Labyrinthia
The capital of the minotaur nation of Voror truly is a remarkable sight. Its twisting streets fail to hide the impressive palace that sits in the center and its very existence is a testament to minotaur engineering.
Demographics
The population of Labyrinthia is almost exclusively made up of minotaurs, with a hefty minority of tamblin. There are always some visitors of the city, they rarely stray far from the market just inside the city gates.
Government
The government of the city is quite simple. The eldest citizen rules over all the others, serving both as a guide to their juniors, as well as the ruling government official. As the capital of Voror, all other town elders frequently congregate here. The elder of Labyrinthia is generally in charge of the other elders, regardless of age.
The law is generally kept by the militia. As the name implies, this is a part-time volunteer force. It might seem odd to outsiders that a city so large uses such a lax system, but the general lawful tendencies of the minotaurs means little else is required. The militia has a traditionally high membership in the Visitors' Quarter to take care of outside troublemakers.
Defences
Easily the city's greatest defense is its layout. There are strong walls surrounding the city, and scattered all throughout the streets. They all serve as excellent protection for the palace and the elder within it.
If an attacking force does manage to break through the gate, the confusing layout is sure to slow them down. It also naturally sets the defenders up for ambush after ambush. Many attackers have simply retreated in frustration for just this reason.
Much of the Vorori military defends Labyrinthia, and they are especially fearsome warriors. The militia, despite being part-time volunteers, receive very similar training. For both forces, the minotaur defenders have an instinctual knowledge of the city's layout, and are more than willing to take advantage of it.
Industry & Trade
The primary industry that the minotaurs of Voror are known for is blacksmithing. Indeed, people come from all over Kirris to try and learn the craft, although many minotaur smiths are reluctant to share their secrets. More than one adventurous smith has been turned down for an apprenticeship by both the dwarves and minotaurs.
Because the smithing skills of the residents is so famous, metalworks are by far the most common thing sold in the city. The merchants from outside tend to bring luxury items in trade, although a fair amount of coin flows, as well.
Infrastructure
Even those with a casual knowledge of the city know that Labyrinthia is laid out like a giant maze. This layout tends to be so baffling to outsiders that most stay in the Visitors' Quarter, a district filled with shops and markets just inside the city gates.
Further in the city are a myriad of narrow streets in a twisting, turning hell that only the natives have any hope of navigating. There seem to be no districts, at least none that make any sense at all. In the middle of the city sits the unnamed palace of the elder, an impressive structure that towers above all others.
While the markets of the Visitors' Quarter are a lively place to do business, the inner streets house the true lifeblood of the city. This is where all the services that truly make the city livable are housed. It is rumored by travelers that the best shops and craftsmen are further in the city, but none know the truth of it.
All the simple necessities are well provided for. Wells in squares throughout the city provide water for the inhabitants. A very elaborate sewer system lies beneath the city that is at least as confusing as the city above. It is believed that rumors of great treasures are invented solely to waste adventurers' time.
History
The history of mighty Labyrinthia is steeped in the myths and legends of those who make their homes there. This naturally infuriates scholars interested in history, but most minotaurs simply shrug and take it all as fact.
Such stories begin by saying that the minotaurs came from beyond the Twin Worlds. They were fleeing a terrible creature called the One in the Maze that wanted their souls. They found themselves as refugees in a harsh and unforgiving land.
Their lives were difficult at first, but eventually they learned to survive. They even started building a settlement to serve as a home for themselves. Much to their horror, they had created a maze without even trying. Those early minotaurs believed that this could only be a curse from the One in the Maze.
They couldn't afford to be choosy, however. Their home was already built, and it was sturdy and secure. Instead they chose to own this curse, even naming this new town Labyrinthia. According to legend, the One in the Maze was not pleased with this development.
The story goes that that terrible creature sent a legion of monsters to seek revenge on his wayward prey. These beasts attacked the minds and bodies of the people of Labyrinthia, but the people were strong and beat the beasts back to their master in defeat.
Today many Labyrinthians proudly declare that their city is the only one in all the Twin Worlds to survive three Risings of the mind flayers. Both the unreliability of the minotaurs' oral history and the very well-recorded history of the city of Veille makes this almost certainly false.
Architecture
The walls and buildings are made of local stone. Since these stones are very small, they are mortared together to form the walls. This gives the illusion of fragility, but structures made of these materials are actually very sturdy.
The design for each individual building shows a great deal of creativity in its engineering, with no two looking exactly the same. The main architectural feature of the city is the narrow twisting streets that give the community its name.
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