Lok-Koldur
The capital of the Tauberg Autocracy, and the largest singular city in all of Irrelion, the business that goes on here daily, and the economic output, can at times rival entire other nations. The city is built into the immense Koldurian mountain range, and is surrounded on all sides by the nearby mountains.
Demographics
Human (45%), Dwarf (26%), Halfling (9%), Elf (7%), Gnome (5%), Dragonborn (4%), , Half-Orc (3%), Half-Elf (1%)
Government
With Tanir the Exalted residing here, he directly governs the city. Advisors focus on the smaller events of the cities, and report to him on more menial matters to get advice and guidance.
Defences
The walls around the city are huge, with towers at each joint, winding up to the top of the tower, which has ballistae and cannons mounted. Thick stones with massive timber bracing is what the wall is made of, with not only a standard mesh-like portcullis on each gate, but massive, solid wood and metal fortifications that can drop down and completely lock off a gate entirely.
Industry & Trade
Much of the city relies on trade bringing in and taking out goods. Traders bring goods in bulk, and buy other goods here, such as inks, leathers, metal-works, and various other things.
Infrastructure
Blast furnaces make the metals used in coins and construction and outfitting the military, as windmills to the east of town mill grains, lumberyards also to the east make wagons and carts, and beams and planks for construction. A sewer beneath the city repurposes an underground river, and carries waste into an old abandoned mine that reached a dead end at a ravine.
Districts
Pilgrim's Street
Containing a great deal of churches, many religious individuals make pilgrimages here to pray at churches of their gods. Those who reside in this district tend to be simple laborers, with a few inns that offer room and board to the pilgrims, that come in steady streams throughout the year.Grand Church of Aemus
Located within the Pilgrim's Street district, this massive church at the heart of the city is dedicated to Aemus, god of History. A large statue stands tall in front of the church, depicting him as a robed old man, holding two books, the Book of the Past, and the Book of the Future. The church itself is large and made of massive cut stones, with a large bronze bell on top of a steeple, the inside is filled with small rooms for scholars of Aemus to study, and a large prayer room with an altar.Cobbler's Crown
Much of the city relies on constant stonework to stay afloat. The walls, many of the houses, and the roads are made mostly or entirely of stone. There is also a great need for shoes, as everyone wears them, and the miners of the mountains quickly go through pairs. Both these professions come together here. The Cobblers make shoes, with tanneries spread across the district turning hides into leather, the stoneworkers also provide to the name of the district in the fact that they work with Cobbled stones. While not glorious jobs, the city relies on many of these workers to continue functioning well.Castle
A castle of old, made of smaller stones, before techniques to make larger bricks were invented, it stands wide and tall, a beacon in the city. The home of Tanir the Exalted, perpetual ruler of the nation, it is lavishly furnished and decorated. Large halls with massive windows sprawl through the interior, passing by meeting rooms and storage closets and bedrooms, the inside is larger than imaginable to many.South Gate
Crop fields sprawl out from nearly on top of the wall to the south of the city, growing specialty and luxury crops. South Gate is home to mostly farmers that tend to these fields and make their wealth off the rare produce they yield.Darkhall
Within the southern mountains, an ancient corridor of unknown architecture, known only as The Dark Hall, has been found in recent years. A few people have settled on the road to this cavernous labyrinth, and regularly make excursions to study and try to delve deeper to find out what this enigmatic structure is, or once was.Dawn Orchard
A local fruit, known as the Dawnberry, is grown in some of the fields near the city. Mostly found in the forests, it will wither rapidly in the harsh sunlight of the mid-day, and early in the morning, farmers drape fine nets over the bushes of this fruit, to protect it from the sun. Used in various cuisines and alcohols, it is a delicacy that most can not afford.Summer Town
As summer comes, the fields to the east and south of town need help tending to crops, weeding, watering, and eradicating pests. Most people in this district spend the summer assisting in these fields as their primary job, and finding other work from harvest until next summer.Forest Spring
A poor district of workers, the houses here are cheap and made of low quality swamp-wood. Many of them brave the nearby forests to the east in order to try and forage for food or alchemical ingredients to make a living.Brassyard
Brass and Bronze are both important metals to dwarves, being decorative and easy to shape, and useful for many things, this district specializes in creating the alloys, and has many workers shaping them. Rivets and nails, handles and door-knobs, anything the metals can be used for, it is made here.Westgate
Dusty streets and porches are what you can expect to find here. Miners wake early and sleep late, going to the west and up the mountains to haul rock and ore back to the city. The deeper one mines, the richer the mountains are in ore, but the more dangerous the return trip is.Lostgrove
A small district, it houses the wives and children of military members that lost their lives for various reasons. It is a rare occurrence, as the nation manages to avoid many wars and conflicts, but sometimes foul things from the swamps come to attack. They are housed free of charge for 15 years after the passing.Lightway
Miners who delve the deep and traders who cross vast expanses need lanterns, along with many other people. Here, wrought iron is thinned and shaped, and turned into cheap but sturdy lanterns, and small presses squeeze oils from different plants and seeds to make the fuel for these lanterns.North District
Many business owners or successful traders live here, with streets lit well at night and larger houses that are comfortable and not cramped, houses rarely go up for sale here outside of death, and the space afforded to one who lives here is luxurious in comparison to others. As nobility does not exist within the Autocracy, the wealthiest here have truly made their wealth off of trade or business.The Valley
The town makes a small dip here, and this area tends to flood during heavy rains. While small drains pour excess water to the sewers beneath, flooding is still not entirely uncommon, and the houses here are usually raised a foot or two on sturdy stone foundations. This district is much like the North District in terms of who lives here, only being slightly less lavish and expensive.Stone Vineyards
At the base of the mountains north of town, a few vineyards manage to grow grapes, that are brought here to the north of town and turned into luxury wines for the rich.Three Mills
Owned by a major farming family, not far north of town, three exceptionally large windmills, made with dwarven engineering and architecture, grind large amounts of grains into flour. Each of the one windmills is as efficient as 4 conventional windmills. Bakers and cooks reside here, buying this flour in bulk, and either selling it again to traders, or using it at taverns and restaurants for cooking.Guardpath
Leaving the city and moving towards the long trail towards Thinbadu'ur, this road is traveled by many guards and military members each day, patrolling the nearby area. This small district is home to high ranking guards and military officers, granted larger houses outside of the walls to detach them from the noise and cramp of the city.Blackgarden
Writing is incredibly important, as it defines the very start of recorded time, particularly when unified languages emerged en masse. Ink is expensive, and not easily made, and a few artisans here in the Blackgarden district make it. While most inks are, of course, black, even more expensive and luxurious are inks of various colors, made of dyes that are immensely expensive and hard to come across, much of the ink across Irrelion can be traced back here.Eastgate
As traders from other lands are permitted access to the Autocracy territory on an invitational basis, the amount that they buy and sell is huge, as they have to justify the journey through harsh territories to get here. This district is filled with storehouses and shops, buying entire carts and wagons worth of inventory at a time.Cattleshade
To the east, between the mountains and main path through up to Thinbadu'ur, large pens of cattle graze and roam. These cattle become the meat that, often, only the very wealthy can afford, as nowhere near enough can be raised to provide ample amounts for the whole city. The cowherds, along with butchers, live here, making good money off of choice cuts of meat for the rich.Sunrise Town
A good mix of farmers, traders, and guards and military members are here at any given time. At sunrise, farmers set to the fields they work, traders set on the road either up to Thinbadu'ur or back home, and guards and military members set out on patrols. The houses are a mix of simpler and nicer, but nothing lavish, and a good deal of inns and stabling can be found to cater towards traders seeking rest.Sunset Quarter
While most guards patrol during day, a few, who live here, patrol at night, and live nocturnal lives. They mostly patrol the streets of the town to put down drunken fights and watch for thefts. They live outside of the walls to avoid the noise, and ensure a good sleep even during the bright and busy day.Breadgate
The fields south and east of town grow great deals of wheat, and the mills grind it into flour. Bakeries here make massive amounts of bread on a daily basis, enough to feed the entire population of the city, and then some. The bakers used to be spread evenly throughout the city, but were moved here, with financial assistance and incentives by the government, because the smoke of the ovens was lowering the air quality in the city, which is something that the government attempts to keep some semblance of quality, to avoid illnesses of the lungs and throat. The smell coming from here can be caught on the wind on some days, and invokes a strong hunger into anyone lucky (or unlucky) enough to smell it.Assets
Large food stores, along with resources, weapons, armor, water, and even medicine, lie in underground catacombs beneath the castle. The city has never had to make extensive use of these stores, but it is a measure of active preparedness.
History
Having been around since the beginning of recorded history, originally as a small village, and even then led by Tanir the Exalted, it has grown ever since, being the obvious capital of the nation when the Age of Blood came around, Tanir fortified the borders of the lands, and made pacts with the dwarven strongholds in the area to swear fealty to him. It is the most populated city in all Irrelion, and despite the cramped nature, shows no signs of slowing down it's growth any time.
Points of interest
Tavern: The Wicked Oak
Owned by Orlor Shield-Heart, this simple dwarven style tavern is found in the Sunrise Town district, and offers breakfasts that workers and guards can eat on the go and patrol. It is open much of the day, from before sun-up to after sun-down, it is a large building that can house a few hundred if they really pack people in, it is a popular place for those with some, but not lots of money, looking for good booze and food.Tavern: The Jade Stallion
Located in The Valley, this highly esteemed establishment excels at offering exemplary service, spirits, and suppers. every meal is 7 courses, and paired with vintage wines and luxury brews of mead and ale. It is owned by the Matters family, three generations of humans, each with their own specialties, keep this business afloat. Polished marble floors and luxurious tables and chairs, each dining space comes in it's own small three-sided area, with a curtain for privacy. It is the most luxurious place to eat in the entire city.Blacksmith: The Steel Chappe
Owned by the young Lance Perry, this human learned everything he knows about smithing from his dwarven mentor, and carries on the business. It is a large stone-bricked building, with dwarven runes and engravings chiseled into nearly every brick; a custom of dwarves, it shows thanks for services well done, where one comes and chisels a blessing or thanks onto the walls of the business. It is located in the Cobbler's Crown district.Alchemist: The Ill Vials
Owned by the young female halfling Myria Copperkettle, this business within the Eastgate district offers a wide variety of potions to travellers. The inside is filled with many unique ingredients in wicker baskets hanging on the walls or on the floor, and bottles of many shapes and sizes scatter the walls, as cork shavings pile up on the floor. It is a simple wood and stone house with a thatched roof, and is almost uncomfortably small for many, but from Myria's perspective, it is very spacious. Her potions are pricey, but many traders will pay the prices.Enchanter: The Amber Prophet
John Sherwood is an old human who has long tinkered with magical items. Many of them come his way through trade, as he buys them for great sums. His store sits in the North District, and he has his own private guards defending his four-story house, crafted expertly down to every last detail, and surrounding by a tall and spiked wrought iron fence. The inside is clean and shiny, and display cabinets line the walls. For those seeking a specific magical item or trinket, he is the best bet to finding one.General Store: Bear Marketplace
Owned by Elaim Berry-Nose, this building in the Eastgate district looks as if it were taken directly out of a dwarven stronghold. Everything about it is expertly made, and mostly stone. The inside is filled with shelves and tables, stocked seemingly haphazardly, but actually quite neatly and organized, with various goods that the average person or traveler might need.Tourism
Most of the town's tourism comes from religious pilgrims, seeking many smaller churches or temples that the city has to offer.
Architecture
The architecture is very dwarven in many places, with the rest being a very standard wood construction. The dwarves of the Autocracy territory, as the years have passed, have slowly disseminated out of their strongholds and into the cities as their strongholds get overpopulated, and with them, they bring their cuisines, fashions, crafts, and architecture. Dwarves make excellent construction workers, especially the more you have working together, and the work they can do with nothing but a hammer and a chisel puts most other races to shame.
Geography
Surrounded by the Koldurian mountains a mere few miles away on all sides but east, it sits in a small flat area, carved out of the mountain range. The long plains that stretch north-to-south lie east of the city, with the forest further east than that.
Climate
The city is fair most of the year, staying quite warm with slight rain throughout the summer months, mild snows bring chills during the winter months, but nothing horrendous or enough to cause catastrophe.
Natural Resources
The mountains carry stone and metal, the forests carry wood, and the fields carry crops both luxurious and simple; near everything the city needs to survive and thrive can be found around it, with everything else being brought in bulk by trade.
Founding Date
Before Recorded History
Founders
Population
246,847
Owner/Ruler
Owning Organization
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