Kilkorin: The City
Built upon ancient tiefling ruins, the city-state of Kilkorin dominates the Tarrec peninsula, straddling the great river Rukh where it flows into Tarrec Bay. It’s two cities, in fact—the “old city” of Korin and the newer section referred to as the Kil (“kil” is an old term for “mountainside” in the halfling language).
The Inciting Incident
Recently, relic divers found a vein of floatstone in Tarrec Bay. This triggered a "gold rush" with various groups of working on ways to access and extract the valuable mineral.
It also brought the elder races' full interest.
Nearby dwarvish, elvish, and tiefling nations formed a tripartite coalition to "liberate" the "ancient tiefling home" from the human and halfling "invaders" who dwell in Kilkorin currently.
Now
Kilkorin wasn’t expecting an invasion, so a relatively small percentage of the population fled when the coalition pounced. Most of the populace that remains does its best to get on with daily life. Even so, plenty of groups and individuals are in play to stir things up.
Ostensibly, the Elder Coalition’s approach in Kilkorin is “don’t start none, won’t be none.”
In other words, residents who don’t resist are generally left to continue their lives as normal. That said, certain districts—notably those under elvish control—have been subject to increasingly strict control. The dwarves are less strict, but they’re also less consistent and punishments for any infractions can be harsh.
Occupied Districts
Balvannoc [Kjerholt (dwarves)]
the Divine [Sukarot (tiefling, with Kjerholt dwarves)]
Dockside [Tvordal (dwarves)]
Eastgarden [Tvordal (dwarves)]
Gearworks [Edoran (elves)]
the High [Sukarot (tiefling, with Kjerholt dwarves)]
Old Korin [Sukarot (tiefling, with Kjerholt dwarves)]
Stonefeld [Edoran (elves)]
Not Yet Occupied/Resisting Actively
the Bend
Low End
Phoenix Spire
Kilkorin: Areas of Interest
Balvannoc
Built into the steep sides of the Balvan foothills, this Kil district is home to those notables who aren’t quite elite enough to live in the High.
Bazaar
Major bulk trading occurs here, with smaller sellers scattered throughout (there are also shops across the city that sell finished goods, specialty items, and the like). The Bazaar is located just outside the city proper on the southwest side.
Bend, the
One of the oldest districts in Korin. Originally focused on fishing, now mainly a depressed residential area where lots of illegal activities occur.
Cecil's Repairs: Fishing repair shop (nets, tackle, etc); run by Cecil.
Joh's: Vegetable stand; run by Joh.
Oktan's Hole: Neighborhood pub in the west end of the Bend; run by Oktan.
Divine, the
This district in the heart of old Korin is the center of theology within the city. It’s most known for Divine Plaza, in which are situated temples to the greater pantheon.
Divine Plaza: Temples to the greater pantheon.
Gelert Museum: Home to the most notable pieces of human and halfling art from across two continents.
Eastgarden
This district gets its name from the many gardens and parks scattered throughout its confines.
Dockside
The vast majority of all water-borne trade comes through this district, which is found on the Rukh’s south shore where it empties into Tarrec Bay.
Gearworks
A relatively new Kilkorin district (which is to say, established around the same time that the city’s elites staked a claim on the Kil) where artificers and engineers have established a thriving and highly competitive community.
Durendal Ironworks: Factory recently undergoing refitting by occupying Edoran forces to refine floatstone.
High, the
The Kil district where the elite of the elite may be found relaxing in the luxe confines of their high-walled estates.
Botha Estate: Home to advocate Malbert Botha.
High University: Premiere institution of learning for the wealthy and influential.
Krembo-Simos Estate: Home to Lady Fabrisse Krembo-Simos and Lord Gabin Simos.
Low End, the
The lowest point in the city, occupying a sprawling depression that extends from below the city center south to the outer walls. It’s also called the Gloom, for it never seems to get sufficient light no matter how bright the sun shines above. Its central location makes the Low End a convenient home to those whose dealings take them routinely to various parts of Kilkorin—artisans, laborers, and tradespeople—as well as those with less savory skills such as bonebreakers, bookies, fences, and fixers.
Claes Bakery: Low End local bakery, run by Marach and Helena Claes.
Gravins Printworks: Low End local custom printer and bookbinder, run by Arama Gravins.
Old Korin
This is the first area humans and halflings settled when they first came to the region. The old Assembly Building is located here, facing Korin Plaza. Nobles and those with wealth dominated the district for many generations, but most have since moved across the river to more luxe accommodations in the Kil. Now, Old Korin is home to mid-tier wealth and influence—merchants and lesser nobility.
The Annex: Local pub and common watering hole for House of Memory employees. Known for its wine—in that it's terrible. Order the ale (worth the slightly higher cost of 5cp/mug).
House of Memory: Self-contained campus/monastery; leading repository of information on the old world.
Phoenix Spire
This district grew around the lone landmark visible for centuries after the tiefling city vanished from memory. The stone spire is impossibly slender and is of indeterminate height—all efforts to measure, scale, or otherwise quantify the spire’s parameters never provide the same results twice. A phoenix does appear to nest at the top, though months and sometimes years pass between sightings.
The Sapphire Hawk: Favorite pub of the Fifty Phoenixes. Locals call it the Blue Duck since that's more what the sign looks like.
Stonefeld
Located beyond the city’s south walls, this district grew out of a scattered collection of villages and farming communities. The area retains its focus on agriculture and related industries.
Ole's Pub: Local watering hole not far from the South gate and the bazaar.
Beyond Kilkorin: Areas of Interest
Altarrec Strait
The saltwater passage in the Tarrec Sea that separates Kilkorin from the human kingdom of Llangaren.
Aykhun Divide
A deep and winding canyon northwest of Kilkorin. Home to all manner of strangeness, it cuts off much of the Tarrec peninsula from the rest of the continent.
Balvan Mountains
A range of craggy hills and peaks rising from the north shore of the Rukh and march northward along the shore of the Tarrec Sea. The districts of the Kil are built upon the Balvans' lower flanks.
Braemarsh
The vast swath of bogs and marshes extends from the south shore of Tarrec Bay down along the coast to Edoran.
Edoran
The elvish kingdom south of Kilkorin; member of the tripartite Elder Coalition dedicated to "liberating the ancient tiefling lands."
Kjerholt
A dwarvish realm in the Balvan Mountains north of Kilkorin; dictatorship under the rule of the despotic Queen Hestre. Member of the tripartite Elder Coalition dedicated to "liberating the ancient tiefling lands."
Llangaren
Human-dominated kingdom across the Altarrec Strait. It maintains generally friendly relations with Kilkorin.
Plains of Rensa
A vast savannah that sprawls for leagues to the west of Kilkorin. Home to many dire beasts and semi-nomadic tribes.
Rukh, the
The mighty river that flows across most of the continent before emptying into Tarrec Bay. It's long been an essential conduit for trade and travel for all sentient species—even the elder races, despite the esoteric threat that they claim the ruins under Kilkorin pose.
Shore Road
The main route from Kilkorin down the coast south and one of the only safe routes through the Braemarsh.
Sukarot
Tiefling kingdom beyond the Aykhun Divide, to the northwest of Kilkorin; instigator of the tripartite Elder Coalition dedicated to "liberating the ancient tiefling lands."
Tarrec Bay
The body of water on the eastern side of Kilkorin that links the Rukh to the Tarrec Sea.
Tvordal
A dwarvish realm beyond the Plains of Rensa, west of Kilkorin; member of the tripartite Elder Coalition dedicated to "liberating the ancient tiefling lands."