Located at the base of the Burkhdyn Gazar mountains just north of the Strait of Shandar on Bhagya Bay, Khuldani Purda is the most important trading outpost for the people of the high mountain cultures. Made up of a motley assortment of Iswari, humans, dwarves, orcs, and goliaths, it serves as the sole major port for the mountain folk.
The population of Khuldani Purda is highly seasonable: bustling during the winter, it empties out in the summer months as groups head out to hunt, mine, and gather resources before bunkering down again in the fall. Of the nomadic families, children too young to join the hunting parties remain behind with the elderly and a few select adults staying with them. Some of the Purdans have become urbanized, though, living in the city year-round and running various shops and businesses.
The coastline of Bhagya Bay is rocky, with a small pocket beach serving as the loading area for the port. The bay itself is well-guarded from storms by shoals to the west and a breakwater of boulders to the east, but the land approach is shallow and so longships and dinghys are necessary to load and unload visiting ships.
The Khuldani Council governs the city, with a sanrak — or steward — chosen by the council to govern the city in the chiefs’ absence. The sanrak serves at the council’s pleasure and is generally a respected elder who’s no longer capable of going out on hunting trips.
The city exports wool and woven goods, furs and fur clothing, gems, bronze cast goods, jewelry (especially gem work), and cheeses, among many other things. Trade with Ma-Abi is most common, though some brave ships risk trying to run directly up the strait and avoid Ma-Abi’s lookouts.
The Purdan Foundry is a bronze casting foundry famous for its ability to handle extremely large works. The bells of the mountain folk are all cast at the Purdan Foundry, and it’s served as the production area for statuary displayed throughout the south, gongs, and other large pieces.
The lapidaries of the city are famous for their skill at faceting. Their dwarven smiths are definitely talented, but it is their gemcutters that are second to none.
As a mixed people, the culture is quite diverse. The mountain culture’s pastimes dominate. An enclosed multipurpose amphitheatre/forum sits at the northern edge of the city, for presentations of dancing, wrestling, music, and such as well as for city meetings.
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