Alaghôn

Alaghôn, the capital of Turmish is an ancient city that has seen its share of trials and tribulations over the years, ranging from terrible fires to occupation by the blue dragon Anaglathos during the Reign of the Wyrm. Throughout all of this, Alaghôn survived as a trade center known as the "throne of Turmish."

Architecture
There have been numerous stonemasons involved in the creation of the stone buildings, vaults, houses, and drains that comprise Alaghôn. This construction has created "a thousand thousand" hiding places. This fact is especially true where the works of a human stonemason cover up the older workings of a dwarven craftsman. The secret passages and cubby holes created by such overlapping workmanship are popular places for children to play. Sometimes, the children run into monsters - never again to run through the city streets of Alaghôn. When a child is missing, adventuring companies are sent to investigate. However, more often than not, they play happily for years, leaving a trail of used toys and adventuring supplies behind them.

Districts
Alaghôn is divided up into city districts.
 * The Military District is north of the city and includes the naval shipyards and ports reserved for their ships.
 * To the south lies the Merchant District
 * To the east lies the Assembly, or Government, District.
 * Houses continue out from Alaghôn farther west.

Surprises
Sometimes, children have come across long-forgotten vaults that most likely once belonged to ancient rulers of Turmish. While it is rare for a child to come out from the maze of tunnels with a gold coin hundreds of years old, it is not unheard of. Recently (1370 DR), a young child came stumbling from the catacombs that run through the government sector of the city, carrying a silver coin from the time of Dempster Turmish. The child feverishly related a story of walking into a huge chamber filled with gems and coins and meeting "an old woman with glowing red eyes." No sooner had he spoken these words when he slipped into a deep sleep and never recovered, so the rest of his story goes untold.

During the time of Anaglathos, the blue dragon allowed a lich queen from Unther to reside below the palace. When Anaglathos died during the revolution, the lich queen continued to live quietly below the city. She cast a spell on the child when she found him wandering around her domain, sending him back to the surface so she could see through his eyes. The spell finally consumed the lad, but the lich queen did get a glimpse of the surface world again (in which she had only passing interest).

Adventuring
Adventurers seeking employment to investigate lost ruins and ancient cities are normally referred to Chondath "or one of those other cities within the Vilhon," by the harbormaster of Alaghôn. There is a common belief in Alaghôn (and Turmish) that the monsters are elsewhere, which is not always the case.

Like elsewhere in Turmish, mercenary companies perform many of the jobs normally associated with a local militia. They are hired out to perform odd scouting jobs and patrols along the more "wild" areas of Turmish. Occasionally they run into a powerful monster they can't overcome, but more often than not they chase off whatever it is they come across.

Races
A strong elf presence exists in Alaghôn, as many of them have decided, for one reason or another, not to follow the rest on the Retreat. There is not a segregated population of elves within the city, however, for they live comfortably around humans.