Beardhiem

The Hearth of the North, The Mountain-That-Breathes, The Unbroken Seal

Population: ~150,000 (Swells to 200,000 during the Iron Winter). Location: Carved into and beneath Mount Orod-Nir (The Silver-Peak), the tallest mountain in the Storm-Wall range.

Visual Overview From the outside, the city appears as a defiant challenge to nature. The entrance is not a gate, but a Canyon-Fortress—a massive, artificial gorge cut into the granite, flanked by two 500-foot statues of the First Dwarven Lords holding up the mountain. Above the stone gates, piercing the cloud layer, stands the Argent-Spire—a glittering needle of white stone and glass (Elven architecture) that serves as a lighthouse for dragon riders and a watchtower against the storm.

City Layout: The Three Strata

Mithral-Hold is built vertically, using the mountain's geothermal heat to create a habitable micro-climate.

1. The Sun-Terrace (The Surface Ward)

• Description: A series of massive, fortified stone terraces cut into the mountainside, shielded by high walls and heated by steam-vents to prevent ice buildup.

• Inhabitants: Mostly Humans, Halflings, and Elven merchants during the Summer/Autumn.

• Key Location: The Argent-Spire: The seat of the Elven Ambassadors and the Metallic Dragon Wardens. It features the "High-Perch," a heated landing platform for Gold and Silver dragons.

• Key Location: The Summer Market: A vast open-air bazaar that operates during the "Weeping Summer," where the harvest from the valleys is traded for Dwarven steel.

2. The Deep-Halls (The Subterranean Ward)

• Description: The true heart of the city. A sprawling, cavernous metropolis lit by bioluminescent moss and the glow of magma rivers channeled through crystal conduits. It is perpetually warm, smelling of ozone, roast meat, and iron.

• Inhabitants: Dwarves and Gnomes year-round; the entire population during Winter.

• Key Location: The Great-Hearth: A central cavern large enough to hold an army. In the center is the Eternal Fire, a magma-fountain that powers the city's central heating. This is where the "Winter Feasts" are held.

• Key Location: The Clan-Seats: Massive stone estates carved into the cavern walls, belonging to the ruling Dwarven clans (Mithrilbeard, Ironfist, etc.).

3. The Root-Foundry (The Industrial Ward)

• Description: Located deep in the mountain's roots, near the magma chamber.

• Function: This is where the Mithral is refined and the Hydro-Mechanical engines are built. The heat here is intense.

• The Steam-Works: A Gnomish district of pipes, gears, and pressure valves that manages the city's air and water circulation.

Key Landmarks & Mechanics

The Duke’s Seat: The Throne of the Anvil Located in the Deep-Halls, the throne is not a chair but a massive, flat-topped anvil made of pure Mithral. Duke Thrain Mithrilbeard V holds court here standing up, hammer in hand, symbolizing that a ruler's work is never finished.

The Dragon-Gate (The Sky Entry) A massive circular opening near the mountain's peak, strictly guarded by Silver Dragon Wardens. It allows dragons to fly directly into the upper caverns of the Deep-Halls without squeezing through the humanoid gates.

The Winter-Lock When the "Iron Winter" begins, the massive adamantine Surface Gates are sealed. For four months, the city is hermetically sealed against the blizzard.

• The Festival of the Lock: The day the gates close is a massive celebration. It marks the shift from "Work" (Summer/Autumn) to "Endurance" (Winter), where society focuses on art, crafting, storytelling, and eating the stored harvest.