Uthodurn

Uthodurn is a city north of the Ivory Lake and southwest of Kravaraad in the Flotket Alps of the Greying Wildlands. A rare haven for both Dwarves and Elves, Uthodurn has become a center for the highest levels of craftsmanship and blacksmithing. "Uthodurn" roughly translates from Dwarvish as "the new under salvation".

Description
Uthodurn is nestled at the base of a steep mountain valley, among the Flotket Alps and about 300 to 400 feet above the ground. The surface part of the city is built around a large heavy gazebo-type roof structure roofing over a 50 to 60-foot wide pit that descends 100 to 150-feet deep into the mountain rock. The perimeter is marked by protective fences and "a dozen or so" stone watchtowers, four of which stand around the pit, guarding the entrance into the city proper. Above, it has a number of liveries and stables that offer hardy horses and cliffneck goats; the buildings are usually small but sturdy enough to withstand months of harsh, northern weather.

Numerous staircases, about 15-feet wide each, spiral down the pit into the city proper with multitudes of tunnels sprawling in various directions along its descend. The access is protected by iron-reinforced doors, protecting each tunnel, and safeguarded by the Glassblade Kaserne, centered around the entrance tunnels. Kaserne is a large, about 100 feet across, semi-domed barracks for the Uthodurn, providing them a number of embedded housing, training, and storage areas. The air there is much warmer than outside, and it smells like wet earth, burned wood, soot, and iron.

Uthodurn is divided into three layers or Disks: Volition Disc, Deliberation Disc (AKA Liber Disc), and Grand Disc. Each district is divided by sets of wide pillars supporting the ceiling, some of which have been built into with mostly elven-styled homes to utilize every available bit of space. The pillars also hold huge dark metal gates drawn up to the ceiling, which can be dropped to defend the deeper regions of Uthodurn.

Points of interest

 * The Volition Disk: The top level of Uthodurn, its oldest and widest part that houses most citizens of various backround. The district is a massive 120-foot high by 1500-foot wide underground cavern, bisected by a central, 30 foot-wide road road called the Auger Trail, which is both a thoroughfare and a forum. The road continues to descend, curving like a gargantuan auger. There are mining works off to the far right and residential structures to the left, built in both dwarven and elven styles.
 * The Broken Stool: A tavern and inn run by Luda, an older dwarven woman.


 * The Deliberation Disk: Nicknamed the Liber Disk, this part of the city is the bustling market center filled from floor to ceiling with homes, emporiums, forges, and taverns.
 * The Anvil of Smeltborne: A forge and blacksmith
 * Moradin's Mantle: A massive temple to The Allhammer
 * The Softer Stoneforge: A bakery
 * Plexus Post: An odds-and-ends shop
 * Vellum Steeple Archive: On the boundary between the Liber and Grand Disks, a for-profit library with a Teleportation Circle.
 * The Tumbling Tankards: A dive bar with root mead and live music, run by Von Bragg.
 * The Tumblecarve Residence: The home of the Tumblecarve noble family, located in Demerant Circle.


 * Grand Disk: This is where a lot of the richer folk live.
 * The Grandcast Citadel: A palace carved into the central stalactite pillars to look like an inverse tower, with marble watts create a resemblance to a frozen, underground tornado. It contains the seat of the dual monarchs of Uthodurn.
 * Luddenbrock Mines: A source of precious metals.
 * Underrest: A high-end inn for dignitaries.

Demographics
Uthodurn's citizens are mostly dwarves, with a large elven population and a sprinkling of other races. Dwarven, Elvish, and Common are the most used languages in Uthodurn.

The population in 835 PD is 26,240. More than half (56%) are dwarves and more than a third (36%) are elves. There is a small population of gnomes as well (4%).

The Diarchy
The city is ruled simultaneously by dual monarchs, a dwarven queen and an elven king who each are advised by their own small council who share the responsibility of governing the city. Each community looks primarily to its own monarch for leadership and guidance, but the two have worked together remarkably well, for centuries.

Glassblades
Glassblades are the military and ranger force that guard, hunt and watch over the perimeter of Uthodurn. They gained the name when Uthodurn was founded.

History
Uthodurn was founded by dwarves in the wake of the Calamity, shortly after 35 PD. Long afterwards, between 535 and 585 PD, a great tragedy struck the elven city of Molaesmyr, driving many of the elves to flee their home in the Savalirwood. The refugees found sanctuary with the dwarves of Uthodurn and together they have since created a dual society known as the Diarchy of Uthodurn.