Uthodurn is a city north of the Ivory Lake and southwest of Kravaraad in the Flotket Alps of the Greying Wildlands. A rare haven for both Dwarves and Elves, Uthodurn has become a center for the highest levels of craftsmanship and blacksmithing. "Uthodurn" roughly translates from Dwarvish as "the new under salvation".[5]
The symbol of the city combines a mountain with a tree (the same that once appeared in the symbol of Molaesmyr) wrapping around it, representing both dwarves and elves.[6]
Description[]
Located about 300 to 400 feet up a mountainside, the entrance to the main city is marked by a perimeter fence and a dozen or so stone towers, four of them around the central structure.[7] There are small buildings, liveries, and stables. In the center is a large heavy gazebo-type roof structure over a 50 to 60-foot wide pit descending 100 to 150-feet deep into the mountain rock.[8] Numerous spiral staircases descend into the city proper, about 15-feet wide each.[9]
The staircases descend into a large semi-domed area about a hundred feet across. The air is much warmer than outside, and it smells like wet earth, burned wood, soot, and iron. Barracks (called the Glassblade Kaserne)[10] are built into both sides, with balcony pathways and storage for weapons.[11]
The stairs continue into a very wide opening that leads to a central 30 foot-wide road, the Auger Trail, which is roughly hewn with numerous pillars throughout that rise up to meet the ceiling to both maintain the weight and give it a grandiose, massively scaled grand hall feel. Passing through, it opens up into a massive 120-foot high by 1500-foot wide underground cavern, filled with buildings forming an underground neighborhood that continues to descend, curving like a gargantuan auger slowly spiraling into the earth. There are mining works off to the far right. To the left are other residential buildings in both dwarven and elven styles.[12]
Each of the Disks of the city further below contain immense pillars holding up the ceiling of the caverns, some of which have been built into with mostly elven-styled homes to utilize every available bit of space. The Disks are each bounded by huge heavy dark metal gates drawn up to the ceiling, which can be dropped in case of invasion.[13]
Points of interest[]
Volition Disk[]
The Volition Disk is the oldest and top level of Uthodurn which houses most of the citizens.[16] The buildings include stone-carved dwarven homes built into both the mountain wall and the massive load-bearing pillars holding up the ceiling,[17] and beautiful wood-carved elven domiciles on the higher parts of the wall. The area also holds subterranean gardens lit by embedded sunlight orbs.[18]
- The Broken Stool[19]: a tavern and inn run by Luda, an older dwarven woman
- Catlyn's Clothier[20]
- Deanna Leimert's home[21]
- Gruffside Livery[22]
- Jaquoby's workshop: Jaquoby Macyl tinkers and performs Aeormaton maintenance[23]
- The Topper Mines[24]
Deliberation Disk[]
Fan art of Uthodurn, by Katy Grierson.[art 4]
The Deliberation Disk, nicknamed the Liber Disk, is the bustling market center of the city, filled from floor to ceiling with homes and emporiums.[25] It tends to be more industrial and mercantile than the Volition Disk.[26]
- The Anvil of Smeltborne: forge and blacksmithy[27][28]
- The Candid Garden[29]
- D&O Toy Emporium: a toyshop, run by Drixlitch and Oltgar with its own franchises[30] (formerly Oltgar's Chest, run by Oltgar)[31]
- Light Above Sanctum: a modest temple to the Dawnfather[32]
- Moradin's Mantle: massive temple to The Allhammer[33]
- Padillia's Boutique of Ample Armaments[34] and Padillia's Boutique of Bountiful Provisions[35]
- Plexus Post: an odds-and-ends shop[36]
- Vellum Steeple Archive: on the boundary between the Liber and Grand Disks, a for-profit library[37] with a Teleportation Circle
- The Softer Stoneforge: a bakery that sells, among other things, black moss cupcakes[38][39]
- The Tumblecarve Residence: home of the Tumblecarve noble family, located in Demerant Circle.[40]
- The Tumbling Tankards: a dive bar with root mead and live music, run by Von Bragg.
Fan art of Uthodurn's Grand Disk, by Sally Grew.[art 5]
Grand Disk[]
The Grand Disk is the home of the wealthier segments of the population, and the location of the Luddenbrock mines. The Grandcast Citadel is also here, from which the laws of the town are administered and the King and Queen rule their people.[15]
- The Grandcast Citadel: The Citadel from the exterior looks like a frozen crystal tornado[41] or a massive stalactite spiraling into the ground, surrounded by staircases and pillars.[42]
- The Underrest: high-end inn for dignitaries.[43]
Society[]
Demographics[]
Uthodurn's citizens are mostly dwarves, with a large elven population and a sprinkling of other races. Dwarvish, Elvish, and Common are the most used languages in Uthodurn.[44]
The population in 835 PD is 26,240. More than half (56%) are dwarves and more than a third (36%) are elves. There is a small population of gnomes as well (4%).[4]
Religion[]
Most of the Uthodurnian temples are in the central and upper Discs, and include deities such as Pelor, Erathis, Avandra and, more recently, the Matron of Ravens;[45] additionally, stairs to the left of the main entrance to the city lead to a sacred garden for Melora atop the mountain.[46] Corellon and Moradin, being the creator deities of the elves and the dwarves, are particularly important for the city, with King Talviel being an old priest of the Arch Heart; despite this, Uthodurn usually tries to keep religion and politics separated.[47]
Politics and military[]
Symbol of the Diarchy of Uthodurn, by Claudio Pozas.[art 6]
The Diarchy[]
The city is ruled simultaneously by dual monarchs, a dwarven queen and an elven king who each are advised by their own small council who share the responsibility of governing the city.[48] Each community looks primarily to its own monarch for leadership and guidance, but the two have worked together remarkably well for centuries.
The High Magisters assist the dual monarchs in legal matters.[49]
Nobility[]
The city of Uthodurn has its own nobility, probably combining the original local dwarven nobles and the surviving elven nobles from Molaesmyr. Many of them live in the Grand Disk.[50]
Some of the noble houses make investments in local businesses, putting them in their debt, or conversely, accept loans from them.[51]
Glassblades[]
Glassblades are the military and ranger force that guard, hunt and watch over the perimeter of Uthodurn. They gained the name when Uthodurn was founded.[52] They dress in green.[53]
Notable people[]
| Name | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Chetney Pock O'Pea | PC | A gnomish master craftsman toymaker; abroad in Marquet in 843 PD.[54] |
| Deanna Leimert | PC | A gnomish textile barterer. |
| F.R.I.D.A. | PC | An Aeormaton. |
| Reani | PC | An aasimar with a complicated past.[55] |
| Imathan Talviel | NPC | Elven king of Uthodurn. |
| Simone Fruunast | NPC | Dwarven queen of Uthodurn. |
| Professor Gulrim Shalebrow | NPC | A dwarven explorer and one of the founders of Syrinlya.[56] |
| Deilin | NPC | The elven apprentice of Umagorn.[57] |
| Ava Endlewood | NPC | An elven woman, owner and proprietor of the Plexus Post.[58] |
| Fen | NPC | Member of the Glassblades and ex-lover of Reani. |
| Zadro Ichlen | NPC | The owner of Knot Forgotten, a toy store in the Heartmoor Hamlet and a former partner of Oltgar. |
| Jaquoby Macyl | NPC | A tinkerer familiar with aeormaton technology. |
| Oltgar Dradegon | NPC | A toymaker and Chetney's former employer.[59] |
| Drixlitch Ovana | NPC | A toymaker and Oltgar's corrupt partner. |
| Dulgrim Smeltborne | NPC | Ancient dwarven master forger and blacksmith, he created Dwueth'var and was at least 400 years old at the time of his death in approximately 832 PD.[60] |
| Umagorn Smeltborne | NPC | Son of Dulgrim, owner and proprietor of the Anvil of Smeltborne.[61] |
| Demid Sunlash | NPC | Gnomish Archivist of the Cobalt Soul temporarily researched Exandria's two moons at the Vellum Steeple Archive. He left to pursue his studies elsewhere.[62] |
| Tumblecarve family | NPC | A noble family with unsavory ties. Their home is on the Deliberation Disk.[63] |
| Ressia Uvesic | NPC | Scribewarden of the Vellum Steeple Archive. |
| Sir Ludin | NPC | The royal page of the dual monarchs. |
| Desavon Kamash | NPC | Dwarven nobleman with a very adorned beard. |
| Chief Auditor Keenash Serevoldin | NPC | Elven explorer aligned with the Woodset Auditors, and an expert in the Savalirwood. |
| Catlyn Delafin | NPC | Half-elven dressmaker with arcane talents. She worked on F.R.I.D.A.'s coat in the past. |
History[]
Fan art of Uthodurn, by Camilla Kipp.[art 7]
Uthodurn was founded by dwarves in the wake of the Calamity, shortly after 35 PD.[1][64] Long afterwards, in 585 PD,[65] a great tragedy struck the elven city of Molaesmyr, driving many of the elves to flee their home in the Savalirwood. The refugees found sanctuary with the dwarves of Uthodurn and together they have since created a dual society known as the Diarchy of Uthodurn.[66]
During the War of Ash and Light Uthodurn remained neutral, isolating from the rest of the continent.[67]
During the apogee solstice of 843 PD the city had problems dealing with any form of communication or transportation magic, their arcane street lights were failing, and enchantments they thought to be permanent started failing or were dispelled.[68] This caused the accidental release of several criminals,[69] as well as the reanimation of Umudara, one of the Great Beasts of Veluthil, who was thought to be just an statue until his petrification suddenly ended, leaving the beast very confused and disoriented,[70] and causing the evacuation of the Grand Disk until a group of the adventurers safely released Umudara on the surface to find its way home.
Trivia[]
Fan art of the commander of the guards, by Kiera James.[art 8]
- In Uthodurn there are royal guards that focus on the protection of the dual monarchs, but it is unknown if they are part of the glassblades or a different group entirely.
- One of the city's trademark sweets are called withers, and are a reference to Werther's Original, a brand of caramel candy in the real world.[71]
- The orcs of the Odakar clan of Boroftkrah have a good relationship with Uthodurn, and are willing to help those who are allies of the city.[72]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 As of 835 PD, founded "nearly eight hundred years ago." See Explorer's Guide to Wildemount, p. 119.
- ↑ As of 836 PD, between 600 and 800 years ago. Shortly after the Calamity. See "Uthodurn" (2x73) at 2:57:42.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 See Explorer's Guide to Wildemount, p. 120.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 See Explorer's Guide to Wildemount, p. 119.
- ↑ See "Uthodurn" (2x73) at 3:02:33.
- ↑ See "Ripples" (3x53) at 3:43:51.
- ↑ See "Uthodurn" (2x73) at 2:50:08.
- ↑ See "Uthodurn" (2x73) at 3:01:00.
- ↑ See "Uthodurn" (2x73) at 3:02:04.
- ↑ See "Manifold Morals" (2x74) at 2:51:02.
- ↑ See "Uthodurn" (2x73) from 3:03:12 through 3:06:08.
- ↑ See "Uthodurn" (2x73) from 3:03:12 through 3:06:08.
- ↑ See "Uthodurn" (2x73) at 3:34:28.
- ↑ See "Ripples" (3x53) at 0:46:02.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 See Explorer's Guide to Wildemount, p. 121.
- ↑ See "Uthodurn" (2x73) at 3:20:11.
- ↑ See "Ripples" (3x53) at 0:45:21.
- ↑ See "Ripples" (3x53) at 0:47:21.
- ↑ See "Uthodurn" (2x73) at 3:11:42.
- ↑ See "Hope Within History" (3x55) at 1:12:43.
- ↑ See "Ripples" (3x53) at 0:48:19.
- ↑ See "Treacherous Toys" (3x54) at 4:13:31.
- ↑ See "Hope Within History" (3x55) at 1:13:45.
- ↑ See "Ripples" (3x53) at 0:54:19.
- ↑ See "Uthodurn" (2x73) at 3:35:25.
- ↑ See "Ripples" (3x53) at 1:02:52.
- ↑ See "Uthodurn" (2x73) at 3:36:40.
- ↑ See "Uthodurn" (2x73) at 3:42:51.
- ↑ See "Ripples" (3x53) at 1:08:50.
- ↑ See "Treacherous Toys" (3x54) at 1:14:09.
- ↑ See "Ripples" (3x53) at 1:05:28.
- ↑ See "Hope Within History" (3x55) at 2:22:49.
- ↑ See "Uthodurn" (2x73) at 3:36:22.
- ↑ See "Ripples" (3x53) at 1:00:57.
- ↑ See "Ripples" (3x53) at 1:08:50.
- ↑ See "Uthodurn" (2x73) at 3:54:13.
- ↑ See "Uthodurn" (2x73) at 3:53:45.
- ↑ See "Uthodurn" (2x73) at 3:37:44.
- ↑ See Exquisite Exandria: The Official Cookbook of Critical Role, p. 194. This text calls it the "Softer Stoneforge", consistent with the way Matt and Laura spoke the name but not with the transcripts.
- ↑ See "Manifold Morals" (2x74) at 1:01:59.
- ↑ See "Uthodurn" (2x73) at 3:20:11.
- ↑ See "Ripples" (3x53) at 2:38:26.
- ↑ See "Family Shatters" (2x96) at 4:02:36.
- ↑ See "Uthodurn" (2x73) at 3:17:40.
- ↑ See "Hope Within History" (3x55) at 0:59:33.
- ↑ See "Hope Within History" (3x55) at 3:05:10.
- ↑ See "Hope Within History" (3x55) at 1:08:17.
- ↑ See Explorer's Guide to Wildemount, p. 119-120.
- ↑ See "Hope Within History" (3x55) at 0:49:06.
- ↑ See "Ripples" (3x53) at 1:53:30.
- ↑ See "Treacherous Toys" (3x54) at 3:48:43.
- ↑ See "Uthodurn" (2x73) at 2:57:25.
- ↑ See "Ripples" (3x53) at 0:18:11.
- ↑ See "A Woodworker's Quandary" (3x08) at 33:04.
- ↑ See "Manifold Morals" (2x74) at 0:14:15.
- ↑ See Explorer's Guide to Wildemount, pp. 48–129.
- ↑ See "Uthodurn" (2x73) at 3:51:43.
- ↑ See "Manifold Morals" (2x74) at 0:45:30.
- ↑ See "A Woodworker's Quandary" (3x08) at 1:42:59.
- ↑ See "Uthodurn" (2x73) at 3:47:50.
- ↑ See "Uthodurn" (2x73) at 3:47:00.
- ↑ See "Family Shatters" (2x96) from 3:50:22 through 3:52:12.
- ↑ See "Manifold Morals" (2x74) at 1:01:59.
- ↑ As of 836 PD, between 600 and 800 years ago. Shortly after the Calamity. See "Uthodurn" (2x73) at 2:57:42.
- ↑ See Explorer's Guide to Wildemount, p. 18. Despite the specific year of 585 PD given on p. 18, also see p. 115, which says "over" 250 years ago, and p. 119, which says Uthodurn welcomed elven refugees from the destroyed Molaesmyr "nearly three centuries ago", which technically could be 250 or 251 years (in relation to 835 and 836 PD).
- ↑ See "Uthodurn" (2x73) at 2:57:56.
- ↑ See Explorer's Guide to Wildemount, p. 49.
- ↑ See "Ripples" (3x53) at 1:24:28.
- ↑ See "Ripples" (3x53) at 1:34:14.
- ↑ See "Ripples" (3x53) at 3:00:38.
- ↑ See "Treacherous Toys" (3x54) at 1:37:12.
- ↑ See "Hope Within History" (3x55) at 1:01:57.
Art:
- ↑ Fan art of the upper Auger Trail in Uthodurn, by Clara (source). Used with permission.
- ↑ Fan art of the crest of Uthodurn, by Micaerys. Work contributed to the Critical Role Wiki by the artist.
- ↑ Official art of Uthodurn's Volition Disk, by Clara (source). Used with permission.
- ↑ Fan art of Uthodurn, by Katy Grierson (source). Used with permission.
- ↑ Fan art of Uthodurn's Grand Disk, by Sally Grew (source). Used with permission.
- ↑ Symbol of the Diarchy of Uthodurn, by Claudio Pozas (source). Used with permission.
- ↑ Fan art of Uthodurn, by Camilla Kipp (source). Used with permission.
- ↑ Fan art of the commander of the guards, by Kiera James (source). Used with permission.
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