Schwarzstein
Schwarzstein is a small town at the foot of the Hunterthorn mountains in the Anderfels region of the Tevinter Imperium. It used to be famous for its obsidian and iron mines, but the mines were sealed shortly after the beginning of the Blight, and today the city lives mainly through farming and trade. Sitting in the middle between Vol Dorma and Hossberg it is popular with travelers and merchants passing through, a save haven in the middle of the desert.
Demographics
Dominant Ethnicities:
Humans of both Ander and Tevinter origin
Social Classes:
Almost exclusively Soporati, very small amount of members of the Praeteri, Laetan and Altus class; no official records on the number of slaves
Average Age:
20s-30s, only a few elder people among the upper class, families with many children
Most Common Professions:
farmers, tavern workers, craftsmen, merchants
Government
The town is ruled by a Proconsul under the command of the Preater of Vol Dorma.
Schwarzstein belongs to the jurisdiction of Vol Dorma.
The current Proconsul is Calvis. He commands the town guard led by guard captain Aeris.
Defences
The town's walls are younger than most of its buildings, since they were only built after the Blight began. An additional 3 yard picket fence protects the farmland. The main wall is built from sandstone and has 3 wooden gates enforced with iron (west, east, south).
Industry & Trade
Schwarzstein used to be a mining town, but it isn't anymore. The mines in the hills just south of town are sealed, but sometimes it's still possible to find obsidian and iron in the surrounding areas. There are a few remaining artisans creating jewelry or tools from the Obsidian, and the blacksmith manages to stay afloat by offering repairs and farming tools, but he also provides a few weapons of simple quality.
The town produces bananas, pineapples, and dates, along with a variety of grains, but not much of it is exported. A lot of families own chickens and goats, few larger animals, because it's too dangerous to keep a herd outside of town. Schwarzstein is pretty self-sufficient, but had to adjust to a very simple style of living.
Money comes to town through merchants, who sell clothing and other wares that are difficult to otherwise obtain so far away from big any of the big cities. In return they leave their coin at the inns and taverns, where local beers, liquors, and dishes are served.
Infrastructure
One main road leads through the town from the west to the east gate and two simple stone bridges cross the river in two places; inbetween the bridges near the wall is farmland.
Located at the river just outside town in the farmland area is a half wind- half watermill that was constructed with the help of dwarves about a century ago.
The roads are dirt and sand paths, not cobbled or otherwise fortified.
In the center of the town is the big market place with a variety of market stands. Several stores are situated in surrounding buildings, including a blacksmith. The temple, devoted to all the seven gods, is located at the market place as well.
Assets
Schwarzstein is famous for its taverns, one of the biggest and still affordable ones is the "Golden Sun Inn" near the western gate. It is run by a man called Detlef. It is only one of almost a dozen inns and taverns of the town.
A general goods store popular with locals and travelers alike is the "Everything and Nothing" run by an Ander woman called Julia.
The town's blacksmith is a short and burly man named Hager.
Guilds and Factions
Since the mines have been sealed, the miner's guild slowly disappeared over time and as of today no new company has surfaced. Schwarzstein also never used to be the home to a mage order.
The only tangible influence of the Imperial way of life is the temple of the gods at the market place. Yet, it is mostly deserted, as there are no priests to hold services or provide offerings in the names of the believers anymore. A young man called Jonas is the last one to take care of the temple, like his father, grandfather, and great-grandfather before him. As caretaker he is not an official member of the priesthood though, he only does repairs and keeps the temple somewhat tidy. Usually he is surprised but excited about visitors.
History
Schwarzstein was founded a couple of centuries ago, back when the Anderfels was independent and handn't yet rejoined the Imperium. It all started when a mining company that is long forgotten found obsidian in the area, and quickly a thriving settlement appeared at the nearby river to search the mountains for the black gold.
With Anderfels becoming part of the Imperium again it fell under the jurisdiction of Vol Dorma, as it still is until today. The mayor was replaced by a proconsul, but other than that life didn't change much under Imperial government.
With the beginning of the Blight almost a century ago trying times followed. The town suffered under repeated darkspawn attacks and so a high wall with watchtowers was built, and indeed the attacks grew less initially. Since the darkspawn wasn't as successful on the surface anymore, they next attacked from below, coming through the deepest tunnels in the mines. The proconsul saw no other way to save the town by ordering to seal the mines for good by collapsing the tunnels and locking the entrance gates forever.
Since then the population slowly declined and Schwarzstein became more reliant on farming and sustaining itself, rather than living off of the export of valuable minerals, metals, jewelry, and tools.
Today darkspawn attacks still happen from time to time, although not as aggressive anymore as in the past.
The current Proconsul is Calvis.
Architecture
The buildings are made from local sandstone mostly, often in combination with wooden roofs thatched with palm leaves. Doors and windowframes are made from wood, sometimes enforced with metal.
An outstanding building is the temple. At first glance it fits in well with the local architecture, but it has a meticulously crafted front door made from iron with obsidian inlays. It depicts a stylized dragon curled up on a mountaintop, and black obsidian lines run down from the mountains towards a village. In the background behind the mountains is the rising sun, also an obsidian inlay in the metal door.
Geography
Schwarzstein is located in the outskirts of the Hunterthorn mountains roughly in the middle between Vol Dorma in the east and Hossberg in the northwest of it.
Natural Resources
Obsidian and iron in the mountains nearby, and occasionally to be found elsewhere (for example on the bottom of the river).
There isn't a lot of vegetation apart from the plants on the farmland.
Maps
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Map of Schwarzstein (888 TE)
A map of the desert town Schwarzstein in the year 888 TE.
Type
Town
Population
2000
Location under
Owner/Ruler
Owning Organization
Characters in Location
Related Reports (Primary)
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