Dumat

Duke Kendral Raveau (the Second) - is the reigning Duke of Dumat, having assumed the throne from his father Kendral the First. Kendral the First was a friend of Prince Ragart, the Lion of Heslon and had proven both his capacity and loyalty in countless battles. Kendral the Second does not have his father's martial prowess, but in many ways is viewed as wiser and of more even temperment.​

The Great Fortress seems so small from here.
Many of the greybeards and wisewomen among us speak of a simpler time. A time when we could forge our own destiny and were servants to no one. A time before a Duke sat on the throne of Dumat. A time when the needs of our village were overseen by a druid who blessed our crops, livestock, and the efforts of our hands, and where all townsfolk were valued for what they contributed. A simpler time. A better time. A time before a southern despot claimed ruler-ship of these lands and placed an unknown face as the Duke and authority in the fortress, bringing with him foreign ways and a disrespect for our traditions. Yet, few can forget their first visit to 'the Rock'. Who among the younger generations do not remember their first memories of arriving in Dumat, its towering walls of smooth stone stretching into the heavens? Or the first time they saw the Great Beacon lit, a vast blazing inferno that warns the towns and villages throughout the land of danger? Or squinting to catch sight of those finest of the Duke’s scouts, barely visible atop the wall, never ceasing in their vigilance -- their eagle-eyes always watching the northern mountain pathways for incursion?
Is there not something wondrous about ‘the Rock’?
The greybeards remind us how the fortress was not built by the current occupants. Ancient Gods, they say, built it in response to terrible wars that savaged the land. And when the ancient wars were over, leaving behind the druidic orders that presided over a balance that would preserve the land and ensure that wars would never return… but does such talk not stir the soul of the listener, lighting a fire deep in their imagination, sparking not only a curiosity of what once was, but a desire to achieve it again? Do not Father Dale’s words ring true when he says to respect the past, but do not be held captive by it. Learn from it, but do not repeat it?
Still. 'The Rock' is an alluring reminder of things so much greater than us, and being within sight of it grants the warmth of security despite being within striking distance of foes so great and evil that it would freeze your very blood in its veins. For immediately to the north, the giants and giant-kin of Rokorum brood and plot out their conquest of the south-lands... only their numbers and 'the Rock' standing before their victory Further danger builds to the east as a growing number of humanoid tribes filter in from further east, some even coming from as far away as the Broken Lands themselves.



Dumat The banner of Dumat is a white background (representing the purity of its cause) with a grey mountain with its top shaved off.
Dumat seems to believe that it exists outside the bounds of Ominite laws and traditions. Though usually allied with Ltrel, it has broken ranks with Ltrel when it has suited the rulers of that time. Up until the invasion by Castan, Dumat was a petty holding despite its massive strength. Rarely did it meddle in the affairs of others beyond its monstrous walls. However when Dumat broke the seige of the vastly superior Castan army, it drew the attention of many powers. Most notable amongst these powers was High King Phillique the First of the newly formed Heslonic Triumvirate. High King Phillique saw the advantage of having such a bastion in the north and diverted funds and men to aid in its upkeep and defence.
To that effect, Dumat has developed and maintained very strong ties with Heslon. Only once during the rule of Duke Chevais the Irreverent did Dumat come to an impasse with Heslon, but it was quickly resolved when the Duke was faced with the number of Heslon supporters within its walls. In many ways, Dumat is an outpost of Heslon.

Structure

Dumat is has five notable divisions: The Great Wall, Peraadubir (the palace/noble quarter), Hijqadar (the middle section), Moodrubue (the common quarter), Zalrubue (the dark quarter). Both the Peraadubir and the Moodrubue are carved into the outer walls of Dumat, while the Hijquadar and by large extent the Zalrubue divide the two walls like a great, carved fin or great stalactite.
PERAADUBIR (NOBLE QUARTER): Houses the Duke's Palace and home, the homes of a few nobles and wealthy Dumatians are located here.
HIJQADAR (STONE DIVIDER): The Hijqadar itself is divided into three sections. The fore section houses the main military barracks, the Circlet, and the Lady's Sanctum. The larger mid section houses much of the cities merchant activities, while the back section houses the less reputable merchant activities.
MOODRUBUE (COMMON QUARTER): This section is largely a residential area. Direct ownership is definitely possible here, though the most aesthetic and larger domisciles are very difficult to come by. Rental directly from the crown is also very possible, and a large section towards the back of the Moodrubue is dedicated to those that cannot afford accomodations of their own. SInce this area is generally full of undesirables, people moving to Dumat typically want locations as close to the fore of the city as possible.
ZALRUBUE (DARKENED QUARTER): The darkened quarter is essentially the 'undercity' of Dumat. In times preceeding siege, this area can quickly be converted into a storage area for consumable goods.
SAMANAHR (SKY RIVER): While the Walls of Dumat certainly attract a lot of attention - and rightfully so - many would say that the wonder of Dumat are not the Walls of Dumat, but rather the Samanahr - the 'sky rivers'. THe creators of the city created an intricate system of ducts and pipes into the mountain rock to capture, store and provide water for the city. None have been able to actually gain access to the main storage vault because it is buried deep in the mountain, but scholars surmise that high above the inhabited areas of the city, great containers collect, store and purify water that is then used by the residents. On ocassion a pipe or duct break has required for a pipe to be sealed off, but the Dwarves who have taken up residence in Dumat have come in handy when it comes to repair....which surprisingly doesn't happen often. The result is that inhabitants have a steady supply of water available to them that can be used for consumption or disposal.
QATANAHR (AIR DUCTING): In much the same way the city planners created a source of water for its inhabitants, so too did they plan out a way for air to be taken in and disposed of using a system of similarly planned vents and ducts as the water lines.
SHASMURA (SUN'S LIGHT): Dumat has a number of large reflective surfaces positioned on the various walls (each of the quarter walls) which are used to reflect sunlight and provide the inhabitants with necessary light.

Type

Geopolitical, Duchy