Iderwig

Defences

While the surrounding area is among the most hostile to live in, it is also void of dangerous predators or aggressive natives, making defenses relatively useless. Nonetheless, the entire settlement is surrounded by a palisade, built with snow and ice. Though it theoretically serves to hold of raiders and control those who wish to enter, its best use is as a protection from the icy winds scouring the landscape. Attempts have been made to built a giant iglu over the entire settlement. These have proven fruitless, as it would be too expensive and simply impractical due to the infrastructure already being built underground.
The settlement is protected by a small garrison, made up by soldiers of the Stadtholders guard. These elite troops are able to fight back almost any raider incursion due to their excellent equipment and the battlemages in their ranks. Mostly their duties are limited to policing the settlement and keeping the peace when some of the inhabitants get increasingly unruly from the miserable temperatures, the unfortunate supply situation or the fact that you spend ninety percent of your time underground and never see the sun.

Infrastructure

As the settlement is completely dependent on food shipments to sustain itself, the harbor is the central piece of its infrastructure. Itself a wonder of engineering and magic, it uses a system of continually burning fires and magic channeling mechanisms to keep it ice-free even during the coldest times of the year. The price for this marvel of civilization is its miniscule size. Only two ships can ever dock at once and those cannot be bigger than a small cog.
To allow ships to find the mostly underground settlement a lighthouse was built, dwarfing any other structure and burning with cold fire for every day and night. As the light is magical, no-one is needed to guard the fire, saving valuable manpower.
Most of the village exists underground, accessible by stairs dug into the ground. The settlement underground is built according to the standards of a proper Richardian colony. A sewer system flows below the floors, guaranteeing that the waste reaches the central canyon below the village, a seemingly bottomless pit of unknown origin.
Due to being built underground the village is generally constricted. Most homes are barely more than a bed and wardrobe, both provided by the village to its inhabitants, who are only rarely permanent. Only the most important individuals can hope for something akin to a three-room home.
Heart of the village is Frozen Plaza, the centerpiece of its infrastructure, connecting the different homes and workplaces. The largest structure underground, twenty meters in diameter and three in height. All shops can be found at the plaza, as well as the food market. Due to the isolated nature and difficult supply situation food variety leaves much to be desired, save for the occasional merchant stopping by to sell some more luxurious food like fruit for extortionist prizes.

History

In 1382 the Richardian explorer Gert Sluiter founded the village of Iderwig in the Northern Wastes. While there was little of value to be found and extracted, Sluiter was fascinated by the tales of extensive tombs further inwards, brimming with undiscovered riches and knowledge. Thus, Iderwig was built in one of the most inhospitable areas of the known world to provide Richardian expeditions an easy access point to the ruins.
Initial colonization proved difficult, as the extreme cold would require massive amounts of wood to be burned each day to guarantee liveable conditions. Even competent mages could do little than extending the longevity of the fire for more than several hours. So only four months after the founding the inhabitants were unwilling to continue the colonization. The settlement was saved by the local blacksmith Huig Lefers, who came upon an extensive coal deposit while trying to expand his underground workshop. Normally mining coal in the freezing cold wouldn't be profitable, as the export to potential markets could never cover the costs. However, it was a solution to the heat problem.
Following this initial crisis, the village grew in size until it stopped at around 310. This proved to be the ideal number to sustain the village, aid the numerous expeditions coming every year and man the outposts expanding Richardian influence in the wastes.
Today, while life remains harsh and uncomfortable the inhabitants have found ways to alleviate the worst of their pain. Usage of heat channeling magic allows warming the entire village to almost liveable conditions, constant food shipments from other Richardian colonies closeby prevent famines and the discovery of the fabled ruins have made its continued existence one of the higher priorities of the Stadtholder.

Architecture

Due to the freezing weather and the strong winds, most of the village is built undergrounds, with only a few select buildings like the harbor office or the garrison having more than a set of stairs above ground. Those buildings are little more than unadorned square blocks, windowless and only having a single door.
Below ground the architecture is spartan, little care is put into making things look pretty, instead focussing on practical shapes and designs. The only exceptions are the local chapel to the Church of the Ascended and the mayors' office, who are both built in the Richardian style, featuring extensive decoration, mostly colored blue or white.
The lighthouse, easily twenty meters high, is also built in a very simple style, nothing more than a square block of solid stone with stairs inside. The only exception is the chamber housing the magical fire, which is covered with special runes and magical conductors to ensure the continuous burning of the flame.

Geography

Iderwig is located on the northern edge of the frozen gulf, a place where both sunshine and warmth are not to be found. Other than the sea, the village is surrounded by icy wastes which are flat with the exception of the occasional snow dune.
The vastness of the icy plains was often described as breathtaking and gorgeous, showing how insignificant anyone really is when pitted against the raw power of nature. If one views this as something to be admired or feared it up for interpretation.

Natural Resources

As the village is surrounded by icy wastes, it is impossible to grow any food. Attempts have been made to import soil to plant grain, however, it failed due to the cold and difficulties in expanding the underground dwellings. The same goes for any sort of forestry or herbalism.
The only resource found in abundance is coal. Luckily the mine is accessible directly through the underground structures, allowing easy transport. While export would be unprofitable it is used as a source of warmth, desperately needed in the icy wastes.

Alternative Name(s)

Northern Light

Type

Village

Population

310

Inhabitant Demonym

Iderwians

Owning Organization

Richardian Republic