Restenford

Restenford stands as a testament to resilience and industry on the eastern coast of Ashkrim, where the River Resten meets the sea. Carved from the rugged cliffs and rolling hills that surround it, the town is built upon a foundation of stone and toil, its buildings hewn from the very rock pulled from the earth. The air is thick with the scent of salt and coal smoke, a constant reminder of the town’s lifeblood—its mines.
The mines of Restenford are vast and sprawling, burrowing deep into the hills that loom behind the town. Rich veins of iron, copper, and the occasional glimmer of silver fuel the town’s economy, drawing laborers and merchants alike. The clang of pickaxes against stone is a near-constant sound, accompanied by the creak of ore-laden carts and the shouted orders of mine overseers. Workers emerge at all hours, their faces streaked with dust, their pockets lined with hard-earned coin to spend in the town’s taverns and markets.
Ruling over Restenford is Lord Colin Pemberton, whose stone-built castle looms over the north side of the river. From his fortified seat, he oversees the mines and the town’s prosperity, ensuring that the wealth flows where he deems necessary. Though distant from the daily struggles of the common folk, his influence is felt in the laws that govern trade, taxation, and security. His personal guards patrol the streets and docks, ensuring order—though whether they serve justice or merely their lord’s interests depends on whom you ask.
The town’s docks are built from sturdy timber reinforced with stone, designed to withstand the harsh coastal storms that frequently batter the shoreline. Ships arrive peridocially to haul away raw ore and bring in supplies, as well as the occasional influx of new workers—some seeking fortune, others fleeing misfortune elsewhere.
Restenford’s taverns and inns are as rough as the miners who frequent them, with The Pick and Shovel being the most popular among them. Here, workers drink away the exhaustion of the mines, brawls break out over debts and disputes, and sea shanties mix with the clinking of tankards. Despite the roughness of life, there is camaraderie among the people—an understanding that they all endure the same hardships beneath the earth.
Beyond the mines and industry, Restenford is surrounded by the untamed wilderness of Ashkrim, with dense forests and jagged hills framing the horizon. Some claim the land still holds ancient secrets, but few have the time or energy to explore them when there is ore to be mined and money to be made.

"Restenford ain't pretty, but it's sturdy—like the stone we pull from the earth and the backs that break to do it."