Miners’ Refuge
The town of Miners’ Refuge lies near the headwaters of the River Eamon some 200 miles east of the fortress of Dun Eamon. Because of its location near the Eamonvale Trade Road, the town sees more commercial traffic than the typical mountain settlement. Though known predominately as a mining community, Miners’ Refuge also produces agricultural products, especially food crops, textiles, and livestock. Streams fed by melting snows at the highest elevations of the neighboring mountain chain and minor tributaries of the River Eamon provide an ample supply of fresh water to support farmland, grazing animals, and a thriving humanoid population.
The majority of the folk of Miners’ Refuge are dwarves of Clan Krazzadak who were displaced some 500 years ago when their homeland was destroyed when the ice covered the Shengotha Plateau and transformed it into the frozen wasteland now known as the Stoneheart Ice Plateau. Today, they mostly work as miners or merchants. The miners employed here make a comfortable living extracting mundane yet important commercial products such as rock salt, iron, limestone, and clay from tunnels bored into the sides of the foothills on the edge of town. They occasionally strike small veins of precious metals such as platinum, gold, and silver along with a rare, fortuitous deposit of rare minerals and gems. The town’s smaller human population and a handful of gnomes, elves, and half-elves survive by tending the fields and raising livestock.
In spite of the perceived racial tolerance, Miners’ Refuge is a segregated town in many respects. The mountain dwarves control all aspects of daily life within the community and own title to all of the land, even the land farmed by those of other races. A council of three mountain dwarves and two non-dwarves rules the town. This arrangement allows the humans to have a say in local affairs, though ultimate authority still rests with the dwarven majority. Dwarves appointed to the council serve a 20-year term, whereas non-dwarves are limited to spending 10 years on the council. At the end of their tenure, the outgoing councilmember appoints a successor.
Over the years, the ruling dwarves have instituted several reforms aimed at lessening the racial hostility between the rival factions. The oldest of these is the “trustee” program. Humans can purchase this status on an annual or lifetime basis. A trustee may carry weapons, but the person must always wear an azure cloak while doing so. However, the cost to purchase this honor is beyond the limited means of most downtrodden humans. A more recent measure created a council of five people to rule the town. Of course, three of these individuals must be dwarves to ensure the dwarves retain the majority on all decisions. While these changes have bettered the lives of many humans, resentment lingers in some circles, especially in the human-dominated Silver Nugget Inn. Dwarves never venture inside the hotbed of intrigue and scheming. If a revolt were to take place, the seeds of the rebellion would undoubtedly be sown here. Nonetheless, most people have little time and energy for political wrangling. Most spend their days farming or exploring the surrounding foothills for gems and precious metals. Local folklore also speaks of a forgotten tomb hidden somewhere on the edge of town. However, the town is currently abuzz over a prophet who led a pilgrimage to reclaim the fabled Mithral Mountain from the mutinous dwarves who expelled Thane Ilger Ogradmek from his mountain stronghold roughly five centuries earlier.
The towering peak of Mithral Mountain — said to be the location of fabled dwarven mines — is east of Miners’ Refuge in the Stonehearts and visible from anywhere in the town.
Settlement
Miners’ Refuge, Town of
Type
Town
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