iron miner
descendants of kings and princes, revered wildlings, great miners, respected leaders
The Mining Guild fluctuates with the Bargemans Guild as the most populous guild under The Book of the Wild, and are responsible for all mining and mineral excavation in Austur.
Though the numbers within the guild are of course not known precisely, it is assumed the iron miner clan is far from the most numerous within the guild, yet they are the most high status, both within the guild, and Austurian culture in general
Iron miners are, as the name suggests, responsible for the excavation of the few known magnetite and hematite ore deposits around the Western Mountains, and the limonite mines in the Iron Hills between Landen and Zaahan. There are also a few bog iron hunters in the Braidlands and the wetlands around Sheridan's Rest that fall under the purview of the iron miners, despite their unusual profession.
The iron mining clan is generally regarded as one of integrity, responsibility and leadership. They are often sought for advice and informal conflict resolution by those in the Miners Guild and even wildlings from other guilds. The leadership of the Mining Guild is often disproportionately dominated by iron miners, and they are more frequently nominated and elected to The Council itself, as the Councillor for Minerals and Resources. Two of the three wildlings ever appointed to Curiya were members of the Mining Guild, more specifically, the iron mining clan.
Career
Qualifications
Though The Book of the Wild tends to be more dynastic in it's guilds than other Books, the iron miner's clan tend to be even more aggressively insular about their membership. It is almost unheard of for anyone not born to Miners Guild, let alone not born to the Wild, to be accepted into their mining clan.
Perception
Social Status
Any miner or metal worker is revered within the Western Mountains, but steel smelters and iron miners are particularly well regarded all across Austur. This high status and renown is due partly to the relative scarcity of iron and steel in Austur, and it's resulting value and status. Partly however, their status is historical and connected to the pre-unification Steel Princes.
History
In the years leading up to human unification in the mid sixth century, their was an internal struggle of ideology and a succession crisis going on amongst the Steel Princes, and the clan was failing in power and influence. It was this, combined with a particularly ambitious Unkuula at the time that led to the Princes of Copper, Tin, Chromium, Lead, and Nickel to overthrow the Steel King long enough to sign the Austur Declaration and permanently dissolve the monarchy.
As a part of the moderately controlled chaos that followed, the tattered remnants of the Steel clans were "sent to the mines". Their family wealth, assets and infrastructure were handed over to the new Council of Austur wholesale and the formerly powerful and influential leaders of the clans were sent to work underground alongside the "lowest of the low". While many of nobility had to be jailed for refusing to accept their new positions, a strong minority, those who had already been involved in an ideological revolution within the Kingdom, took to their new role with incredible dignity and humility.
Their ideological bent towards egalitarianism, their determination (especially despite their early ineptitudes), and desire to genuinely best represent their clan, made them incredibly popular and respected amongst the various other miners who had been underground for generations. These former nobles of the Steel clans became genuinely noble folk, well respected leaders within the iron miners and the guild as a whole.
As the centuries went by, the iron mining clan grew in respect and influence through genuine and honourable leadership and hard earned good will of their fellow Austurians.
Operations
Tools
The spells and methods of the iron miners are assumed to be at least broadly similar to the rest of the Mining Guild in general, though of course they are still unknown to anyone outside the guild and certain The Book of the Wild.
It is generally rumoured that despite whatever magic they might have, they still employ heavy metal hand tools in their work. Whether these "picks" are merely specially designed magical focus', symbolic accessories, or actual tools that are used manually, is unknown.
Dangers & Hazards
The hazards of working in a mine are many, and can be easily guessed, even by a city Craftsman. Safety methods and precautions have improved dramatically since the dissolution of the Steel Kingdom, making fatalities extremely rare, but they still do happen in the older, deeper hematite delves south of Wilsadore. In centuries past, the leading cause of injury and death was rock fall and tunnel collapse, but since new safety procedures were introduced by the Mining Guild in the early 700s, that issue was all but resolved, leaving the next greatest problem of suffocation and air poisoning as yet fully solved.
"Our efforts underpin the whole of Austurian society. We put armour on the Mageguard and tackle on the barges. We put presses in Bookmaker workshops, and pens in the Administrators hands. Why should we not take pride in the great and honourable work we do?"
- Ogwan of Wilsadore, Master Iron Miner of the Mining Guild (615AS)
Alternative Names
steel diggers
Type
Raw Materials Gathering
Demand
extreme
Related Locations
Comments