Altanuur

Altanuur (Ikhtali: "Golden mountain") is the capital and largest city of the Ikhtal Empire. One of the earliest permanent Ikhtali settlements, Altanuur is rich with culture and history. The city sits in the Ikhtal Valley at the confluence of the Shinesgol River and the Chuluungol River, forming the Ganasan River.

Etymology

Prior to the founding of the city, the confluence of the rivers was known by a variety of names. Each nomadic clan had its own way of referring to the place, unique to their histories and methods of arrival.
Naming the growing settlement on the riverbanks initially created conflict, for each clan wished to retain their naming practices. Ultimately, a council of clan leaders chose to bestow an entirely new name on their shared city. Altanuur comes from the Ikhtali alta ("gold") and uur ("mountain"), a reference to the brilliant autumn coloring of the larch trees on the mountain Khanny Sentii.

History

The city of Altanuur began as a common resting place for many of the nomadic Ikhtali elven clans. Intersections of travel routes were rare, but the valley formed a nexus for a half dozen clans' paths. Disputes over which clan could settle at which times of year stretched over generations, often leading to bloody conflict.
Approximately 800 years before the founding of the Ikhtal Empire, clans began leaving representatives in the valley to protect their interests the rest of the year. With each passing season, greater numbers remained in the valley, beginning with those who found travel most taxing. Within a decade, a sizable settlement had grown on the riverbanks, and it became clear that this would become a permanent home for the Ikhtali clans.
In 90 SE, nearly a millennium after the city's founding, Gwelliel Nostlim declared herself Empress of the Ikhtal lands, and named Altanuur as the seat of her government. While there was some initial resistance from other clans, Empress Gwelliel made clear that the day-to-day governance of Altanuur would remain in the hands of the clan leaders, quashing any potential rebellion against her rule. Construction of the Golden Palace began immediately, in the city district historically held by Clan Nostlim.
Altanuur experienced a second population boom in the Empire's early years, until the city grew to cover the entire valley. The city's demographics remained almost entirely elven until the reign of Emperor Aglarphen (855 SE – 1423 SE), when the Empire's expansion created greater interest in the capital city for other races.

Geography

Altanuur is located about 4,500 feet above sea level, at the confluence of the Shinesgol River and the Chuluungol River, which form the Ganasan River. The city spreads across the floor of a valley at the foot of Khanny Sentii. Khanny Sentii, or "the King's throne" is a heavily forested mountain which rises 7,000 feet to the north of Altanuur.
Due to its high elevation and its great distance from any coast, Altanuur's climate is extremely cold. Summers are warm and brief, while winters are long, bitterly cold, and dry. Most of the valley's precipitation falls as rain in the summer months. Snow is relatively rare.

Demographics

Altanuur is home to approximately 100,000 people. While the population has become more diverse over time, the city remains overwhelmingly elven and half-elven in its makeup.

Race	Percentage
Elf	60%
Half-Elf	20%
Human	10%
Other	5%

Most Altanuuri are Flightless Souls, or worshipers of the Eagle King, Ankhny Khaan. The Court of Eight has a very limited presence in the city, with just a single, small temple dedicated to the entire pantheon. Temporalist teachings have not taken hold in Altanuur, and the House of Wisdom established by its few practitioners has long since been repurposed.

Government

As the capital city of the Ikhtal Empire, Altanuur is home to the Golden Palace, from which Empress Thanyanil governs the realm. Altanuur endures the effects of Imperial whim more harshly than the rest of the Empire, due to its proximity to the throne. Often, an Imperial edict may not reach beyond the city's borders before the Empress has issued a newer, contradicting order.
The city is divided into six administrative districts, each associated with the clan that historically settled there. Clan leaders still rule over these districts, though the population is not entirely elven, and residence is not restricted by clan membership. Clan leadership, and thus government of the city's districts, is inherited matrilineally, and restricted to fully elven descendants of past leaders.

Type

City

Inhabitant Demonym

Altanuuri