Roderickston

Society

The people of Roderickston are rugged people who generally take a no-nonsense stance on many conversations. They don’t have time for games and are often brutally honest in their conversations and criticisms. Over the last century, the city has become more open to specialist mages at just about every step, from prospecting through refining. While traditional miners have a general disdain of wizards being employed in dull work like providing fresh air to a deep mine, they do appreciate their abilities in identifying presence of magical substances. Most mines in Roderickton mostly run by dwarves, or they serve as the specialists in partnership with humans or others.
Over the last decade, this monopoly on mining has generated conflict between several groups in the city. It’s worth noting that historically, prisoners from the Kingdom of Kerak’s jails were often used in the more dangerous mines. While this practice has slowly died off, it is still an option of some prisoners desperate enough to reduce their sentences… Beyond that, this mining community is fairly isolated from the rest of the world. This doesn’t stop the large sums of coin passing in and out.

Government

Oligarchy

Important People

Mayor Arturo Benfeto, Human, Mayor of Roderickston.
Dwomden Silverview, Dwarf, Master Foreman.

Industry & Trade

Imports Spices, silks, foodstuffs, and clothing.
Exports Mixed ores (iron, gold, silver, platinum), marble, granite, steel weaponry, and mixed gems (ruby, amethyst, rose quartz, and diamonds).
Trade and Commerce Roderickston citizens began trading frequently at local markets and at the larger and less-frequent fairs held in towns and cities in the region. These were both organized with the approval of local councilmen and noble officials, who in turn fostered a growing trade-based economy. The trade fairs had become highly popular, because they offered considerably more variety and volume of buyable goods than people could find in their local markets. They also made a lot of coin for the Iron Council, (the largest merchant guild in the city) who licensed the rights to hold them, which meant that some local leaders began sending out protection for the merchants on their journeys to and from the fairs.

Guilds and Factions

Iron Council – Made up of 11 representatives of the largest mining guilds and companies in Roderickston. Having great sway in local politics (every mayor for the last 120 years was at one point a member of the Iron Council) and thus has a large amount of leeway to handle problems within the City. The Iron Hammers are an armed force/militia that keeps order in the city and the Council’s interests abroad. The Iron Council is currently organized as;

1. Magna Mine Works
2. Apex Mining
3. Onyx Depth Mines
4. Gold Springs Mining Corporation
5. Obsidian Mining Group
6. Astral Minerals & Gems
7. Coppervale Mining Organization
8. Iron Isles Mining
9. Mount Venture Mines
10. Rare Reserves Company
11. Uglak Mine Company

History

Roderickston is one of the largest cities in the Free Cities. Considered to be the mining epicenter of the region, if not the continent. Originally a mining base established by Roderick Hammerfist, a famous dwarven miner of some renown, it quickly grew into the city is today. It was here that pneumatic mining has refined and made into an fast, and efficient way to mine the bountiful Soranal Mountains. An massive reservoir at the top in the nearby mountains filled with water works via the gates that are opened and the sudden rush of water tears away the topsoil to reveal what lay beneath. The process is called hushing. This had the advantage of being able to be done multiple times and digging quite deeply.
Roderickston is also home to some of the best miners, blacksmiths, and armorers in the entire shard. Many Karak nobles have their weapons forged and made within the city. Roderickston currently houses one of the few tunnel systems that opens to the western side of the mountains, opening near to the Straights of Elidore.

Points of interest

Victory Forge – This massive forge is at the epicenter of Roderickston. Powered by a magic energies, the ever burning forge is generally free to use for all citizens of the city. Having been created at the establishment of the city by an unknown adventuring group, the Forge has multiple “stations” that area available on sign-up system established by the Iron Council.   Legacy Rock – A simple marble column staged near the North Road which has the names of the many people who have died (permanently) in the mines. The names are all engraved in a multitude of ways by friends and families of the deceased, making it a unique memorial of the working caste of the city.

Geography

Located in the southeastern base of the Soranal Mountains.

Alternative Name(s)

The Iron Bastion

Type

City

Population

1680

Inhabitant Demonym

Mixed - Majority Dwarf, Human, High Orc, Oathsworn

Owner/Ruler

Mayor Arturo Benfeto

Additional Rulers/Owners

• Foreman Dwomden Silverview

Owning Organization

The Free Cities of the Three Ladies