Ashlar

*“Ashlar has the creature comforts one has come to expect from an Eithnian town, but the marble this town produces is far more remarkable than the location itself.”*

*- Tours in the North by Naya Gamliel*

Ashlar was home to one of Aodh’s largest marble quarries, supplying extremely high quality marble for the herd’s needs. It was destroyed completely in spring 1701, with only a few survivors. The ruins are completely deserted.

## Town

Ashlar was a fairly compact little town, located in the Eithne Highlands and surrounded by craggy rock formations. The town itself was built on several levels, with stairs and paths going up and down hills and sheer drops. The quickest and easiest way to get around town was by hopping onto one of the many horse-operated lifts - originally made for moving marble around the quarry, but left in the town as it expanded to take over former excavation sites.

The town ended abruptly in the north in the form of a massive marble quarry, which provided most of the town’s jobs and also contributed as much as 50% of all marble used in Aodh. Marble from Ashlar was also exported to other countries, although none were ever quite as in love with the material as Aodhians.

The compact size made Ashlar a busy town that felt far livelier than its population would lead you to believe. The homes were simple structures, constructed of stone, wood and clay, or carved directly into the rock itself where the ground was suitable. Marble featured heavily in facades and detailing, making the town look rather opulent despite the simple architecture.

The town’s small center featured a train station, mostly used for hauling marble to New Valore or other major settlements. Next to it was a well-supplied general store which included a post office and aviary on the roof. Neighboring this building were two competing bars, neither of which was exactly amazing, but locals each supported one or the other with the fervor one might expect from sports fans. On the opposite side of the bars were the large communal bedhouses, used by seasonal workers and the occasional railcrew.

Around the corner from these utility buildings was Ashlar’s somewhat-famous brothel, known as the best in northern Eithne. This large establishment had a red and gold facade, and featured indoor relaxation pools, a beauty salon, and enough courtesans to cater to even the most selective tastes. Upstairs featured a hotel-type setup, used mostly by visiting artisans and nobility.

Right nearby was one of Ashlar’s great prides, the Black Villa belonging to the Julius House. As the only permanent noble residence in town, it was considered a point of pride to be lorded over the surrounding minor villages.

## Culture

Ashlar was a working town, and had a culture that reflected this. Hard, physical labor was appreciated, as were those capable of doing it. It had a somewhat anti-intellectual vibe, with most locals considering higher education meaningless for their way of life. Ashlar had schooling up to lower secondary level, but those seeking further education would need to travel away from town. This meant that while Ashlar had a good literacy rate and almost all citizens had at least a basic education, those who pursued upper secondary or higher schooling were rare - especially as the youth who traveled elsewhere to study would generally not return to the much simpler life in Ashlar, where their academic skill was unlikely to be appreciated.

Aodhian hedonism was well and alive in the form of the two pubs and massive brothel, and it was typical of the locals to indulge heavily in their free time. Courtesans were held in especially high regard in Ashlar, and it was considered a near artisanal job. It was common for residents to pool together money to host grand parties, and the general atmosphere was more communal, rather than the sharp individualism of New Valore.

All genders and orientations were accepted in Ashlar, and although their community was more unified, individualism was still eagerly expressed with accessories and trinkets. Small decorative items made from or resembling marble were especially popular. Complicated, netted or braided hairdos acted as symbols of status within the town - as only someone with a fairly cushy job had the time to maintain such luxuries.

With so few in town who were not commoners, class-divides in Ashlar were gradual, and although politeness was observed towards visiting upper class - and near reverence towards nobles - those living in town permanently cultivated a rather casual atmosphere where the wealthy and poor would work side by side to improve their town.

## History

Ashlar was founded during the reign of King Orzala as a part of their efforts to revitalize Aodh with new building projects. Although marble quarries had existed in Aodh, and even in the area Ashlar was constructed in, this was the first town based near solely around its production. Quarry mining was hard work, but well-paid due to its inherent dangers and the high price fetched by top-notch materials. As such, Ashlar grew rather quickly, and became a stable community supported by several smaller farming villages a bit southward of its location.

Ashlar’s prospects were further improved late into King Remiel’s reign, when the railroad was brought all the way to Ashlar to make transport far faster and easier. Before then the marble had been hauled down to the coast and traveled to New Valore by ship - certainly a much greater effort. The more solid connection with the capital also ensured that Ashlar continued to grow in both wealth and population.

The town’s success story came to an abrupt end in the spring of 1701. The newly resurrected King Soleil and her wyvern descended upon Ashlar in a vicious attack, and destroyed the town in its entirety. Nothing remained but smoldering ruins, and very few survivors have been reported.

## Notes

* Ashlar’s population tended towards bigger warmblood and sporthorse types, although dished heads and more arabian style builds were still prevalent.
* Ashlar was home mostly to commoners, with a few Artisans specializing in sculpting as the local celebrities. There was a small resident Chevalier population, and the occasional noble visitor as well.
* Ashlar had extremely skewed worker distribution, with almost half of the adults working with the quarry (labor, shipping, prospecting, marketing, maintenance, paperwork…) with only about 10% working as farmers on the outskirts of town, as food was mostly purchased and brought in by train. There was also a completely disproportionate amount of Courtesans.
* Ashlar had very few slaves, all of them serviles.