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THE
DWARVEN
UNDERGROUND
TOWN TYR
THROMGOLIN |
Tyr Thromgolin - called TyrZeArillLok (Thergerim
TyrZeArillLok,
translation: "Town of Gem Tunnel") by the Boltgrumm Dwarves - is a
dwarven town situated underground. The town
is open for trade through a long tunnel deep under the surface of the mountains
across from Mount Argor. Its surface name arises from its roots - the area
above-ground was once a fortress of Cyroan Thromgolin, the founder of the
Kyranian tribe. The
dwarven name derives from the original use
of the tunnel to the town - it was once a very prosperous mining shaft that
broke the surface of the earth. The
dwarven town is relatively open for trade
and is connected to the Boltgrumm underearth levels, but there is a strong
military presence that prevents visitors from entering the rest of the
Boltgrumm complex of caverns without invitation or escort.
Description. The
first unique aspect of Tyr Thromgolin is its access. From the surface there is
only one way in - through a long tunnel carved into the rock of the mountain.
The tunnel is wide, two wagons can pass through side-by-side in safety, and is
lit by large pyres set into niches cut into the tunnel faces, about ten peds
apart. These fires illuminate the tunnel
very well; one can see the shimmer of
quartz and the precious metals
still in the face of the walls. The tunnels also pass by massive caverns in the
rock, like canyons underground.
Halfway through the tunnel there is a way station, manned by the Boltgrumm
military. The structure, which completely blocks the tunnel, houses a small
force of dwarven guards. They are meant to
secure the town in case of danger (by holding in or keeping out threats) and to
tend the hall fires.
The Town of Tyr Thromgolin itself is unique. It is located in a massive cavern,
with the buildings of the town chipped and cut directly from the stalagmites on
the cavern's floor. These buildings are also streaked with gorgeous veins of
quartz and silver and are
beautiful to look at. In recent years some wood has been imported into the town
to create cheaper housing, but the wooden buildings are known to be weak and
are not considered decent housing by many - the poor and transient of other
races (as dwarves in
Santharia are rarely so) live in these buildings. These houses sometimes
double as shops, but are rarely frequented.
There is access to the Boltgrumm mining caverns and the rest of the Boltgrumm
cities, but it is guarded heavily. No visitor can enter without a Boltgrumm
escort or an invitation by a Boltgrumm. The invitation must be a carved plaque
of stone with the Boltgrumm oremark and the host's runic signature, also known
as a "trade token". These tokens are used (without the unique signature) as
ways for Boltgrumm Thergerim to subtly
indicate their interest in making a deal - they inscribe their 'want list' on
the reverse of the token and leave it at a
human's place of business, rather as a noble lady would leave her address
card...
Location. Tyr Thromgolin
is located on the Southern Sarvonian continent, in
the Province of Sanguia in the United Kingdom of
Santharia. It lies under the surface of the
earth, north of Mount Argor. Its only
entrance faces the Thaehelvil River and can
only be accessed from the surface via that route.
People. Tyr Thromgolin
is indeed a dwarven town, but few
dwarves actually live within it. It is
considered to be mainly a mercantile area, far more inhabited by businesses and
inns, taverns and tradeshops. Most dwarves
prefer to live among the caverns in traditional
dwarven fashion. Those that live in town are considered to have taken a step
away from their dwarven ancestry.
Traders come and go in Tyr Thromgolin as well - some have taken up residence,
but most only stay for a short while before gathering shipments and moving on
again. Most traders that frequent the town are
human. Few elves care to visit Tyr
Throngolin, let alone live underground.
Gnomes have easily taken up residence here,
and if one looks hard enough, a Brownie can
be spotted as well here and ther - usually hitching rides with shipments or
making ends meet with stolen goods.
Those that live at Tyr Thromgolin are very tolerant of other races. And tolerant
is the perfect word for it - while there are definitely tensions in the
air due to an obvious
dwarven military presence, it is wise for
anyone that visits to keep his tongue well behind his teeth.
Coat of Arms/Sign.
Dwarves do not use a coat of arms as
humans or elves
do; rather, they use orestamps to identify their work. Thus, when one needs to
signify the town of Tyr Thromgolin, the following mark is used: a circle with a
spike in the center, with a window in it (signifying their housing in the stones
of the earth), and two shapes that
represent cut gems, one on each side of the structure. This symbol is clearly
visible above the tunnel entrance to the town of Tyr Thromgolin, and is the mark
of any Thergerim smith that resides in the
Tyr. The cavern-dwelling Boltgrumms have a seperate idenitfying oremark as well.
Climate. Considering
the town is underground, it has a relatively controlled climate. The tunnel to
Tyr Thromgolin itself is cold, due to the caverns along the path and the outside
entrance. But as one approaches, one will become warmer. The humidity is a bit
higher than normal, and it is comfortably warm. Those from the north would feel
a bit warm and stuffy in the town, but those from the south may find it
pleasant. The humidity arises from the bodies of the people that inhabit the
Tyr. The breath and body heat is captured in the underground town and keeps it
warm. The heat from the lower Boltgrumm habitations also assists. In heavy
trading times, or when metal workers are at heavy work, the heat and the
humidity in the cavern will rise along with the odour. Certain mosses which
absorb smells are planted here and there in niches in the cavern walls and atop
the houses to help control this.
Flora. In the area of
Tyr Thromgolin, not much grows. For the most part, only mosses, lichens and
fungi thrive underground, and these are considered a nuisance in the town,
although normally a staple food among the dwarves.
This reasoning is closely related to the people that reside here and their
cultural values - mostly human merchants who
do not consider the plant life an actual type of food.
Fauna. Few animals live
in Tyr Thromgolin naturally. There are the bats
that reside high above in the cavern that Tyr Thromgolin exists in. There are
also stray animals from trading - mostly small animals such as
cats and dogs. Birds do not survive
well in Tyr Thromgolin, and most other feral animals detest the underground,
save for those that exist here naturally, such as the
cave drell and the tunnel
rat.
Resources. The
tunnel that links the surface world to Tyr Thromgolin was once a prosperous
mine, and much of the area is still plentiful in minerals, gems and metal; most
notably silver, quartz and
sulphur. The massive amounts of sulphur found here is the reason the
Thaehelvil River is its murky yellow color.
Tyr Thromgolin is also a great place for trading - its placement in the
dwarven world allows for easy access to
dwarven skills, and many come to trade here.
Even some elven wares can be found among the
possessions of traders.
Myth/Lore. On the
surface above Tyr Thromgolin, it is said that the fortress of Cyroan Thromgolin
was erected. This man was the founder of the
Kyranian Kingdom, long before the
Bolgrumm dwarves moved into the area.. With
some searching, one can still find the ancient footprints of the fortress walls
on the surface above.
The Thergerim say that the great cavern was
once the home of a mighty resonance
dragon who died many years before they came to the place. As his massy
carcass decayed, the sulfurous fluids of his body flowed into the
Thaehavil, turning it yellow. His teeth and
claws remained, slowly calcifying into the great stalactites and stalagmites of
the cavern...
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Information
provided by
Viresse
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