Bashtiin

The City of Fire

Aye, we may be part of the Empire, but you'll never see a Tiinizh go running to the Wolves for help defending the city! We've the earthblood through and around us. Nobody'd be fool enough to try and take Bashtiin.

- Gwazid Mormak, captain of the Bashtiin Kazul.

Demographics

66% Dwarven; 13% Goliath; 11% Human; 10% Other

Government

Bashtiin, like most cities in the Empire, is governed by a royal governor appointed by the Emperor, as well as a council of advisors with specialized fields of interest, who themselves have major legislative authority over their fields of interest. However, unlike most cities in the Empire, Bashtiin is home to the Dwarven High King, who acts as the royal governor of the city and surrounding region. The citizens of these cities have the power to recall every member of the council, but not the High King, with appeals to the Emperor and special elective action. In Bashtiin, the High King and royal governor is Thelgrad Draguk. The most powerful councilors are Gwazid Mormak, captain of the Bashtiin Kazul, and Perric Mellowe, leader of the Gemcutters Guild.

Defences

Bashtiin, as broad as it is, is connected at strategic points by relatively narrow tunnels. These tunnels, besides themselves being very-defensible chokepoints, are designed to be collapsed and flooded with magma should the need arise. Indeed, many of the defences of the city employ the earthblood to devastating effect, including channels of magma which can be opened over closed gates, moats of magma, and high-pressure reservoirs of magma which can be released with sudden, explosive force.
The Bashtiin Kazul, the city guard, are trained in methods of combat specifically designed to maximize their efficacy in the defence of Bashtiin through use of the earthblood, and are rightfully treated with some awe because of this. Possibly because of these numerous and deadly defence, none have ever attempted to assault Bashtiin.

Industry & Trade

The finest Dwarven artisans of all sorts live in Bashtiin. And, due to its rich deposits of gemstones, the finest jewelers found in the Empire also live there. The city is, however, extremely dependent on trade for most of its foodstuffs.

Infrastructure

Bashtiin is housed inside several, interconnected, active volcanoes. The Earthleech, a wonder of Dwarven engineering, is the primary hold on unwanted volcanic activity. With this vast system of locks and channels, the pressure of building magma under the earth is relieved and the magma is channeled throughout the city to provide power and light to many of the inhabitants, as well as a boon to the city's defence.

Guilds and Factions

The Gemcutters Guild: One of the two most powerful factions in Bashtiin, the Gemcutters are devoted to the mining, cutting, and setting of gemstones into jewelry, but also to the sale of gems for magical applications. As gems are the primary export of Bashtiin, the Gemcutters are the most wealthy faction in the city.
The Underfarmers: A newer, but not insignificant movement led to the founding of the Underfarmers. Bashtiin has traditionally been dependent on outside sources for its food. However, advances in agricultural magic, as well as the natural fertility of the volcanic soil, led some citizens of Bashtiin to establish large farms under the mountains, even reaching into the Underdark.
The Bashtiin Kazul: One of the two most powerful factions in Bashtiin, the Bashtiin Kazul are the city guard of Bashtiin, concerned with the defense of individual citizens and enforcing law and order among the people.
The Sons of Earthblood : The newest faction in Bashtiin, but one that gained enormous popularity very quickly, is the Sons of Earthblood, a religious cult devoted to the worship and use of Bashtiin's prodigious magma channels. They hold that the earthblood is, in fact, the blood of Moradin, running through the mountains and protecting his people.

Architecture

While many of Bashtiin's newer structures are built with the straight lines and hard angles common to most Dwarven architecture, the oldest of its structures are carved out of hollowed-out stalagmites and stalactites, lending a rather unusual roundness to them.

Alternative Name(s)

The City of Fire

Type

Capital

Inhabitant Demonym

Tiinizh

Owning Organization

The Holy Osven Empire