Veilvale, City of Gnomes

Veilvale is the only gnomish city in Nornhil and was constructed in secret 50 years after the Gnomes were welcomed into Nornhil. Hidden atop the Kragspire mountain it was constructed by Dwarven engineers under the employ of the Gnomes. This city houses the many workshops required to keep the airships of the Gnomish Trading Company (GTC) afloat. It was built as a refuge for Gnomes after the exodus of their homeland following subjugation.
While the city is rumored to exist, very few outside of Gnomish society are certain of its existence. Fewer still know its location. Even among the Gnomes themselves few could find the city unaided. This secret location is known to the upper echelons of Gnomish society, select military commanders and members of the Hilstrung.
While the idea of a secret gnome city is unpalatable for some, and for others treasonous, the council and military understand why the city exists and the services it provides via the GTC. The dependence on the GTC has forced the ruling elite of Nornhil to look the other way and deny the existence of the city.

Demographics

Veilvale is inhabited by Gnomes of all professions and all classes. It is a city of refuge for those fleeing the war in their homeland. Since it's founding it has opened itself up to all Gnomes and boasts a large population of Forest Gnomes, Rock Gnomes & Svirfneblin

Government

The city is ruled by a council of Gnomes, many of whom also sit on the Hilstrung. The council is elected by their peers in elections held every three years. The ruling council also controls the Gnomish Trading Company.

Defences

The location of Veilvale is a secret known to only a few. This and the fact that it sits high atop the mountain, serves as the primary defense. The city does boast a small guard garrison which serve to keep the peace, mostly breaking up fights between drunks. In the event of a rogue Sky ship or assault from the air, the city had a number of balistiae and crossbows located through out the city which are capable of defending the city.

Industry & Trade

As the home of the GTC most imhabitants are in someway employed by this organization. Either as merchants and bureaucrats facilitating the movement of cargo across the nation and beyond. Or they are employed to build and repairs the mighty sky ships which make up the fleet. Those who remain often are employed in other services which every city requires, e.g. guards, inn keepers, teachers, etc.

Infrastructure

The city is home to the Gnomish Trading company and contains all the facilities to build and repair Sky Ships. These include wood working, forges, alchemy labs, etc.

Assets

As it is the home of the GTC and its warehouses, Veilvale is a very rich city. Goods of nearly any type can be found within the store houses. The city also boasts some of the largest gold coffers in the world which hold the profits of the GTC.

History

The history of Veilvale is tightly woven to the Gnomish Sky Ships. After their exodus from their homeland, Gnomish engineers needed to find a new location to continue building their new Sky Ships. It was decided that a secure location was required, one that was only accessible via Sky Ship. After several years of searching in secret a suitable location was fond atop the Kragspire mountain. The location was completely inaccessible by foot, and sat well above the clouds that shroud the mountain.

Construction

The Gnomish council decided to build here, despite not having the permission of the king to build a city. It would be built in secret, its location known only to a select few. To build this city the Gnomes recruited a small number of Dwarves, promising to pay them quite handsomely. These Dwarves spent nearly five years building the secret city. When it was complete they were offered permanent residence on the condition that they could never return to Nornhil. Most chose to return home, but four Dwarves elected to stay, still residing in Veilvale today. Those who chose to leave never made it as the ship carrying them crashed with no survivors. To this day rumors persist that the crash was no accident and the Dwarves were killed for what they new.

Discover by the Council

Not long after its construction rumors about a secret Gnomish city began. Gnomes would talk about it over while drinking in taverns. A few claimed to have been there, but none knew the location. For many years the rumors grew, and the Hilstrung and Militatry began to take notice, beginning their own searches for the fabled city. In the Summer of 503, fearing discovery, the Head of the Gnomish council decided to inform the king of the city and its purpose. Just before the revelation he instructed the GTC to lower their prices which lead to a large increase in trade across the country.
The King was furious, and deeply embarrassed. The revelation of a secret city confirmed many of the rumors and story about the Gnomes, and lent weight to the claims by many nobles that the Gnomes were not true citizens and put their own needs ahead of king and country. The Grand Gnome explained their position, discussing the exodus and genocide of the Gnomes, and their need for a safe location. The Sky Ships are for the benefit of the king, as shown by our drop in prices, but the Gnomes wold refuse to give up the technology behind them as it was the only thing that guaranteed their safety.
While the king mused this over he did consider expulsion but realized how dependent his nation had become on the Sky Ships and how integral they and the Gnomes had become to the prosperity of the nation. The Gnomes were pardoned on the condition that the Hilstrung saw this city with their own eyes, and that the king, and select top military commanders were granted the location of the city. In return the Hilstrung and Military quietly dropped all investigations into the existence of the city taking the stance that the city was a fanciful tale made by boisterous, drunk, Gnomes.
To date neither the king or top commanders have ever divulged the location of the city.

Architecture

Being a city built into a mountain the building are made mostly of stone from the mountain itself. Large circular building designs are common on the outside. On the inside the design is much more spartan and utilitarian. To make up for this nearly every open surface has been decorated in some way, most often in the Gnomish style. The city is quite cold, and there is often quite damp with condensation coming in off the mountain air.

Natural Resources

There are few resources to be found atop a mountain. Nearly everything of importance is imported via the GTC. The only natural resources to be found are a number of small streams on and in the mountain which provide drinking water, and a number of species of luminous mushrooms which make up a large part of the Gnomes diet.

Type

Outpost / Base

Population

1000