Hammer Hold

The dwarven run "free town" of Hammer Hold is located at the borders of The Welcome Hills and thesouthernmost edge of the Hammer Peaks (the mountain range which runs down the centre of Thorast).

Hammer Hold calls itself a "free town" because, as a registered cemetary, it actually pays no taxes to the Empire. It is hence self-governing, relying on local trade agreements to exist at all. Although no taxes are paid the lack of reliable trade means that prices here are no lower than anywhere else in the Empire.

Being a "free town" gives Hammer Hold one other problem: it can't call upon the Imperial Army for support, despite being within the "catchment" area of Fort Basilisk, one of the largest Imperial Army bases in the country. It therefore relies upon its own Town Watch and a number of mercenaries for civil defence.