Korbortun

Category	Cities
Continent	Brucrumus
Region	Grashakh
Owner	Tormoran Federation
Population	50,000+
Founded	16 Hollow 1341
Map	Thingrorn

In the early 13th century, the hobgoblins of Gorkith clashed with the Ghorzul. Emerging from Turak, this ogre tribe was the toughest and most savage of all the Toomrur tribes in the region, perhaps even throughout Brucrumus. Convinced by their shamans, the Ghorzul perceived Gorkith's hobgoblins as a major threat, with plunder-hungry leaders bent on violating the ancestral barrows of Mauhúlfúr. By 1335, the last of the hobgoblins had been driven out of Gorkith. They migrated westward, following the trails of thousands of others, and settled along the eastern banks of Dargirth, opposite the eerie landscape of Maar'tolaak.

On 16 Hollow 1341, they established a settlement that would mature into a formidable stronghold, fending off countless incursions by the Toomrur, verdant dragons, and other horrors from Maar'tolaak. The citadel steadily expanded and reinforced its defenses over the generations, rendering it an exceedingly daunting prospect to besiege.

Korbortun stands as one of the most formidably fortified cities within the realm of Brucrumus. Boasting an impressive array of four dozen towers, each meticulously engineered to function as an independent bastion should the surrounding walls be breached. These towers bristle with an arsenal of cannons, mortars, and a patchwork of arrow slits, presenting a formidable defensive posture. The ground before the walls slopes gradually, blanketed by an expanse of twenty feet of packed earth, creating a cannon-proofed rampart stretching an impressive three thousand feet in length. This imposing structure culminates in towering walls reaching seventy feet in height, tiered and sloped, and fortified with double battlements. The upper battlement serves as a platform for cannons and other siege weapons. Venture beyond these double, and at times triple, walls, and one will find a city divided into five walled districts, shaped in the form of a pentagon.

Individuals who breach the city's walls now find themselves trapped in a hazardous square, assailed by enemies firing from the walls and towers. In 1666, the Fograth lost two divisions in this area. A handful managed to escape through magic and sheer luck, while the remainder were caught in a maelstrom of magic, arrows, and raging fires. The latter were ignited by fire elementals hailing from Bolmod, mercenaries known for their ardent interest in setting towns and cities ablaze.

If we could cease viewing fire as the emblem of Surtur, our esteemed armies could likewise capitalize on Bolmod's Inferno Legions.

Mag Lughakh, esteemed Fograth war chronicler

Hangrarg serves as the central district of Korbortun. This area lies at the heart of the pentagon. The largest structure within this district is an imposing fortress constructed of obsidian and basalt. Visitors to the city often refer to this formidable bastion as the Ebony Porcupine. Officially designated as Agrirtheon, it functions as the headquarters and seat of power for the Tormoran Federation. Agrirtheon is encircled by bartizans housing dragon ballistas, trebuchets, and cannons. Only a single force has ever reached this locale, though they were met with a devastating conflagration and potent magical storms unleashed by the Embers and the Inferno Legion, resulting in few survivors.

Korbortun is a formidable fortress-city, constructed over centuries to defend against Toomrur raids from the east and later those of the Toomrur Hegemony. Its western side, backing the great Dargirth river, was fortified to withstand the Orchish Empire. During the rise of this empire, Korbortun's hobgoblins frequently served alongside Githirmil regulars as mercenaries. After demonstrating sufficient loyalty and skill in battle, many of these hobgoblins went on to become soldiers of the Fograth and citizens of the Orchish Empire.

In the Korbortun War, the Orchish Empire made a feeble attempt in annexing Korbortun. The attackers had to traverse the broad and rapidly flowing Dargirth. They were met with a volley of projectile fire along the eastern banks and were never able to consolidate their forces for an assault on the city. Five months later, they abandoned their campaign against the hobgoblins. One of the most ingenious attacks on the city were ships firing chains into towers and walls and then utilizing the currents of the river to weaken them and bring a few down. This war led to an improvement in Korbortun's western defenses with fortification engineered to withstand naval bombardments and amphibious incursions.

In the year 1402, the Tormoran Federation was founded, with Korbortun designated as the administrative seat of this federation of hobgoblin states.

Korbortun's western defenses plunge to an impressive depth of 500 feet or more. This strategic measure was implemented in response to the near-disastrous events of 1752, when orc sappers mined beneath the fortifications and subsequently flooded the area. The collapse of a two-hundred-foot section of the wall and a quarter of a district was the devastating result. The numerous fallen structures and deep water pits created such hazardous conditions that the Fograth invaders suffered even greater losses as they attempted to reach the next wall. This siege, along with those of 1400, 1666, and many others, ended in partial or complete defeats, underscoring the formidable challenge of conquering Korbortun.

The city houses a cell of the Cult of Worms and one of Embers. The Cult of Worms orchestrated the Tormoran Federation's involvement in the expansive Chaos War. During the conflict's Lich Front, the city's outskirts served as the staging ground for the Sekbire Pact's forces.

Korbortun is infamous for its extensive gambling establishments and brothels. A significant number of these facilities are operated by military officials, guild leaders, and merchant aristocrats.