View source for Cities and towns of Orrakar

The canyons and mesas of [[Orrakar]] are home to two distinct peoples: the [[Drahari]], who dwell in the sheer cliffs and scavenge the canyon floor, and the [[Kutharen]], who rule the high mesas, cultivating windborne farms and insect colonies. Their settlements reflect their respective ways of life, built to endure the slow but relentless erosion that defines Orrakar.
|Drahari Settlements=
=== [[Kazvarak]] ("The Vault of the Wind") ===
'''Location:''' *Canyon A (Western arm of the N), built into the eastern cliff walls of the [[Scarspire Range]].*

'''Description:'''
* A sprawling [[cliffside pueblo]], with [[rope bridges]] and [[pulleys]] connecting homes suspended within the rock.
* Features vast '''wind tunnels''' that amplify sound, allowing for [[long-distance communication]] through '''stone-drumming''' and echoes.

'''Role:'''
* The largest [[trading hub]] for the Drahari, specializing in salvaged materials and wind-carved relics.
* Home to the '''Echo Keepers''', historians who record events through [[vibrational patterns]] etched into stone.
* Serves as a [[watchpoint]] for rockslides and intrusions from the Scarspire Range.

=== [[Vurthan Shaft]] ("The Crumbling Market") ===
'''Location:''' *Canyon B (Eastern arm of the N), deep within the canyon floor near the southern end of the great mesa.*

'''Description:'''
* A shifting [[network of market tunnels]] carved into the canyon walls, constantly collapsing and being rebuilt.
* The market’s entrances are secret, ensuring that [[outsiders]] never know its exact location.

'''Role:'''
* A neutral ground where the [[Drahari]] trade with the [[Kutharen]] and outside merchants.
* Specializes in '''reclaimed artifacts''', '''canyon-forged tools''', and '''rare minerals''' from eroded stone.
* Known for its '''"Whispered Markets,"''' where negotiations are conducted entirely through silent gestures and rhythmic tapping.

=== [[Korrhavas]] ("The Unfinished City") ===
'''Location:''' *Canyon C (L-shaped northern canyon), perched on a crumbling sheer drop near the landbridge mesa.*

'''Description:'''
* A city that is '''always collapsing, always being rebuilt''', with entire districts abandoned as erosion takes its toll.
* Houses are carved into the cliff face, connected by [[rope scaffolds]] and [[winding switchback trails]].

'''Role:'''
* A sanctuary for [[scavengers]] and [[artifact seekers]], who believe the canyon depths hold ancient knowledge.
* A hub for '''Drahari artisans''', crafting wind-hardened [[leather armor]], [[stone jewelry]], and [[sculpted tools]].
* Some believe that an [[ancient buried city]] lies beneath Korrhavas, but those who dig too deep often vanish.

|Kutharen Settlements=
=== [[Thravan]] ("The Woven Sky") ===
'''Location:''' *The massive mesa between Canyon A & Canyon B.*

'''Description:'''
* A vast [[hanging city]] suspended between [[mesa spires]], with '''woven bridges''' and '''netted walkways''' connecting structures high above the canyon rim.
* Features '''wind-lattice towers''', used to redirect airflow for pollination and climate control.

'''Role:'''
* The [[cultural and political heart]] of the Kutharen, home to [[elders, air-farmers, and shamans]].
* The primary [[agricultural hub]], producing '''honeyed nectar, silk fibers, and canyon fruit'''.
* A neutral ground for [[trade]] between the [[Kutharen]] and [[Drahari]], where strict rules of peace are enforced.

=== [[Vash’tul]] ("The Sky’s Maw") ===
'''Location:''' *A narrow mesa ridgeline between Canyon B & Canyon C.*

'''Description:'''
* A precarious settlement built atop '''a jagged, wind-battered ridgeline''', accessible only to the most skilled climbers and gliders.
* Features '''"whisper gardens,"''' where wind currents are manipulated to produce harmonic tones, used for storytelling and spiritual meditation.

'''Role:'''
* The last [[outpost]] before the landbridge leading east, acting as a [[watchpoint]] over incoming trade routes.
* Produces [[high-altitude medicinal plants]] and rare pollens.
* A center for [[Kutharen windlore]], where shamans interpret the '''song of the air'''.

=== [[Korvosk]] ("The Broken Perch") ===
'''Location:''' *A solitary mesa in the northern L-Canyon (Canyon C).*

'''Description:'''
* A half-abandoned settlement, where one side of the mesa has already collapsed into the canyon below.
* Houses massive '''wind traps''' that collect [[insects, seeds, and drifting debris]].

'''Role:'''
* A haven for [[exiles, wandering traders, and Kutharen who reject tradition]].
* Produces a rare '''fermented honey-wine''', known for its mild hallucinogenic properties.
* A site of pilgrimage for '''spirit-dreamers''', who believe the winds here carry visions from [[Varethor]] himself.

|See Also=
* [[Orrakar]]
* [[Drahari]]
* [[Kutharen]]
* [[Varethor]]
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