The Groaning Mines

The Howling Hills contain around half a dozen mines, but this is easily the most important, yielding half of the electrum and copper which Iuz extracts from this unpromising land. The work force are largely dwarf and gnome slaves, dragged from the Rift Canyon, the Vesve hills on rare raids there, or from the Bluff Hills. Because replacements are so hard to find, the demihumans are not treated with the full brutality which would otherwise be expected from their Urzun slavemasters. Ogres are also used to excavate new veins of ore.

Iuz is very aware of the possibility of sabotage here, so lower-level mages and junior priests use spells such as find traps, ESP, and unseen servant to check the minds of workers and the mine's state of repair. As a result, the mines are fairly safe, with few natural hazards. A handful of fiends is often found here, driving off any monsters which may be found in the depths of the mine shafts and tunnels. There are tales of a handful of brave escapees living in the deepest recesses of the mines, aided by svirfneblin, who try to sabotage the mines above and deny Iuz his resource, but such rumors are probably just wishful thinking.

The name of the mines comes from the sinister bass rumblings which spread through the mines from time to time. The dwarves say the noise is a sign of displeasure from Ulaa, or Dumathoin, but this again may be just wishful thinking. It is hardly surprising that the chained and manacled miners believe such things, to sustain the little morale and hope they have left in this wretched place. Ores from here are shipped to Kendragund and south along the Road of Skulls.