Kuzvak
Kuzvak, also known as "The Lone City of Kuzvak" or "Kuzvak Thaz'dar," is a sprawling subterranean city located directly west of Aetheria in the northern reaches of Oldeshire. It is a key member of The Vaelthranni Compact, renowned for its advanced underground engineering and rich mineral resources. The city was constructed within a vast mountain, accessible via a monumental stone gate emblazoned with the Kuzvak banner: a radiant yellow sun on a light blue field, bordered by a thin dark blue trim.
Architecture and Layout
Upon entry, visitors are greeted by a grand gold-lined hallway with blue carpeting—a design motif that repeats throughout the city. This corridor leads into a massive stone chamber supported by immense stone-brick columns. Interconnecting staircases lead further into the depths, revealing multiple levels of residential, civic, and industrial infrastructure.
Main Level Features
- Royal Apartments and Throne Room: Serving as the political and ceremonial heart of Kuzvak.
- Furniture Store & Horticultural Supply Shop: Providing local wares to citizens and visitors.
- Enchanting Oculary: A mystical space for magical studies and enchantments.
- Main Vault: Housing the city’s stockpile of precious ores and gems mined from within the mountain.
Upper Levels
- Overlook Post: Above the main gate, offering a strategic viewpoint.
- Signal Fire: A concealed beacon system used for emergency communication with Compact cities.
Lower Levels
- Marketplace & Utility Zone: Includes a tool and weapons merchant, a reading library, a small experimental auto-farm, and the city’s primary water pump station.
- Grand Forge: A lava- and water-powered forge at the heart of Kuzvak’s industry.
- Kuzvak Station: A rail terminal on the Cerelia Line, linking the city to the wider Shire.
Deep Mining Sector
Accessible only via a custom rail cart system from the Grand Forge, the lowest levels are dedicated to Kuzvak’s vast mining operations. These areas are characterized by intersecting rail lines, ore chutes, and lava flows, forming the backbone of the city's economic output.
History
Kuzvak was established during the early formation of the Vaelthranni Compact and quickly became its industrial pillar. Its founders harnessed the natural cavern systems and resources of the mountain, transforming it into one of the most sophisticated mining cities in the Shire. Over centuries, Kuzvak developed close ties with Aetheria and Kaldaron, helping shape the Triumvirate that would later become the Compact.
Throughout periods of war and peace, Kuzvak has remained steadfast and largely impervious to surface-level threats. It played a key role in preserving Compact civilization during the Great Collapse, using its self-contained systems and sealed gates to weather the environmental upheaval.
Culture and Society
The citizens of Kuzvak are industrious and self-reliant, often viewed as stoic and practical by outsiders. Their society places high value on craftsmanship, discipline, and duty. Despite the lack of sunlight, Kuzvak is known for its unique underground horticulture and innovative technology, blending dwarven engineering traditions with arcane practices.
Affiliations
Kuzvak is one of the three original founding cities of the Vaelthranni Compact and contributes both military support and industrial resources to its cause. It maintains close logistical ties with Kaldaron and Aetheria and plays a vital role in supplying arms, ores, and magical components throughout the Shire.