Dura (DYUR-ah)
Capital of the Sleeping Gardens, the seat of the Kingdom of Dura
Demographics
Heavily mixed, all variety of races, mostly Human.
Some bestial races who are treated poorly & looked down upon. Primarily found in the poorer districts.
Government
Ruled by the Royal Family of Dura:
- High King Roderik Duran
- Queen Vaniel Duran
- Prince Thune
- Princess Urania
Defences
The city supports an army of professional soldiers, guards, and town watch. Each noble in residence maintains a small force of personal bodyguards.
Industry & Trade
Large mines of Obsidian and Eternal Ice exist directly under Dura, which kickstarted their industry. There's also somewhat of a focus on arcanomechanical advancements, with large workshops and direct links to Mor Bodan & Mimboldur.
Infrastructure
Watermills
Windmills
Sewers
Roads (straight, Roman-style)
Underground aqueducts which channel water from nearby lakes
Districts
Golden Mill - Entry point from Northwest of Dura, down from The Stitches, poorer areas of the city, include the slum areas to which the bestial races are mostly confined.
Obsidian Gate - Entry point from the North of Dura, leading from The Stitches into the city proper. The more working-class area of Dura.
Emerald Ward - Middle-class area leading into Dura from neighbouring towns to the West. Most of the shops & markets. Contains the lodging and training grounds for the local guard & Duran Army.
Amethyst Ward - Upper-class area, fewer shops but higher quality and value goods available, more heavily patrolled to protect the inhabitants, holds the richer/more important figures.
Sapphire District - Highest-class area, also contains the grounds and building of Castle Dura, which is further walled off. The Sapphire District contains politicians, the council, the royal family, and anyone else of significant enough importance - often including visiting mages from the Floating Citadel.
The King's Road runs through the heart of Dura, without passing through the lower class areas or the slums and allows for fast & easy transport of army & major goods, as well as processions for the royal family.
Description
The inn is a grand stone-walled building, with carved wooden doors and vaulted ceilings. A collection of magical weapons hangs over the hearth. Accomodations consist of several small rooms with beds and woolen mattresses.
Innkeeper
The innkeeper is a short female halfling named Merey. She was once a wealthy aristocrat, but her lands were overrun by savage monsters.
Menu
Braised Shellfish with Mace and Whey Cheese, Glass of Whisky (2 sp)
Baked Pheasant with Coriander and Poached Eggs, Glass of Rum (2 sp)
Boiled Pheasant and Dried Watercress, Tankard of Ale (13 cp)
Roasted Dragon and Blackberry Tart, Glass of Cider (2 sp)
Steamed Lamprey with Cardamom and Poached Eggs, Glass of Rum (2 sp)
Steamed Crab and Dried Lemon, Glass of Whisky (2 sp)
Patrons
Aloth: Female Elf Alchemist, Neutral. Aloth has a long face, with long grey hair and bright amber eyes. She wears well-made clothing and an amulet of luminous crystal. Aloth seeks an illusionist to apprentice under.
Horfra Ginedotr: Female Dwarf Entertainer, Evil. Horfra has an angular face, with braided grey hair and grey eyes. She wears modest garments and a feathered hat. Horfra is hunting those who betrayed her.
Wine: Male Human Scholar, Neutral. Wine is common in appearance, with braided brown hair and narrow hazel eyes. He wears tailored clothing and a silver holy symbol. Wine is searching for the lost dwarven kingdom of Zundushar.
Lasym Lifinch: Male Halfling Soldier, Good. Lasym has auburn hair and light hazel eyes. He wears leather armor and wields a spear. Lasym is impossibly lucky.
Kuta: Female Elf Aristocrat, Neutral. Kuta is tall and slender, with grey hair and light brown eyes. She wears fine raiment and jewelry. Kuta seeks opponents for a drinking contest.
Rumors
A demonic cloud of dark lightning has been summoned into the Fire Peaks.
Lord Guisa has been seen visiting a nymph in the Tywy Forest.
Something has been delving a network of passages beneath the town.
The bishop of the Abbey of Angels is also the master of the Assassins Guild.
The wizard Thosileo's weasel is actually a polymorphed prince.
The true king is held captive within the Dark Shrine of the Vampire Princess.
Assets
Almost any goods or services are readily available. Many inns and taverns support travellers.
Guilds and Factions
Silver Dawn - Local townsguard. Focus on the safety and protection of the local inhabitants, but the Royal Family above all else.
The Midnight Blade - Rangers' Guild. Protect the city from huntable threats such as animals and more manageable monsters. Often involved in vigilante protection of Duran citizens. Clash with the Silver Dawn often.
Snow Maggots - Operate in the sewers as a would-be Thieves Guild.
Arcane Brotherhood - Small presence in the city, elected representatives sent to aid the City of Dura and maintain relationships.
History
Dura, the capital city of the Sleeping Gardens, and one of the two capitals of Azith had humble beginnings. Originally a simple farming village named Redgrove, the Elves of Azith quickly discovered the rich veins of obsidian buried beneath the village, conquering it to have for their own production and commerce.
After thousands of years of subjugation and answering to the Thisean Elves, a man named Ulysses Duran began talks of revolution, leading small bands of guerrilla fighters to conduct raids and attacks on their Elven overlords.
The attacks lasted many years as Ulysses grew older and wiser, beginning to make use of the strange material found in the caves deeper beneath the Obsidian mines - which was kept secret from the Zeroth Dynasty. The people of Redgrove rose up, aided by their new armour and weaponry constructed from this strange, never-melting ice - completely harmless to the wearer/wielder.
As their army grew, supplemented by would-be soldiers from other nearby towns in similar states of oppression, Ulysses marched on Thiselwood where, after a long battle, with numerous casualties on both sides, Ulysses was able to call for a ceasefire and parley with the then-Emperor of the Dynasty. Together, the two of them reached an agreement that Redgrove would be freed, along with a handful of the villages and towns which rose to support the endeavour.
Returning home mostly victorious, the people of Redgrove renamed the village Dura in Ulysses' honour and crowned him their first High King.
Over the years, Ulysses expanded the territories of the Kingdom of Dura, with succeeding rulers liberating further holds from the Zeroth Dynasty and growing in size and power to the sprawling city of Dura which now serves as the Kingdom's beacon.
Points of interest
The Odeum of Brennor: A large half-timbered theatre, within which time seems to pass more slowly.
The Goblin Mine: This pothole in the street has been named the Goblin Mine in jest. It will not stay filled for more than a few hours, and the local townsfolk have given up trying.
The Old Fire Shrine: A ring of broken black stone lies within an area of scorched earth. It was once a shrine placed to honour Charran, Lord of Fire, but was destroyed by adventurers several years ago.
The Guildhall: A large building of stone walls, once an inn house. It contains a large meeting hall and several smaller rooms, and is shared amongst several local merchant guilds.
Architecture
Elaborate stone & wood buildings thanks to good relations with nearby Dwarves who taught the craftspeople of Dura elements of their elegant stonemasonry.
Geography
Landlocked, with access to fresh water that is channelled underground from nearby rivers and streams, pulled through the Eternal Ice caves which lie below the city, allowing it to remain cool and fresh.
There are excellent views of the rolling hills and surrounding forests of the Sleeping Gardens.
Natural Resources
- Wood
- Stone
- Obsidian
- Eternal Ice
- Darkwood
- Spiritual Wood
- Leafweave
- Livestock
- Large variety of crops from farms
Founding Date
2E 50
Alternative Name(s)
The Kingom of Dura
Type
Capital
Population
15,000
Inhabitant Demonym
Durans
Location under
Owner/Ruler
Owning Organization
Related Reports (Primary)
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