Blackhearth

A Mountain Come Alive

Deep beneath the soil and sands
Belies the lighted dome
For those who draw up with sooted hands
Aye, Blackheath is their home

-Blackhearth mining tune

Demographics

Almost entirely dwarven, Blackhearth has sizable minorities of humans and gnomes, along with small minorities of transplants from across the Northern Emyr Expanse.

Government

A territory of the Imperial Commonwealth of Emyr, Blackhearth has a unique relationship with the Commonwealth. While not technically independent, Blackhearth is not overseen quite as rigorously as other cities within the Commonwealth. Nearly autonomous, the city is ruled by Valeria Dontar.

Defences

The city proper has no formal external wall, as it is built inside of a mountain. The gates into the mountain, however, are heavily fortified and made of solid Izarium. This, alongside the natural protection of the mountain, makes Blackhearth a formidable fortress.

Industry & Trade

By far the largest industry in Blackhearth is forging, with all manner of weapon, tool, and armor being manufactured under the mountain via the Deep Pyre. Smaller industries include subterranean horticulture and husbandry, as many species can be farmed in Blackhearth that would otherwise require travel to the Underdark.

Infrastructure

Blackhearth enjoys many impressive feats of dwarven engineering, such as vertical plumbing systems and ventilation. Life within the mountain would be difficult and deadly without these, and as such are well-maintained by the city. The most impressive piece of infrastructure is the Deep Pyre, which provides the source for smelting, light, and heat throughout the city proper.

Assets

Racks of dwarven steel weapons can be found throughout the city's many smiths, as well as sizable stockpiles of raw gold, silver, iron, cobalt, and copper.

History

Before The Descent, Blackhearth was simply mountain-side mining town, its dwarven inhabitants extracting the mountains precious minerals. After the cataclysms that took place, however, a great source of fire and lava began to crack open beneath the mountain, now known as the Deep Pyre.

Architecture

Classic dwarven architecture can be found on the outside of Blackhearth, with stone homes built in sturdy and utilitarian means. Inside the mountain, however, most buildings are made of crushed volcanic rock which bubbles up from the Deep Pyre. This rock is pulverized and formed into bricks, making a solid foundation. The architecture looks similar to the exterior, despite this difference.

Geography

Blackhearth is surrounded by large pillars of magma that rise from lakes in the surrounding region, presumably being pushed up by the massive under-earth pressure exuded by the Deep Pyre.

Natural Resources

Blackhearth is rife with gold, silver, cobalt, and copper. These are abundant throughout the mountain's mines and deep below in the shafts that run all the way to the Underdark.

Alternative Name(s)

The Lighted Dome

Type

City

Location under

Northern Emyr Expanse

Included Locations

• Deep Pyre

Owner/Ruler

Valeria Dontar

Owning Organization

Imperial Commonwealth of Emyr