormous subterranean expanse. A makeshift series of ropes and pulley lowered them to the bottom of the newly discovered cavern where they would eventually construct their citadel.
Initially the entire cavern was a subterranean saltwater sea but great cracks from the Sundering drained the area dry. Now only scattered pools of super salinated water remain form the original sea. The only freshwater sources arise from the water dripping from the cavern ceiling. These waters accumulate in green pools and lakes and sometimes small streams that flow toward the north end of the Bos Magara.
While the majority of the area is made of limestone and marble rock, the volcanic eruptions have also brought forth glowing hot lava flows and huge amounts of igneous rocks and minerals. The cavern is lit by both the lava and the bioluminescent algae that grows along the wet seeps of the cavern ceiling and in the freshwater pools and streams. Occasionally these algae will fall to the floor appearing as glowing rain.
Giant limestone stalactites hang from the ceiling and even larger stalagmites once appeared as small islands in the underground sea. Other interesting features near Barlang Varos include the Amethyst Hills and their strange chain lightning as well as the unique Blue Lava Pool Of Kekla Va. Other remarkable structures exist far across the expanse if one is willing to brave the dangers of the cavern.

Natural Resources

Barlang Varos has access to most of the limited natural resources of the Bos Magara, but very few of them are of value to the government or its citizens. There is often a race against the other residents of the subterranean realm when new resources are discovered. Conflicts often break out between the dwarves, dark elves of Hellaborg, the Albin, and the survivors of Pitharcos.
The most prominent resources of this desolate area are the very rocks and minerals themselves. Considerable amounts of limestone, dolomite, marble, granite, rhyolite, andesite, and diorite can be found here and are useful not only in building but also for sculpting. Several igneous and metamorphic based minerals are also readily available. Quartz, feldspar, hornblende, mica, and garnet are all highly sought after. Small amounts of gold, silver, copper, and lead can be found on occasion as well.
For those willing to take the risk, Amethyst points can be collected in the Amethyst Hills if one is willing to brave the chain lightning there.
Many types of amphibian and cave dwelling fish can be found in the green pools and lakes scattered around the cavern. They make for a filling, if not delicious, high protein meal.
The large Salt Flats offer a constant source of Halite Crystals and income but they are constantly being mined by the dark elves and conflict is inevitable.
Black Hopstool fungi are also collected and used by the Rau Zlo military. They are eaten before a battle to give the warriors increased strength, constitution, endurance, and pain tolerance. A euphoric high accompanies this shortly after ingestion. During the course of battle the dark dwarves generally burn through this high.
The most important resource is access to the vast amount of Soul Fire Lichen. These are vital for making Soul Fire Ink and in the Seger Soulmasa, the Rau Zlo coming of age ceremony.
For those a bit more unscrupulous, the Violet Breath Mushroom can be secretly harvested for its spores. The spores are processed and refined into a dark ink and then dried into a hallucinogenic powder. This in turn is sold on the black market as an illegal drug called Inexhale or Violet Breath.
Everyone is always on the lookout for Firepearl Oysters as they contain the rare and red hued Firepearl. This is perhaps the most monetarily valuable resource in the Bos Magara.

Patron State:

• The Kingdom Of Rauz Talo

Founder:

• Calsis Skullhammer

Ruler:

• Calsis Skullhammer

Founding Date

Barlang Varos was first established in 424 A.S. and has grown ever since.

Type

Citadel

Population

Approximately 2,100 permanent residents.

Location under

The Bos Magara

Related Traditions

• The Seger Soulmasa

Related Professions

• Tetovala

Related Materials

• Soul Fire Ink