Khaz Valaimcral

Khaz Valaimcral, dwarven for the "Clan Fort of Hall of the Dragonslayer", is the clanhold capital for Clan Valutsson of the Clans of Magnus. The large town is storied, and has a highly insular population, mostly of Dwarves (and mostly of its own clan). The fortress was established after Valut Magnussun destroyed the ancient great wyrm Magnorathrix in pre-history, taking the dragon's keep to serve as the core of the fortress. The city is therefore strongly associated in dwarven culture with dragons and dragonslaying, like many of the clan's other holdings. The surface portions of the fortress represent the highest permanently-inhabited place in Wisteria, near the summit of a mountain of the same name in the Valley of Giants, central to the Atlas Mountains. Only the surface portions of the Sealed City of Khaz Urdim are higher.

Geography

Khaz Valaimcral is a barren and stark position, consisting of a few surface towers over a large dwarven hive. Most of the signs of the old dragon's lair have been carved away by time and industry, replaced with well-architected, if not stark, halls. The position of the fortress, high on its own mountain, makes surface approaches and farming impractical. The city relies almost entirely on its own paths that connect to the Deeps for trade.

The city is home to several of the halls of Dwarven Slayers, a subclass of the war guilds which specialize in the hunting of very particular classes of beast. To a lesser extent it is also known for training Dwarven Griphon-Knights, bearing both the largest guild of the same discipline, as well as the largest eyrie for the raising and training of such creatures.

Economy

Valaimcral is entirely dependent on trade with other holdings for its supply of food and raw materials. As a vanity holding, some of this is covered by tributary support from other Clan Ermsson holdings. Much the rest of the income of the city comes from its military schools, including its several competing guilds of Dwarven Slayers. These guilds generate income through two means - the first being charging their tuition and dues for members of other clans who want the prestige of having the journeyman or master certifications for their chosen method of combat. The second is in guild dues from certified adventurers.

Politics

Helofik is the seat of power for Clan Uransson, who are a powerful clan by virtue of their spiritual piety and the reputation of their schools of pastoral theology. The leaders of this clan are viewed as eccentric isolationists at times, but always with great respect among the other kings and thanes of the dwarves, owing in part to the perception that Helofik is itself holy ground - a concept not often seen otherwise in dwarvendom.