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{{Location |
{{Location |
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+ | | image = [[Image:Lake of Mists 3e.jpg|250px]] |
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+ | | caption = |
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+ | | name = Almorel |
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+ | | aliases = |
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+ | | type = City |
| − | | size = |
+ | | size = Small city |
| − | | capital = |
+ | | capital = |
| − | | area = [[Hordelands]], [[Northeast Faerûn]] |
+ | | area = [[Hordelands]], [[Northeast Faerûn]] |
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+ | | georefs = |
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+ | | demonym = |
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+ | | languages = |
| − | | races = [[Human]]s |
+ | | races = {{percentage table|[[Human]]s|78|[[Gold dwarves]]|9|[[spirit folk|River spirit folk]]|6|[[Half-orc]]s|5|[[Gray orc]]|1|[[Rock gnome]]|1}} |
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+ | | religion = |
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+ | | currency = |
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+ | | population1 = 8,897 |
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+ | | popyear1 = 1375 |
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+ | | imports = |
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+ | | exports = Steel and copper items |
| + | | alignment = [[Lawful neutral]] |
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+ | | allegiances = |
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+ | | socrefs = |
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+ | | founded = -280 |
| + | | destroyed = |
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| − | | source = [[Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 3rd edition|FRCS]] |
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+ | | government = City-state |
| + | | rulertype = |
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| + | | ruler1 = Mayor [[Mavnor Dyorn]] |
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| + | | ruleryear1 = 1375 |
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| + | | ruler2 = Mechnik Nikitsky |
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| + | | ruleryear2 = 1338 |
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| + | | govrefs = |
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| + | | usethe = |
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| + | | useon = |
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| + | | locations = yes |
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| + | | organizations = |
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| + | | settlements = |
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| + | | events = |
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| + | | food and drink = |
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| + | | items = |
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}} |
}} |
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| + | '''Almorel''' was a cosmoplitan yet primarily human trade city on the [[Golden Way]]. |
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| + | ==Geography== |
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| − | '''Almorel''' is a major trading city in the [[Hordelands]] as it sits along the [[Golden Way]] and on the [[Lake of Mists]]. |
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| + | Almorel was located on the southeastern shores of the [[Lake of Mists]] where the Golden Way ran alongside it. It was the last caravan stop before entering the [[Endless Waste]]. |
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| − | == |
+ | ==Structure== |
| + | Buildings were almost all built out of wood and designed to be wide with most households having attached stables and barns (so it was not necessary to go outside during the cold winters) as well as gardens and workshops. It was extremely rare for any building to have more than two storeys. Wealthy families erected stockades around their properties. |
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| − | Founded fifteen-hundred years ago as part of the [[Raumathar|Raumathar Empire]], Almorel has long since become an isolated outpost of the west, the major town of the [[Raumvira]]. |
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| + | The [[gold dwarves]] of Almorel lived in a series of tunnels beneath the city. Traditionally, humans were not allowed down in the tunnels but the dwarves had set up a small guest house to receive human visitors. The dwarves did not speak openly about their underground homes which elicited much rumormongering of the secrets the dwarves kept down there. |
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| − | ==Environment== |
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| − | Almorel is a sprawling town. Houses are low and broad, normally only one or two stories in height. Almost all are built of wood taken from the trees growing around the lake. Walls are made from logs, mortared into place. The roofs have broad eaves to provide shelter from the heavy winter snows that blow off the lake. Interiors are warm and cozy, with huge brick woodstoves, white-washed walls, and small glass-paned windows. Most houses have stables and barns built directly off them, reducing the need to go outside during winter. Adjacent to the home are the family gardens and workshops. Wealthier families enclose their properties with a wooden stockade, creating small, rustic villas. |
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| + | ==Defenses== |
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| − | The majority of Almorel is human, but there is a small community of dwarves. Brought in when the town was founded, some of the [[dwarves]] elected to remain, digging tunnels beneath the town for their homes. These are marked on the surface by wooden mineheads and a small guesthouse for receiving human visitors. By tradition, humans are not allowed into the tunnels and this has led to many interesting rumors. Some hint that the tunnels are more extensive than the town itself. Another rumor claims that the dwarves are not a minority, that large numbers live in secret below the surface. Finally, there are some who believe the dwarves have accidentally found evil underground denizens and are fighting a secret war beneath the surface. |
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| + | Almorel posessed wooden walls and an ancient six-storey wooden tower fortress called the Raumkreml which was painted black and served as the city's seat of government. The city was also defended by a force of Watchmen. Almorel enjoyed being mostly ignored by the [[Tuigan]] but that didn't stop a plan to improve the city's static defenses so that they were made out of stone, to be built by the city's dwarf population. |
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| − | == |
+ | ==Government== |
| − | Almorel |
+ | In [[1338 DR]] Almorel was governed by a council called the Gospoda. The leader of the Gospoda was known as the Mechnik. The last recorded Mechnik was named Nikitsky. |
| + | In [[1375 DR]], Almorel was governed by a Mayor who had absolute authority. Beneath the Mayor were three Keepers and a Lakemaster, who served as advisors. The Keepers each appointed a successor who would inherit the position upon their death. |
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| − | ==Trade== |
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| − | The dwarves are skilled smiths and their steel and copper-ware is noted throughout the steppe. Using metal taken from the Mountains of Copper and the mines of [[Rashemen]], the smiths of Almorel make high-quality fittings, weapons, and armor. A few items made every year are believed to have magical properties, but these are kept by the dwarves for their own use. |
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| + | As of 1375, the Lakemaster was a powerful [[raumviran]] [[druid]] named [[Valin Orov]]. One of the Keepers was known to be a capable warrior-woman named [[Evari Ruyost]] who was also in command of the city watch. They served under Mayor [[Mavnor Dyorn]]. |
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| − | Because it sits astride the Golden Way, Almorel has outlasted its parent, Raumathar, and has become an important meeting ground for steppe nomads and traders. It is also the last stop for caravans before entering the Endless Waste. |
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| + | ==Population== |
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| − | ==Notable Locations== |
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| + | Almorel's citizenry was mostly made up of raumviran humans with significantly smaller populations from other ethnicities found in or near the region. Almorel also had several smaller populations of other species, most notably gold dwarves as well as [[spirit folk|river spirit folk]], who came from the Lake of Mists after emigrating there in [[-160 DR]]. There are around the same number of people with [[gray orc]] blood living in Almorel as there are spirit folk, with the number of full-blooded orcs being outnumbered five-to-one by their [[half-orc]] kin. [[Rock gnome]]s, presumably expatriates from [[Songfarla]], made up the last hundred or so citizens. |
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| − | ;[[Raumkreml]]:At the center of Almorel is the Raumkreml, a fortress tower built in the time of the Empire. This is a six-story round ziggurat, built of wood. The outside is painted black, so the locals have given the tower the nickname “Chern-kreml” or Black Citadel. The tower is the seat of government for the town. |
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| + | |||
| + | ==History== |
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| + | Almorel was founded in [[-280 DR]] by the [[Raumathar]] Empire who brought in dwarven workers to build it and allowed them to stay when they were finished. It apparently survived the Empire's fall and became an important site for nomads to meet traders where they could barter for things that they couldn't make or take themselves. It was completely ignored by the [[Tuigan]] during the Horde War as they moved west toward [[Rashemen]]. In [[1369 DR]] Faerûnian merchant interests from [[Neverwinter]], [[Sembia]] and [[Waterdeep]] began setting up trade outposts in the city. |
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| − | == |
+ | ==Rumours== |
| + | There was a lot of gossip on the surface about what went on in the dwarven tunnels. Some thought that there were many more dwarves living under Almorel than were ever seen, others that the tunnels themselves were much more extensive than anyone thought, while still others worried that the dwarves had unearthed some ancient horrors unleashed in the war between Raumathar and [[Narfell]] and were at war with them. What those who scoffed at such claims didn't know is that there was some truth to this last rumour, insomuch as the dwarven tunnels came quite close to an ancient Raumathari complex stocked with mechanical [[construct]]s designed to kill [[demon]]s. |
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| − | *{{Cite book/The Horde|24}} |
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[[Category:Settlements]] |
[[Category:Settlements]] |
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[[Category:Locations in the Hordelands]] |
[[Category:Locations in the Hordelands]] |
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[[Category:Locations on Toril]] |
[[Category:Locations on Toril]] |
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[[Category:Locations]] |
[[Category:Locations]] |
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Revision as of 06:23, 4 February 2015
Almorel was a cosmoplitan yet primarily human trade city on the Golden Way.
Geography
Almorel was located on the southeastern shores of the Lake of Mists where the Golden Way ran alongside it. It was the last caravan stop before entering the Endless Waste.
Structure
Buildings were almost all built out of wood and designed to be wide with most households having attached stables and barns (so it was not necessary to go outside during the cold winters) as well as gardens and workshops. It was extremely rare for any building to have more than two storeys. Wealthy families erected stockades around their properties.
The gold dwarves of Almorel lived in a series of tunnels beneath the city. Traditionally, humans were not allowed down in the tunnels but the dwarves had set up a small guest house to receive human visitors. The dwarves did not speak openly about their underground homes which elicited much rumormongering of the secrets the dwarves kept down there.
Defenses
Almorel posessed wooden walls and an ancient six-storey wooden tower fortress called the Raumkreml which was painted black and served as the city's seat of government. The city was also defended by a force of Watchmen. Almorel enjoyed being mostly ignored by the Tuigan but that didn't stop a plan to improve the city's static defenses so that they were made out of stone, to be built by the city's dwarf population.
Government
In 1338 DR Almorel was governed by a council called the Gospoda. The leader of the Gospoda was known as the Mechnik. The last recorded Mechnik was named Nikitsky.
In 1375 DR, Almorel was governed by a Mayor who had absolute authority. Beneath the Mayor were three Keepers and a Lakemaster, who served as advisors. The Keepers each appointed a successor who would inherit the position upon their death.
As of 1375, the Lakemaster was a powerful raumviran druid named Valin Orov. One of the Keepers was known to be a capable warrior-woman named Evari Ruyost who was also in command of the city watch. They served under Mayor Mavnor Dyorn.
Population
Almorel's citizenry was mostly made up of raumviran humans with significantly smaller populations from other ethnicities found in or near the region. Almorel also had several smaller populations of other species, most notably gold dwarves as well as river spirit folk, who came from the Lake of Mists after emigrating there in -160 DR. There are around the same number of people with gray orc blood living in Almorel as there are spirit folk, with the number of full-blooded orcs being outnumbered five-to-one by their half-orc kin. Rock gnomes, presumably expatriates from Songfarla, made up the last hundred or so citizens.
History
Almorel was founded in -280 DR by the Raumathar Empire who brought in dwarven workers to build it and allowed them to stay when they were finished. It apparently survived the Empire's fall and became an important site for nomads to meet traders where they could barter for things that they couldn't make or take themselves. It was completely ignored by the Tuigan during the Horde War as they moved west toward Rashemen. In 1369 DR Faerûnian merchant interests from Neverwinter, Sembia and Waterdeep began setting up trade outposts in the city.
Rumours
There was a lot of gossip on the surface about what went on in the dwarven tunnels. Some thought that there were many more dwarves living under Almorel than were ever seen, others that the tunnels themselves were much more extensive than anyone thought, while still others worried that the dwarves had unearthed some ancient horrors unleashed in the war between Raumathar and Narfell and were at war with them. What those who scoffed at such claims didn't know is that there was some truth to this last rumour, insomuch as the dwarven tunnels came quite close to an ancient Raumathari complex stocked with mechanical constructs designed to kill demons.