Iron Spark
Long ago an enterprising Hill Dwarf named Ulfgar Torrun established an iron mine in a box canyon just east of the Red Wash River in the foothills of the Cloudsea Steppes. Torrun sold his iron which was used in the construction of Castle Vormir, and the hamlet of Iron Spark sprung up at his direction to provide housing and services for the miners. Ulfgar employed many of his kin, so the village developed a decidedly Dwarven character dominated by smaller brick homes with slate tiled rooves surrounding a festive park, and this area is now referred to as Olde Town. A statue of Ulfgar Torrun was erected in the park to honor the town’s founder, and the residents celebrate Founder’s Day annually on the first Sunday of June.
The Torrun Mine eventually shut down, but Iron Spark endured due to support from local farmers, herders and fisherman. The mine has changed hands several times and was eventually reopened by a Human named Winston Havenmire who saw a need for iron across Pangaea with all the new settlements popping up. The hamlet grew into a walled town to accommodate a second wave of miners as Human sized stone dwellings with thatch rooves and an outdoor market emerged west of Olde Town.
Miners eventually uncovered a grotto with a pool fed by a nearby lake. The pool empties into an underground river which had eroded a twisting channel through the bedrock over the course of centuries meandering ever deeper into the Underdark. Intrepid explorers financed by Havenmire traversed the subterranean channel and found the Underdark city of Draac Dhuugaan (Goblin for “Deep Fortress”). Over the years miners have worked the channel creating the Deep Stairs, also known as Winston’s Ladder, which serves as a reliable passage from Pangaea to the Underdark.
Iron Spark is a community of approximately two hundred Hill Dwarves and Humans. The iron mine is the lifeblood of the economy, and nearly half of the townsfolk work for the Iron Spark Trading Co. in some capacity or another. The locals trade iron, produce and wool while welcoming visitors from the Underdark. The most prominent building in town is the Shady Rest Lodge which provides rooms furnished with heavy black curtains for guests who are sensitive to sunlight.
The market square conducts business for an hour after sunset to accommodate sunlight sensitive customers. Local vendors trade primarily in produce, wool and handcrafts. A Svirfneblin merchant from the Underdark city of Quartzstorm sells a few exotic goods appealing to anyone traversing Winston's Ladder. An Air Genasi from the nearby mountain village of Zephyr's Fountainhead has a few exotic items as well.
Type
Town
Location under
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