Ondolan

The capital of the Kingdom of Mandia, Ondolan is the oldest known settlement of humanity in all the Twin Worlds. It is nestled in the shadow of the western mountains, all but forgotten by its own kingdom.

Demographics

The general human majority of Mandia is far more dramatic here than it is in other places. The next minority is not halflings, as it is for the rest of the kingdom's cities. Instead, it is the dwarves, fittingly so for a city built in the mountains.

Government

Ondolan is the only city in all of Mandia where the king has any influence at all. None of the many noble houses reside here, though this is tradition more than it is law. As in Whiteriver, the citizenry has a lot of influence, due to regular informal meetings.

Defences

Due to its construction in the mountains, Ondolan is extremely well defended. It is only truly approachable from one side, and it is protected on that side by a high stone wall. The general stone construction of the city also lends it a great deal of protection, especially from fire.
The garrison of soldiers here is relatively small for a city this size. The security of the location means that this deficiency is mostly a non-issue, and the royal family has boasted for centuries that a single company of archers could hold an entire army at bay.

Industry & Trade

The main industry that gives Ondolan any semblance of life is mining. The mines are rich in many metals, primarily iron, but copper and silver are present as well. The city also makes some coin from quarried stone.
This trade is mostly one-sided, however, with shipments of stone and metal being sent elsewhere and very little returning. The nearby roads are safe, but mostly unprofitable. Merchants make very little money from it beyond selling the necessities the people can't produce themselves.

History

When humans first came to the Twin Worlds, they were a nomadic, independent people. They bowed to no one, least of all the elves. This led to conflict: the First Imperial War. They were suffering heavy losses, in part due to the lack of defenses.
This war was stopped by the First Rising, when the mind flayers invaded and humans and elves fought together, along with all peoples of the Twin Worlds. When this war ended, the surviving humans still feared elven attack. Some of them fled into the mountains, where their dwarven allies helped build them a city to protect them in case the worst should happen.
Although the war they feared didn't happen, diplomatic relations with the Ancient Elven Empire remained strained. As more human communities were built and grew organized, a kingdom began to form. This kingdom needed a capital, and the danger from the elves made Ondolan the natural choice.
When the Second Imperial War finally did come, Ondolan found itself under attack by the elves over and over again. They underestimated their opponents, and were fought off over and over again. These wasted efforts played a large part in the eventual human victory.
The Second Rising came soon after, and Ondolan again found themselves under attack. Even the might of the mind flayer forces, couldn't penetrate the city's defenses. The Third Rising millennia later had no more success than previous attackers did. These victories created the myth that Ondolan could never be conquered by any force.
It was this very attitude that led to its eventual conquest. The garrison grew fewer and more complacent as time went on. When Whiteriver and Port Vald fell to an unknown opponent, the capital had no time to prepare. When this foe, the ancient elven wizard Ansarien Ill'conter came, the city's defenders fought valiantly, but the wizard's magic and the size of his army were too great for them.
The non-elven population was enslaved, as it was in all other places the mad mage conquered. This did not last for long before his defeat by Eldain Mal'atre. Because the city sustained almost no damage, rebuilding was done very quickly. Ondolan was the first city to recover fully, as life returned to normal throughout Mandia.

Architecture

The buildings of Ondolan are constructed entirely of the stone of the mountain. All of these structures, from the lowest of dwellings to the Royal Palace are carved of one solid piece of the mountain granite, almost always by dwarven masons.
The roofs are slanted to prevent the buildup of snow, or protect them in the rare event of a rockslide. These rooftops were even carved to look like shingles for ornamental purposes.
The walls of these buildings are very strong, and even the oldest remain structurally stable. Many of the upper-class buildings have elaborate ornamental carvings depicting the ancient history of Amaun. The walls are extremely weathered, giving the entire city an immense feeling of age.

Geography

Ondolan was built directly into the eastern mountains, in an open space surrounded by high cliffs. The path leading in is closed by a high wall built of massive granite blocks. There are two guard barracks carved into the mountain on either side on top of the wall.
Many of the buildings are carved directly into the walls of the mountainside, spiralling upward, while many more are constructed in the open. The Royal Palace is at the bottom of the city, directly in front of the gate and surrounded by watchtowers from the flanks and the top. Generally, the wealthier districts are near the palace, and grow poorer, the higher up one travels.

Type

City

Population

approx. 35,000

Inhabitant Demonym

Ondolani

Location under

Mandia

Owning Organization

Kingdom of Mandia