Am-Xitha, Parts I & II (Past Chronicle 2013-2014)

Duchy of Am-Xitha - by T.A. Saunders ©2013 v1.5

Kaalesi Quarter

Glantheel Weapons, Armor and Beer Emporium

If the Prismatic Elemental Forge was the heart of the Kaalesi Quarter, the Emporium could be considered the soul. This massive shop (as every other building in this quarter) was allowed to ignore the theme of Am-Xitha as a whole as a favor to the Glantheel clan, who found the Shei architecture ‘frilly.' Instead, The Emporium has thick Ohratite walls, with smooth lines and steeple-style roofs, shingled in Forgora wood.

The owner of the Emporium, Grand Master Smith Dunar Glantheel, stocks all mundane weapons, armor and other metal supplies, fashioned from everything from copper to exceedingly rare Aranium. Most of these items are enchanted by Rune-Forging and are suitable for the starting adventurer. Those who require something of greater power are normally required to place a custom order.

Along with weapons, armor and supplies, Dunar also sells different sorts of Dwarvish brew, including the Kaalian Holy Beer. Doubling as an ale house, there are round tables and stools throughout the inside of the shop, interspersed with kegs to keep the drinking going.

Pama Dorna ri Kaalesiti (Council Hall of Dwarf-Kind)

In the traditions of the ancient Kaal'Kor clans, the meeting hall for this particular quarter is a single floor, squat building with intricately carved stone spires that curve up and around the structure itself, to reinforce a hammered gold dome that comprises the roof.

The interior houses seating for business and clan leaders on a stage, where a podium also resides, with wooden bench seating for citizens who with to either watch, or take part in the political process. Issues are brought to Councilman Glantheel's attention, so when the great hall assembly takes place, all matters can be brought before the Duke.

Penmyre ri Bahavr (Temple of Bavhar)

As part of the agreement with the Elemental Princes, Bahvar and Shuun, each Prince was granted a temple dedicated to them in Am-Xitha for their help in purifying the land and the water. In recognition of that, this temple is fashioned from mud-brick and stone, giving it a very primitive look, in contrast to the other, more majestic Dwarvish structures, with moss growing on various parts of it. Like many of the buildings in this quarter, it is a single floor with a basement.

Inside is likewise kept with the primitive, earthy theme. The floor is simply compacted, smoothed dirt with benches fashioned from rows of rocks and an alter fashioned from a single, broad boulder. The basement contains the vestibule and priest's personal quarters, but rarely are people received there.

Prismatic Elemental Forge

Little is known about the Elemental Forge of Am-Xitha. Even the smiths who used it are unknown thanks to destroyed records and the passage of time. While retaining weapons within the city was illegal, the manufacturing of said weapons was not, giving a clever loophole to use the forge as as a sort of armory for times of trouble. While even the mighty weapons and armor crafted here did little to turn the tide of the battle on 213 BF, they did buy valuable time for defenders so that women, children and the elderly could escape into the outlaying woods.

The Forge itself is constructed out of the only known example of Prismatic Etherium and survived the destruction of Am-Xitha nearly unscathed, save for a few dents and blast-marks it suffered. The forge is haunted by its head smith and the very weapons he created there rise to his command to deal with those who would dare set foot within, with the intent of destroying the Forge or attempting to create anything involving dark powers.

While still protected by the spectral smith, Anathayn Kivaan, this protection also comes in the form of enhancing the work created there and granting greater success to those who pay homage to the elements. Interestingly, the forge has also become something of an unofficial temple of Kaal, given that in Kaal'Kor tradition (despite the Forge being a Shei construction), that worship of the Sun-Father is always conducted at a forge or an ale hall. All parties involved seem to be well with the melding of religious beliefs here, given the theme of tolerance Am-Xitha represents. (Grand Master or better smiths gain a 5% bonus to all stats to items smithed at the Prismatic Forge. Those who pay homage to the elements before smithing, by way of the destruction of something semi-precious, like a gemstone, or golden bar, etc. gain a +5% to smithing checks.)

Tharad's Tinkering Supplies

Tharad Hammerspark represents the vocal minority that is the Hammerspark clan in Am-Xitha, where every third Dwarf is a Glantheel of one kind or another. A Blackgate Vanguard retiree, Tharad had been one of the engineers that instructed Owen MacNamara in the finer points of blowing shit up and had the distinction of acquisitioning some of the parts for his son, Dean's Swamp Buggy when it was first built. Having heard of the boy's tenure with the Heroes of Am-Xitha and the presence of Dwarves in general, Tharad retired, came south to Am-Xitha to sell his wares.

The shop, like the Dwarf is the structural inconsistency of every other building in this quarter. With the exception of the Infirmary, this shop is perhaps one of the most blast-proof buildings in Am-Xitha, fashioned from three inch thick Kaalcite plate he salvaged from various vehicles he had a hand in blowing up over the years. While certainly sturdy, it gives the building a metal shanty appeal that sticks out like a sore thumb.

All manner of fuses, bomb casings, explosives, gears, cogs, wires, tubes and anything else an engineer would need can be found here. The inside of the shop (which has the same ‘all metal, so it survives an explosion' feel to it), is decorated with antique weaponry and old inventions of his. Usually, Tharad runs the shop, but his wife Igrit or one of their seven children are around to help a potential customer.