Dirge

Province: Zoluren

Currency: Kronar

Population: 1,500

Established: Imperial times, sometime prior to 500 BL

Alternate Names: Darkstone; Darkstone Town

Dominant Race: None

Dominant Guild: None

Government: Mayor Hunlynd Turmar

Guild Halls: None

Patron Deity: Botolf

Warnings: Lesser skeletons and corpse grubs ocassionaly roam near town square

Overview

Darkstone, now known as Dirge, was one of the most important cities of the Seven Starred Empire and had a trade road going directly to Throne City. Today, it is known as Dirge, following the explosion of the Greater Fist in 277 AV, during which Darkstone and the Alshaerd estates were destroyed.

Description from HELP CITIES: Dirge, or as it was once known, Darkstone Town, is now in a sad state of ruin and lawlessness due to volcanic activity in the not-too-distant past that wiped out direct caravan access to the town as well as most of its farmlands, productivity and population. Now mainly a hiding place for criminals, thieves and other ne'er-do-wells, few decent people ever make the arduous journey there.

Play.net Description: Living in the shadow of active volcano Greater Fist, Dirge is a bleak grey city of stern, hardened, determined people. Yet underneath the ash and rubble lies a once-charming village waiting to be discovered.

Government, Politics, and Culture

Part of the lands held by the Magen family of Zoluren nobility, Dirge is a town that embraces its many contradictions as well as its status as part of the borderland between Zoluren and Therengia as well as that between the holdings of the Magen and the Turmar. Citizens of other parts of Zoluren and travelers from abroad often comment on the town's seeming disrepair and the overall harsh lifestyle lived by its inhabitants, frequently blaming the government for not intervening directly. However, the residents of Dirge will loudly state to anyone who bothers to talk to them instead of just about them that they are just fine, thank you. The town's culture has evolved to actively seek out and embrace hardship as a way of making itself stronger and more prepared to deal with whatever may come its way, and the citizens of Dirge seem to hold this as a point of pride. So much so, in fact, that they are at times somewhat dismissive of people who hail from elsewhere as being far too soft to truly understand the world.

During part of the early reign of Prince Vorclaf, Dirge was in part run by the Dirge Council, which was formally led by Mordiazi Neus and other Adventurers. Inquisitor Anamir was Prince Vorclaf's liasion to the Dirge Council during this time. The organization has since dissolved, and more traditional governmental oversight returned to the town. Outside of this brief anomaly, Dirge has been (and is currently) run by a mayor, who is appointed by the Magen family. The current mayor of Dirge is Hunlynd Turmar, a man with blood ties to both the Magen and their close neighbors, the Turmar.

When asked about the oft reported criminal element attracted to Dirge, Mayor Hunlynd will laugh and say that such rumors are exaggerated and mostly a product of outsiders misunderstanding and misinterpreting aspects of normal, law-abiding Dirge life.

History

• 600 BL -- The reign of Qoemeth begins. When 25, Empress Qoemeth asked the Compact to open a tomb to the west of Darkstone which the War Mages couldn't get into. They did it and recovered some artifacts, the records of which have been lost.
• 418 BL -- The Gorbesh occupy the Imperial City of Darkstone
• 415 BL -- Emperor Vithwok of Kermoria leads an assault to retake Darkstone; the Gorbesh are victorious
• 411 BL -- Gnomic prophets decree that the Bloodworm Comet will soon fill the skies again
• 411 BL -- Admiral Xireshi is ordered to return to Albaria will all haste, withdrawing from Darkstone
• 239 BL -- Darkstone falls to Teiro during the Resistance War
• 236 BL -- Darkstone is taken by Lanival during the Resistance War.

• In 106 AV Zoluren and Therengia fall into dipute over the borders of their provinces. This becomes known as the Faldesu Conflict and fighting erupts near Sicle Grove. A summit is held in Darkstone which results in a successful treaty.

• 277 AV -- The Greater Fist erupts and destroys Darkstone and the Alshaerd Estates.

• 303 AV -- Chelaemador Polibara, author of Gamgweth Grammar was born in Dirge

Landmarks

• Temple of the Volcano

Unique shops and services

• Divorce Blades can be obtained from the acolyte in the tent inside the town's Temple of the Volcano.
• Iron Mountain Weapons - Best storebought light-edged weapon for backstabbing, the stout short sword.
• Prayer Beads available near Temple

Shops

• Ahnglor's General Store
• Darkstone Inn
• Garn the Grocer
• Iron Mountain Weapons
• Scorched Earth - home fireplaces and stoves

Bars, inns, and taverns

• Darkstone Inn

Important activities

Favors

Inside the gate of souls offers a Ushnish altar.

Task givers

Task Giver	Location	Task Types
None currently

Creatures

• Creatures in and around Dirge
• Creatures in and around the Gate of Souls

Maps

• Graphical Layout Of Zoluren
• Graphical Layout of Dirge
• Dirge and Surrounds
• Map of Darkstone and the Northern Trade Route by The Conciliar Government of Darkstone

Scripts

• Climb Crossing Walls
• Click here for other possible scripts

Miscellaneous

Dirge is believed to be the favored city of Botolf, who frequently visits.