Karpathian Depths

The Karpathian Depths was a vast array of cave systems spanning the western mountains of the Sagely Grounds, just south of Marrarock. It's extensive sprawl and labyrinthine network of metal and mineral--rich caverns made it Marrarock's greatest asset in its industry for over three centuries. They're named after the miner that stumbled across the caves, Arnold Karpathian, who was the Head Miner there for the mine's early life.

Purpose / Function

The Karpathian Depths served as Marrarock's leading source of metals, minerals and gemstones. It created lots of job opportunities for the Marrarockans and also allowed more trade, both new and existing, with the other settlements across Adremesis, paving the way to Marrarock's booming economy.

Entries

There is only one entrance to the Karpathian Depths which lies south of Marrarock, It used to have guards stationed by it but since its abandonment, it has been blocked off by a wooden barricade as a rushed yet successful attempt to keep the monsters inside.

Sensory & Appearance

In its heyday, many braziers were lit all throughout the tunnels, glistening gemstones and ore would scintillate in the rock face due to the warm fires. Masterfully chiselled stone pillars stood in the sections closer to the entrance and there would be a quiet murmur of the inhabiting monsters deep in the shafts. Nowadays the mines are pitch black and cold, the once quite murmur has become a din of sounds from the creatures of the mines.

Denizens

A large variety of monsters call this place home. The most notable being Rocklereige. The further into the mines you go, the more hostile and strong they get.

Alterations

The infrastructure in the mines had been improved greatly over time. Originally wooden supports and beams were in place to hold up the various mine shifts and scaffold areas. After the great success of the mine's early months and years, stronger supports and beams were used, ranging from stone to iron. As the years turned to centuries, the mines were barely recognisable to their original state. Tracks had been put in place to transport goods more efficiently, there were intricately carved and decorated stone supports leading up to the current work sites including statues of honoured Marrarockan Sages and miners. Hundreds of new cave systems were discovered and mined out. The mines flourished into a miner's paradise in its prime years.

Architecture

The mines originally used wood for all the supports, walkways and all other aspects for it. But as the mine started to show its worth, more money and time was invested into the project so stone supports and bridges were used as well as iron rails for transporting goods. Eventually these were improved to grandiose carvings on the stones and metal plaques for decoration and signposting. The further into the mine you go, the supports get less aesthetic and refined.
Ever since the mines moved away from using wood, all stone and metal structures in the Karpathian Depths were made from materials mined inside of it.

Defenses

Stone or iron barricades/doors were used to block entry to systems known to have more hostile monsters in them but for large openings where that just wasn't feasible, there was a large Templar and/or Talbrian presence to defend the miners as per the Marrarockan trade deals requested.

History

The Karpathian Depths were discovered in 141 BFB and in a matter of a few years, it became Marrarock's most lucrative operation with record-breaking profits being recorded after the discovery of new metals and minerals inside them and their sheer amount of already-known materials inside of them.
As miners got deeper into them as the years pressed on, a larger number of monsters were encountered and threatened the entire enterprise to collapse. So Templar and Talbrian soldiers were asked to provide security for the miners which was successful in repelling the danger.
Disaster would strike in 193 AFB when miners in the 'Thulovar Vein' discovered the largest recorded lode of Raxorium in human history. This created a large buzz in the Marrockan and wider communities as this could be used to make some very powerful weapons and armour for the military forces across Adremesis and also make Marrarock a huge fortune. A large operation was set up to mine it but they awoke a great earthen titan dubbed 'Rockleriege' whose body was formed of rock and some of this Raxorium. Its attacks started out to be infrequent but as time went on, they became frighteningly more frequent. This powerful denizen of the deep was too powerful for the Templar and Talbrian soldiers to defeat and it wreaked havoc across the mines, causing many to be trapped and many to die. Eventually, in 194 AFB, the Karpathian Depths would be shut down due the extreme danger of working there after 335 years of enterprise.
The monsters that dwelled in the mine would come to take back their homes, and the cave systems have become increasingly dilapidated through the years since due to the lack of maintenance work. Despite this, many of the supports are still intact due to the impeccable sturdiness and craftsmanship of them so a lot of the mines are still accessible, though many have been reclaimed by the mountains. Rocklereige would continue to dwell in the Thulovar Vein slumbering on the deposit of Raxorium.
As the mine was left for so long, its original name was lost to time, and most Marrarockans had forgotten about it after many generations. Even Ironheart, the owner of Vigrad Ironworks in 351 BFB, could not remember its exact name and simply called it "the abandoned mine" as virtually everyone else did.

Tourism

A few wealthy visitors would come to look upon the dazzling beauty of the mines and the minerals they offered but tourists would be denied entry to the majority of the mines due to it being a worksite, so visitors were few and far between.

RUINED STRUCTURE
194 AFB

Founding Date

141 BFB

Alternative Names

The Abandoned Mine

Type

Mine