Also known as City of Heroes (by The Horde) and The Stolen City (by the Republic). Thunderveil once belong to "the masters of the steppe", before the rise of Olog allowed the Pact to take it. It is the largest city by far on the Unexplored Continent.
The city is now conquered land. It's been almost 100 years since the siege, but the orcs left the city foundations mostly untouched, choosing instead to build upon the solid stonework placed by its previous owner. Vegetation crawls through the streets, closing the wounds that war left behind. Thunderveil is HUGE and orc society tends to spread out, so the city is not as crowded as it once was. A lot of buildings are abandoned, others were never repaired. Most old temples and official buildings were ransacked, but the collection of high towers in the city centre is the main feature of the city that remains (almost) in its original state.
"Up close, you notice the dents on what previously seemed like pristine walls. (...) Ruins. Crumbled houses. Naked foundations of what once were two or three-story buildings, and now only half of the remaining structures seem inhabited. Rock and clay have been defeated by wood and ivy. Nature has reclaimed its rightful place."
Of course, the city is not empty by any means. Crowds gather at particular areas of town: Market Avenue at midday, the Docks in the early morning and at noon, the Spires and the districts' temples when there's an important event, Judgement Plaza... Otherwise you can find families meeting in old crumbled fountains turned children's playgrounds. Or performing small rituals of veneration in tiny public altars dedicated to the ancestors of each of the clans.
City Layout
The Districts
This massive settlement is divided in sectors, although the borders are not well defined. Each of the Districts contains the remains or portrayal of an important figure from each of the major tribes' history, in the form of a statue or monument. Around those legends followers gathered, settled in, and formed a community. Some minor groups might also inhabit a small corner of the city.The Spires
Located: City centre
Major tribe: Galespeaker's tribe (compassion, spirituality, ??)
Leader: Tanni Galespeaker
Landmarks: Pristine high towers with colorful rooftops, colossal vines wrapping around old buildings.
Main Monument: Old Galespeaker Statue, at the ground floor of the highest tower. Carved in wood. Elderly female orc with arms replaced by eagle wings.
Marlom's Port
Located: Northeast / lake shore
Major tribe: Marlom's Crew (diligence, creativity, ??)
Leader: Janna
Landmarks: Stairs winding down the cliff, Vera's tattoo shop, the sailor's tavern, the docks.
Main Monument: Large-sized, ink-decorated hand fan. Displayed next to the docks, and depicting Marlom's tragedy. Marlom's tragedy is a local tale about a fisherman mourning the death of his beloved. Over the years, it has been interpreted in very different ways. Each year, a new artist is chosen to redraw the scene in their own style. The only common feature of the artwork is the use of traditional ink painting techniques and the fan-shaped canvas.
The Heart
Located: Southwest
Major tribe: ?? (temperance, ??)
Leader: Elder Yurick
Landmarks: Judgement Plaza, the market street, Jodrik's tailor workshop, abandoned temple.
Main Monument: A 20 ft high, stone-carved statue of male orc (unknown name). Wearing a huge pauldron on his left shoulder, right hand resting on the pommel of an upside down greataxe, left hand extended forward and holding a carved heart.
The Barracks
Located: Southeast
Major tribe: The Pack (duty, prowess, ??)
Leader: Skadi's Chosen
Landmarks: Training grounds, forges and armories, beast-tamers' arena, and "The Stones" (small fortress, previously noble palace now houses the city's garrison).
Main Monument: Skadi's drums.
Serenity
Located: Northwest
Major tribe: The Veiled (sacrifice, subtlety, restraint)
Leader: Alara
Landmarks: Serenity (Garden/park)
Main Monument: ??