Ironbreach

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* Map

Ironbreach is a mining colony operated by Howell Holdings.

## Government

An appointed Alderman oversees the operations of the mines of Ironbreach, whereas an Imperator of the White Coats manages matters of security and defence. As of present day, the Alderman is the Goliath Nagan Threadweaver Nolocagoni, while Viktorin Grik serves as the stern hand that ensures quotas are met under the Alderman's guidance, as well as managing threats to the settlements such as the ongoing raiders from caterans of the Notchbark Woods.

## Defence

Each of the town's three major entrance ways were guarded by palisade walls, flanked by sentry towers. The large village beyond is guarded by semi-frequent patrols, but no true defensive walls existed until recently, and since the settlement proper has been guarded by heavy stone walls. The entrances to the mines dotted throughout the region are guarded by simpler defences, but watched over by guard towers throughout. A shattered stone citadel lies in ruins upon the hillside around which Ironbreach is built, harkening back to a time before the settlement's formal history.

## Commerce

Ironbreach is a deeply rich source of ore, and has remained productive throughout the past hundred years of extensive usage. The resulting yield has secured Howell Town's place as a major producer of many types of ore for markets across the continent. More and more so, blacksmiths toil to smelt ores on site, creating bars and non-precious and precious metals alike that are either stored within the settlement, or sent by caravan by road either to Caterwaul or Howell Town.

## Organisations

Howell Holdings holds exclusive rights to all produce of Ironbreach, though it is rumoured that the Arken Den has found subterranean routes of infiltration within the depths below to facilitate smuggling efforts in and out of the mines.

## Description

Originally discovered following a number of incursions by duergar raiders on the new found settlements, Ironbreach is a series of winding tunnels and caverns beneath the hills to the west of Notchbark Woods. Extending beneath the soil and stone by a measure of miles, Fonteyne Howell ordered the tunnels leading into the Underdark discovered to be sealed, and upon his efforts to depart stumbled upon vast veins of precious and non-precious ores. Since, Ironbreach has maintained steady supply of iron, copper, bauxite, lead and zinc, as well as gold, silver, opal and rubies.

Work in the tunnels is dangerous and backbreaking, but considered by most to be an honest, if not gruelling state of living. Warmth in camaraderie and shelter from the winds above offer an odd sense of jovial spirit to many within the mine, but with its increasingly use as a site for conscripted labour, similar to that of the laws of Viridell to the south, this atmosphere lingers less freely.

Incursions by creatures of the dark below are not unheard off, but the presence of the nearby bastion of Caterwaul facilitates their quick clearing so that work may promptly continue. In some areas, torches are forbidden for sake of not risking ignition of the natural gases that sometimes collect in the depths, and so races with a natural affinity to vision in areas dimly lit are more often than not assigned to those such tunnels and passageways.