Halfdan's Summit

Halfdan's Summit is a metropolis in Fair Wood, Murcia. It is the second largest settlement in Murcia, behind the capitol of Emerald Bay. It has a population of 27,542.

Location
Halfdan's Summit is in the northernmost reach of Fair Wood, on the eastern side of the country bordering the Stone Mountains to the east and Central Murcia to the north. It is located at the convergence of the Black River and the River Derring.

History
Halfdan's Summit was first settled by dwarfs around 2,100 years ago. These dwarfs mostly lived underground and are best known for the metalwork remains they left behind, as well as a single runic inscription left on a cliff seventy feet above the River Derring on what is now the north side of town, which reads "ᚦᛁᛋ·ᛁᛋ·ᚠᛇᚱᛦ·ᚻᛁ" (translating from Dwarfish, of course, to "this is very high"). The inscription matches a similar inscription in an ancient dungeon nearby which reads "ᚻᚪᛚᚠᛞᚪᚾ·ᚹᚪᛋ·ᚻᛦᚱ" ("Halfdan was here") and is believed to have been written around 2,100 years ago by the dwarf Halfdan.

Around 1,500 years ago, the dwarfs moved mostly northward into the Stone Mountains for unknown reasons, leaving behind only a very small presence.

Around 1,200 years ago, the first humans appeared in the area. They established a fortress on the cliff, and a village to surround it, naming it jokingly after the cliffside graffiti and its mysterious ancient artist. The village grew rapidly, becoming a town by 1,000 years ago, a large town by 800 years ago, and a city by 500 years ago. Halfdan's Summit reached metropolis status shortly before the Civil War around 150 years ago.

During the Civil War, Halfdan's Summit served as the temporary capitol of Murcia after Vladislavus Darkmire was deposed from Emerald Bay. The final year or so of the war consisted mostly of a rebel push to retake Halfdan's Summit and the surrounding area, eventually pushing Darkmire into exile beyond the Stone Mountains.

Culture
Halfdan's Summit is regarded as a safe city, with a very diverse population. Though livestock farming and fishing is popular on the city's outskirts, the inside of the city is full of factories which produce finished goods for export around the world. The open air markets of Halfdan's Summit, held every weekend, are regarded as the best in the world, and merchants come from far and wide to peddle their wares.

Halfdan's Summit is home to the temples of Cayden Cailean, Irori, Gorum, and Sarenrae.