Shalefast
Shalefast is a small dwarven town in the mountains, just off of the trade road between Laranna and the capital city of Valliné.
It is built around a small exploratory mineshaft, which has, over its lifetime, produced a large amount of precious minerals.
The town is relatively young, by dwarven standards; having only existed for a couple of centuries, and the majority of its buildings are still on the surface, unlike the ancient dwarven cities built entirely underground.
The mine around which the town is built is not particularly deep, but has for the last century been working its way along a particularly rich vein of iron ore under the adjacent mountain. In the process of extracting this iron, many other, more valuable finds have been reported, leading to Shalefast becoming something of a boom-town.
The town's main iron smelters are housed directly adjacent to the mining complex itself, on one side of the main town square - known as Moradin's Foundry, although many smaller forgers can be found within the mountain itself; the only sign of them from the exterior being two large chimney stacks rising out of the mountainside; often belching smoke into the air at all hours of the day and night.
Directly across the square from the mountain and the entrance to the mine is the Temple of Moradin; the main place of worship within the town. While considered something of a secondary deity in human settlements, Shalefast's overwhelming dwarven majority population has secured Moradin's place as the chief religious icon in the town.
On the fourth side of the main square, also adjacent to the mine entrance, and facing the main forges, sits the Trade Hall. Serving as both the main hub of commerce in the town and also a town-hall of sorts, the Trade Hall is owned and operated, as a large amount of Shalefast is, by the Dwarven Trade Guild. Within, miners and merchants ply their wares to all who have the coin to buy.
The mine complex itself is also owned and operated by the Dwarven Trade Guild, and the town's mayor is High Master Thyvas Blackshield; leader of the local guild chapter.
Demographics
96% Dwarf
4% Other
Government
The mine around which the town is built is owned and operated by the Dwarven Trade Guild, and the town's mayor is their local chapter leader, so the town itself is all but run by the guild.
They mostly keep their own laws, but pay a generous tax to the government of Vallanna.
Defences
A large stone curtain wall surrounds the settlement, and a series of stone guard towers are integrated into this wall. The Dwarven Trade Guild are very protective over their investments, so they have made sure that the town is safe from all but the most ferocious assault.
Many guards in the employ of the guild patrol both the defences and the town itself.
Industry & Trade
The town's industry is all based around the mine and the precious ore to be found beneath the mountain. Within the last century, they have struck upon a very rich seam of Iron, and as such the town is extremely prosperous, exporting both raw ore and bars, along with more specialised crafted iron goods.
Occasionally, more precious finds will come out of the mine, and these can fetch a high price.
The Dwarven Trade Guild operates a large trade hall in the town, where goods and services of all kinds are available. Dwarves from all over come to bid and to sell their wares.
Infrastructure
The Shalefast Trade Hall - Centre of commerce and governance in the town.
The Fantastic Squeeze-Box - An inn run by a retired human adventurer, Meg, A Human Rogue/Pub Landlady.
The Hammer and Tongs - A popular house of ill repute on the outskirts of the town.
Guilds and Factions
The town itself is all but run by the Dwarven Trade Guild, although there is a small, token prescence from the government of Vallanna. Although the town is mostly a dwarven venture, it still falls within the borders of Vallanna, so there is some limited oversight.
Geography
Built on a small plateau partway up a mountain, and with the mining complex itself built into the mountain, surface space is hard to come by. The town is surrounded on all sides by other mountains of the range, although the trade road between Laranna and Valliné does pass through the valley in which it sits.
Natural Resources
A rich seam of iron has been discovered in the mine beneath the mountain.
Type
Large town
Population
~5000
Location under
Included Locations
Owning Organization
Characters in Location
