Fasturvault
Fasturvalt is the only permanent svirfneblin town
in the Azathyr. Originally established by the House
of Geidne (pro. Gee-ed-knee) one hundred and fifty
years ago, it was created to both clear out duergar slavers
who preyed on the Gnome King’s Highway and to
take advantage of the fine marble to be found in this
great cavern. The first lord of Fasturvalt (Lord Geirli
Knows-No-Fear) cleared the cavern of its duergar enclave
and founded the town. Since then the town has
prospered and its fine stonework and marble are now
famous both within the Azathyr and without.
However the town has always lived in the shadow of
the drow threat. The drow bore the former duergar inhabitants
no love, certainly. But the drow have always
believed that the entire Azathyr is theirs by right and
the svirfneblin intrusion grates upon them. Still, the
small quarry-town has always been a minor priority.
Finally about fifty years ago, the drow decided it
was time to take Fasturvalt. Lord Geiri, Lord Geirni’s
father, managed to head off their imminent attack
by making a deal with the devil. He traded stone for
peace. The drow, distracted by their own internal rivalries,
took the deal and Fasturvalt has been since left
alone to live in virtual isolation save for a few trade
caravans bound for destinations outside the Azathyr.