Settlements and Sites of the Four City-States #287

Settlements and Sites of the Four City-States #287 

October 15th, 2023 

• Number: 287 

• Name:  Deep Dive on a Site of Interest: Tolfastun – Part 7 

• Location: Northwest Tuton Maug of Noldrune, southeast of Anum Taag 

• Population (approx.): 546 (Gnome Garages) 

• Brief: There are many clues to the what and when of Tolfastun but few as to why it was built on the outskirts of Anum Taag. Scholars, assisted by miners and spelunkers, theorize there was a source of essence, perhaps a ley line or magical spring or pool, in the depths. The first to map the citadel, once rediscovered after the fall of the First Ones, found at a depth equal to the height of the spires, a great spherical chamber of unknown but definitively magical purpose. Exploration, maintenance and enhancement of the tunnels and chambers below the surface is handled by the resident Dwarven miners and Gnomish engineers. The miners were typically interested in the geology, rock formations and potential sources of ore and gems. But the engineers liked to poke about the remnants of ancient machines found in the dark corners of abandoned storerooms and workshops. Rumor suggests that some Gnomes have left their home garages to disappear into the lower levels, drawn by some ancient calling that none have heard or let alone understand. 

• Elxi Boldrock, 73, female Gnome, is an engineer in the tunnels below Tolfastun. She is of average height and has a round face and long black hair. Her left arm was amputated when a tunnel collapsed on her. Elxi is strong and very smart. She wears leather armor, a chain shirt, and a pink hard hat. Her employees consider her 'one of the boys.' Her favorite weapon is a large warhammer. 

• Elxi's job is to maintain the current tunnels underneath Tolfastun. She also looks to add branches to the existing tunnels to help with the population growth of the Dwarves, Gnomes and other Kin of the underdark. The job can be hazardous, but Elxi enjoys the challenge. She hopes to be promoted to a supervisor position within the next month. 

• Elxi lives in one of the tunnels with her husband, Loxtor, 78, male Gnome. They have three children, Traji, 15, Elbys, 12, and Rondri, 9. Loxtor is on the local council of Gnomes but takes care of the children most days. The family stays mainly in the tunnels but ventures outside Tolfastun once a month to visit friends and enjoy the fresh air. Once a week, Elxi visits her two girlfriends, Trissa Bellowtop,71, Gnome, and Yola Sesiro, 70, Gnome. They look for people experiencing poverty and provide food for those who need it. 

• Geography: Gnomes typically prefer to live in communal family residences and workshops called garages. Most of the garages of Tolfastun can be found around the central chamber a level or two below the Dwarven Canton (location 10 see below). They work throughout the citadel wherever repairs and rework are required. But in the depths, there is one garage, unknown to all, living in rooms about the spherical chamber at the bottom of Tolfastun. These gnomes have discovered that this construction was built about a single point source of essence (like two-dimensional ley lines and three-dimensional pools) long since depleted. Devices about the inner surface of the chamber channeled the magic to the levels above (notably to mechanisms as the tops of the spires). They work in secret thinking there may still be power they can tap and use (though some fear, rightly so, that it may simply Corrupt them).