Aldhegaurum

The greatest city of the Dwarven world. Aldhegaurum, meaning the 'Golden light of hammer sparks', is the industrial powerhouse of the dwarven cities, and the highest population among cities in Ulaya, after Cyra.
It is a bustling metropolis divided vertically into four main caverns within Mount Aurung. The city proper is the largest cavern, named the Cagarom (market-home), a circular chamber 1mile in radius, divided into two rings and nine spoke-like districts. The rings are split by a circular roadway that moves the thousands of dwarven-cart machinery around the city to transport wares, materials and folk from place to place. On the outer ring can be found the old city, the older and poorer domiciles and the Ring Market, the longest running market in the world. The inner ring takes up most of the cavern and is divided into nine districts, each managed separately by a different Dwarven merchant family.
The city relies on the Rea'kdün (cultivation area) for much of its food, water and waste services, and so each family has an equal duty to operate and maintain it. It lies just below the Cagarom, and is at the perfect groundwater level for plumbing, and irrigation of cultivated fungus.

Demographics

83% Dwarves 15% Gnomes 2% Other

Guilds and Factions

There are nine 'families' that make up the merchant powers of Aldhegaurum. They are as follows:
Tallbraid - One of the three biggest families, the Tallbraid clan specialized their business in the importing of foreign goods to the city, the production of fine weapons and armour, and traveller's gear and adventuring equipment. They are popular and well represented outside of Aldhegaurum in the trading hubs of the world. Their maker's mark is widespread as a symbol for quality goods.
Gurundel - This family is rich but keeps a modest face. They are said to have kept a thread of the ancient dwarven aristocracy, but have shed those warlike ways in favor of the battlefield of business. They manage investments, funds and loans, and are essentially the oldest surviving bank in Ulaya. They also provide a small but elite hireable security service, including personnel, mediators, equipment and infrastructure.
Dwarrokiln - The Dwarrokiln clan is among the oldest and most respected families in the merchant confederacy. They have focused and specialized in stone-working and ceramics, and little else, for what else is needed in a subterranean mining-metropolis but the finest stone working possible. Their family is credited with the crafting some of the city towers, the great stalags that form the headquarters of each respective family.
Zul'dor - Another of the three biggest forces in dwarven society, clan Zul'dor is responsible for the export of dwarven signature goods, hospitality and transportation. Their fleet of automated dwarven carts are the largest in the all the cities, and they own and run the "public" transportation system of bus-like carts. They also run the biggest hotel for travellers from abroad, called the Ironleaf Inn, through which they offer food, bars and beerhalls, and tours of the city. Economically though their primary function is to transport the products of the families who have fewer transport capabilities, so their agents comprise many of the dwarf caravans that cross south and north in to the various nations of Ulaya.
Mordallan - The Mordallans are the last of the 'big three' and they are cemented in their place by their monopoly on mining operations, tools and machinery specialities. They create the pieces, the pipe, the gears and the turbines that characterize this current age of dwarven society. They hold huge sway and their dealings with the other families are made with a foot ahead of the game, as their syndicate is essential for the running of the city.
Ebethel - The first Gnomish family to rise to prominence, the Ebethel company is proud to produce machine parts, engineer specialty equipment and offer repair services for the many mechanical aspects of life in the city. Even though they are heavily overshadowed by the Mordallan family, they hold an edge in the Gnomes innate capability for magic, which Dwarves struggle with. Though the Mnordallens do employ a few gnomes for this reason (as do all the families), they rankle at the disadvantage and are stubbornly against "diluting their company dynamic". Ebethel therefor has some security in their magical enhancing services, plus sharing exclusive rights to maintain the ancient elevator power-systems alongside the Mordallans.
Ardenferl - Their biggest product is Ardenferl Ale. They run many of the bars, taverns, restaurants and 'watering' holes of the city, and to do that they harvest a huge portion of the Rea'kdün to make their signature brew. The city relies on the Rea'kdün (cultivation area) for much of its food, water and waste services, and so each family has an equal duty to operate and maintain it. Ardenferl Incorporated, however, figured a way to monopolize a larger portion by helping the yolda vedek ('non-family' freelancing inhabitants) get a crumb of the pie. They organize a co-op system that allows yolda vedek to essentially franchise-farm areas of the Rea'kdün, then they take a cut for it. They also prohibit yolda vedek operations from producing or selling ale.
Prensilver - The second and only other predominantly Gnomish operation, the Prensilver clan focus on beauty and artisanship in their creations. They make fine jewellery, weapons and armor, and gem-cutting. Most fine, gem-based crafts are found in the city of Kierenzhuld, but Prensilver has settled its roots firmly as the Aldhegaurum's 'local' gem-workers. They also can provide enchantment services for a very high price.
Chasekin - Chasekin's are stone workers through and through, and are unparalleled for their delicate yet sturdy chisel-work. The immense carvings in ceiling of the Cagarom that detail dwarven (and gnomish) history/mythology is largely attributed to the Chasekins. And they have held a place of honor for millenia in Aldhegaurum, and are known for hiring both dwarves and gnomes if their skills are up to scratch. However, the Dwarrokiln clan has taken the lead on stone-working in the mines and other important areas for the last several centuries, popularising their dwarf-only hiring mandate of "Duern ag Buan, buan kadak." (Dwarves of the mountain shape the mountain) and pushed the Chasekins out to the fringe. They are struggling, mostly working as glowstone repair crews in the Cagarom now, and recently ventured to start their own branch of banking and investments, to the fierce opposition of the Gurundel clan.

Alternative Name(s)

The City of Business, The Great Gold Mine

Type

Large city

Population

700,000

Inhabitant Demonym

Garumites