Dragonbone

"Ah, I see you eyeing our fabulous itmecharir dye. We buy it straight from Dragonbone, it's one of the finest you'll find in any land!" - Aakar Mridev, Hiranyan Merchant

Thirty-seven years ago, the Brightfrond kobold clan was driven from their home in western Oria by a coven of hags. They fled with the few items they could carry, and trekked across the land to find a new place to call their own. When a torrential storm came upon them on an open mountainside, many called it a further sign of their poor fate; when the mud-soaked land above them began to collapse, their end seemed assured. However, the landslide uncovered the colossal, petrified skull of an ancient dragon before them, bracing against the ground to protect a grotto below it. The kobolds made their new home in the shadow of the great skull, and renamed themselves the Dragonbone clan in its honor.

In the years since, the settlement of Dragonbone has prospered. The kobolds' town is built in the hollow under the great skull and extends into tunnels beyond it. Almost all of the kobold citizens are farmers, gatherers, and artisans, and every citizen is at least a hobbyist craftsman. Dragonbone does brisk business selling their crafts across the Twin Continents. In particular, the dyes they make from rare flora and fauna from under the mountains are renowned even as far away as Menisment for their brilliant colors and fine gradations in hue, to the point that even the professionals of other nations use the Draconic language to label dyes.

Population

The entire population of Dragonbone is made of a single clan of about three-hundred kobolds, known as the Dragonbone clan; no one else is allowed permanent residence. Despite this insular nature, though, the village is welcoming to itinerant outsiders, especially outside traders, and there are many structures built outside the mountain caves for travelers' comfort. At any given time, up to a quarter of the town's citizens may be away from town as well, leading caravans across the continents to trade their wares for money and supplies needed at home.

Town Layout

The main body of Dragonbone is built in the shadow of a colossal petrified dragon skull that is partially-buried in the edge of the mountain. Here you can find many bunkhouses, workshops, and other public buildings. The hollow under the skull splits off into a multitude of smaller caves and passages, both natural and carved, that lead to individual homes, farms, and grottoes, or paths further under the mountain. Most of the supplies the town uses both for survival or crafting come from the lightless depths, grown or gathered.

Outside the mountain itself, there are a number of outbuildings built to the scale of larger folk; while there are no permanent residences, these buildings are intended for ease of use for traders and travelers that have come to visit the town.

Government

The settlement of Dragonbone is a commune comprised of the entire clan; all supplies and wealth are shared as they are needed, and the whole clan works together for the clan's benefit. They are guided by a small council of wise elders and those with a knack for organization and direction; the council has no outright authority, but helps the clan as a whole decide their course. The council currently has six memebers, but the number fluctuates over time according to the clan's needs.

Religion

The Dragonbone clan follows a fairly normal variant of kobold religion, combining ancestor worship and veneration of the ancient dragon that supports their settlement. It's followed informally, with no particular leader, and each kobold prays and worships as they see fit. Outside the main settlement, there is also a small chapel, unaffiliated with a particular god but suitable for the worship of any, for travelers to use if they have a need.

Industry

Dragonbone is a settlement renowned for the quality of its crafts. As almost every kobold practices some form of craftsmanship, even if only recreational, they produce a wide variety of goods to trade. Many of their supplies are procured within the depths of the mountain tunnels, though some are either collected from outside by small adventuring parties or brought by travelers for barter. The dyes produced by the Dragonbone kobolds are of particular note, for their deep, lasting colors and fine gradation in hues, and are eagerly sought across the continents. This makes Dragonbone a popular stop for caravans who can make it to their somewhat-remote location.

Notable Citizens

• Custodian Birri - Member of the council, and nominal leader of the clan for outsiders
• Huekeeper Rekkaben - Master dye creator of the clan
• Stonesage Arrik - Head of the town's guardian force
• Enni, Kanna, and Olin - Wandering adventurer group (sorceress, alchemist, trapmaker) who roam for treasures and materials
• Khizzi the Chromatic - Eccentric albino paintcrafter who frequently tests magical paints on her own body.
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