The Barony of Yargish Ha-Raani

If you work with forge, hammer and anvil, you've visited Yargish Ha-Raani. If you mine minerals for a living, you've mined at Yargish Ha-Raani. If you're an Orc, you better bet you've visited Yargish Ha-Raani. And if you're a forge cleric, you're 98% certain your god lives at Yargish Ha-Raani. The best forges in the lands are located in the carved-in city, Orcish in origins but now belonging to all who would claim rock and stone as their home.

When new arrivals hear that Yargish Ha-Raani has a port, they laugh, and under normal circumstances, they'd be right to. It's landlocked! No ships arrive here. Well, not by sea, it's true, But the **Great Underport Stoneway** fulfills all the requirements of port, but for a series of underground caves and extinct lava tubes. This treacherous economic pathway comes complete with unpredictable weather patterns and monsters of the deep, so caravans are equipped with tough, seasoned warriors and magicians, capable of staving off or defeating would-be marauders and predators. High risk, high yield. Most of these caravans come from the Mines of the Buried Sun, though a few also come from local Undercolonies looking to restock on food and home goods.

Just veering off of the port is the **Raanian Mine Cluster**, a series of mines that provide the more common materials needed in Yargish Ha-Raani, such as iron-rich ore and various copper compounds. This is where the laborers work, either not gifted enough for the higher arts, or still looking for their golden opportunity to rise from laborer to artisan. The mines are well-ventilated and shored up properly, thanks to the work of the Circle of the Mountain Druids put in charge of maintaining the mine and preserving lives. While not glamorous work, the mines pay well, and none of the workers here need go hungry, assuming they aren't beholden to any addictions on the side.

From the ground-level entrance of the town, go up the winding path to enter the Adamant Gates, and you'll find yourself in the **Lava Berm Viaduct**. This tremendous pathway through the city was originally constructed to direct overflows out of the city in a relatively safe matter, whether it be a tremendous amount of molten metal, or even an eruption from the (presumable) now-extinct lava tubes connecting to the city's forgeworks. This has only been of use to the city once in its long history, so the channel is now used as a broad pathway into the city proper. Little stalls line the way, selling nicknacks and fruit to any who would care to stop by. On close inspection, you'll note that all of these carts can be modularly demolished and moved at a moment's notice, in case the viaduct needs to be used for its original purpose.

Upon exiting the Viaduct, one enters the **Old Forgeworks**. These forges are as old as the city, and indeed, attracted most of the orcs, gnomes and dwarves whose descendants now call the city their home. While many of the forges are still active and functional, they're somewhat low-tech compared to the inner forges, and some have even been repurposed into tenements for the smaller species, such as gnomes and goblins. The Old Forgeworks make for a boisterous community, full of hecklers and grumpy curmudgeons.

Continuing into the carved-out mesa, you reach the **Hawk's Eye Marketplace**, named for the tremendous inky gemstone the market is centered around. Four feet in diameter and enchanted to hover in mid-air, this dark Tiger's Eye lends and aura of mystique and excitement to the loud marketplace, host not only to local merchants, but wandering caravans and the Loxodon bazaars that are known to travel across the Grand Duchy. The good here are of much higher quality than those sold in the Viaduct, and many clever and beautiful weapons are for sale. One can also hire armorer to fabricate a piece for them, for a hefty price and a good deal of time, depending on specifications.

Further in, you find **The Baron's Forgeworks**, where the best in the land make their wares. Many of these fabrications are contracted by the very rich and very important, including barons and archmages. Some of the items made in the more arcanotech-heavy forges are too powerful to be sold, but are kept under lock and key to be used only in the most dire of circumstances. These are locked with the Baron's seal, completely inaccessible for anyone without his signet.

In the center of the Mesa, where the old lava bulb used to be, is the **Baron's Court**, a chamber that shoots the gap between spartan and lavish, plated with the most expensive metals and bearing beautiful weaponry and armor on stands throughout. The baron, though a stern fellow, is also a fan of parties, and occasionally throws good-natured bashes in the court for the rich and famous.