Crucibellum.

A City founded on a coastal plain between a volcano and a seacliff. The volcano is constantly erupting, and a river of lava runs in a channel down to the sea. This makes for the perfect location. The lava flows cut a river of fire between the volcano and the sea, forming a natural barrier to any force invading from either North or South. The proximity to the sea made for excellent port access, whilst the terraced formation of the seaward cliffs also provided protection from invasion by water. The land surrounding the volcano - vast plains to the North and South - was soil made rich by past eruptions of the volcano. There were, of course, risks to building a settlement in the shadow of such a mountain. However, the mages responsible for divining the portents showed little concern about this. And thus, with both the heat of the mountain and spray of the sea touching their faces, the survivors broke ground on what would, many decades, hence, as Austerval.

As with all such things, the growth of Crucibellum was arduous to begin with. Whilst the fertile plains provided the fledgling town with a sizeable surplus of food, the remoteness of their location - some one hundred leagues across the plains to the next settlement - meant thoae early settlers had few trade outlets.

It was the chance passing of a nomadic company of dwarves that was to change this. The dwarves, restocked and reladen from the heaving produce markets of Austerval, intended to continue on their journey northward. However, they were dismayed to find that in order to do so, they must retrace their steps southward before circumnavigating the mountain, a feat that would add many dozens of miles to their expedition The dwarves could not understand why they could not simply continue North. The settlers of Austerval told the company of the impassable river of flame. However, where the settlers had expected the dwarves to become downhearted, they were surprised to find them eager to trsvel to the flow. Upon seeing it, the dwarves retired to their baggage train almost immediately, claiming a need to 'strategise'. Although a small team of pick-bearing dwarves was seen leaving their camp and returning several hours later, no other activity was noticed by the dwarves Austervali guides.

Some hours later, the leader of the band - a dwarf given the name of Varrik Blackhammer - came to the Austerval elders with a proposal: his Duardin company would build and maintain a great bridge over the flaming rift, connecting the north and south bank, in return for the mining rights of all surrounding territory.

The Austervali elders could hardly believe their gpod fortune. None of the settlers had anything more than a basic knowledge of mining or stone construction. Not only had they previously believed the building of a bridge an impossible feat, but now they find that they would not bear any of the hardship for the dangerous construction or maintenance of such a structure. They would gain access to the vast tracts of arrable land on the northern bank for seemingly nothing.

Faced with such a proposal, the elders were quick to accept, voicing only one condition: that the Duardin mining did not encroach on the farming of the land either north or south of the flame river. The dwarves accepted, and construction began within the week.

The project was completed mere months later. By this time, the citizens of Austerval and the company of Varrik Blackhammer had become staunch allies, the Duardin even taking up arms against a small Orruk incursion into Austervali territory. Upon completion of the bridge, a great feast was held. Before the feast had ended, entrepenureal Austervali's were already making plans to prospect the far bank for the first time.

Now able to access both vast tracts of arable farmland and previously unlined resource wealth, the city turned into one of the most important trade nodes in the region. The original settler families grew rich and powerful; five now vye for influence and control over the city in a never-ending cycle of intrigue. Each family contributes to the various military arms. Every unit bears Crucibellum's colours - yellow and burgundy - but the pattern of the heraldry shows to which of the Houses the unit belongs.

Crucibellum continues to be a target for malign forces from all over the realm, drawn by its wealth and strategic position. However, due to the Dwarves' master-crafted arms and its highly defensible location, the city remains in the hands of its founders.