Vardesleirholm

It would be a stretch to call Vardesleirholm pretty. It's hard to breathe here, and there's a perpetual grey cloud over the city, but without it, most of Retland wouldn't have access to valuable ore. This mountain city is sometimes called the Iron Heart of Retland, or Retskjornhjerte. The mountains that surround me are rich with iron, and most of it will eventually be processed into steel. I'm standing at Saint Mordun's Plaza in the city center. All roads leading to the mines originate here, and it's a tradition for miners to ask for Saint Mordun's protection before leaving for weeks spent working underground.

— Talia Hrynvar

Vardesleirholm lies against a bend in the Vardesleir River deep in the Slokyllfell Mountains. The city's remote location and easy access to water offer natural protection. It's noisy and densely populated with factories surrounding the city gates. The city and surrounding mines supply all of Retland's iron and steel as well being a major producer of cobblestones, ballast stones, and flagstones. Roads lead outwards like wheel spokes and are well-trodden thoroughfares for the inhabitants who live and work here.

Government

The city is run by an elected council and governor. Most council members are either union members or industrialists, and the governor is almost always involved in the steel industry. Though it's illegal for employers to fire employees based on how they vote, many miners are bribed into voting a certain way with offers of time off and pay bonuses. Terms for council members last three years while the governor is elected every five years.
The council sets the city budget which must be approved by the governor. They do not receive any additional income while on the city council but may continue to profit off their own businesses. It has the unintended side effect of restricting governance to the upper class. The governor must approve all major decisions from the council such as finances and policy changes and acts as an extension of the monarch.

Defences

The city is surrounded by a stone wall and a citadel on the western side of the city that overlooks the area. High altitude and being nestled in the mountains make the city difficult to attack despite its prime location along the Vardesleir River. Large chains span the river past the eastern and western bounds of the city, and the steep cliffs on either side make it impossible to carry boats around the chains.

I'm standing on the city wall, and from here, it's hard to imagine how anyone would attack the city. The chains across the river are hidden beneath the water, but within minutes, steam wenches can raise them and prevent would-be invaders from sailing up the river. They were added as part of the city's defences after a small Petrekian army sailed up the river in shallow-bottomed boats and surrounded the city for five months. Vardesleirholm would have fallen, but the river froze and cut the army off from their supplies. The defending Vardeslerers dug underneath the city and the army in order to bring in fresh food from further downstream.

— Talia Hrynvar

Industry & Trade

The majority of the city's industry is focused around iron and processing it into steel. Mills surround the city limits and convert the raw ore into steel blocks which are then shipped to other cities further downstream. Most of the mills are integrated mills and cover all steps of refinement. Nothing is wasted, however, and excess rocks are ground into gravel or smoothed and cut into cobblestones. Flagstone production is also common in Vardesleirholm, though the quarries are specially designed and separate from the iron mines.

Infrastructure

The Hebren Fortress hovers over the city like a sentinel. It was originally designed as the residence for Governor Hebren shortly after the city was founded, and the gardens once stretched from the fortress gates to the city center. His private army which defended the city was stationed near Black Gate. The old barracks were destroyed only ten years after Hebren's death, and Governor Linstein passed a law forbidding any resident from keeping a personal army.
The Beirkjant Revolt in 4933 began on the steps leading up to the fortress where I'm now standing. Eight thousand miners and mill workers packed the street all the way back to Saint Mordun's Plaza. I can hardly imagine what it must have been like for the guard company watching from the fortress. But, the miners had good reason for revolting. A series of earthquakes in the weeks leading up to the revolt left hundreds of miners trapped and dead. But the mine owners refused to launch rescue attempts until it was certainly too late. For two months, the city was in absolute chaos until an agreement was finally reached and signed before the Black Gate.

— Talia Hrynvar

Fortress Hill

Among the working class, Fortress Hill is known as the Breathless Steps. It's a wealthy district and contains most of the city's banks and government buildings. The top of the hill is dominated by Hebren Fortress. A company from the Retland Home Defence is stationed at the fortress and guards the city against possible invaders. The Hebren Gardens are also located in Fortress Hill. Though they're supposed to be open to the public, greenhouses included, only the wealthy visit the gardens. There are very few shops here, the notable exception being Kanin Jewellers. They create the coronation crowns and often supply the Retland nobility with coronets.

Black Gate

The Black Gate used to be the city's primary north gate until the roads were expanded and rerouted. Now, the gate is left as a reminder of the city's history. The wooden doors on the gate bear a plaque listing the names of every miner who died while working, and it's common for people to leave flowers and candles. The district also contains the Black Pick inn which is a popular spot among the locals. For the wealthy, there's the Slokyllfell Club. The Club visually stands apart because it's made out of brick and in a modern style compared to the simpler stone buildings around it.

Steelworks District

As the newest addition to Vardesleirholm, the Steelworks District surrounds the city walls. It's dominated by factories and steel mills. They are the primary source of the city's pollution. Most of mills are recent within the past century, and many inhabitants feel that the buildings here look unfinished. Most don't have decorative facades and are very rectangular with low pitched roofs. Outside of the mines and quarries, the Steelworks District is where most people work.

Miners Quarter

Miners Quarter is home to most of the miners and mill workers in Vardesleirholm. It's cramped and poor with most residences being home to multiple families. General stores are scattered through the district, and several artisans such as blacksmiths, armorers, and weaponsmiths have forges that border Market Square to the east. The Mordun Union is headquartered here and runs various community outreach programs to support the families of miners. It has the reputation of being home to unsavory people, but the reality is very different. Increased vigilance from the city guard keeps the quarter unusually safe. Children play freely in the streets, and the miners' wives rarely fear for their safety.

Market Square

The largest district is Market Square and is the city's commercial area. There are also several inns and hotels for visitors. Most of the buildings here are two floors with the upper floor serving as living space for the shopkeepers. Artisans also congregate in Market Square, and the streets are often packed with people. From late spring until early autumn, there's a weekly open-air market that offers music, stage performances, food, and wares to the city's inhabitants. It takes place at South River Plaza.

Stone Quarter

The southernmost district belongs to the stonemasons. The raw cut stones are brought into the city from the quarries, and the stonemasons shape and cut the rocks into a finished size. During the day, there's a nearly constant sound of chisels scraping against rock. Several sculptors have shops here, and statuettes found in the Dalursund often originated in Valdesleirholm. The roads in the Stone Quarter are unusually wide for a mostly residential area, particularly compared to the narrow streets of the Miners Quarter. The cobblestone roads are in good condition, and there's a group of cobblestone makers who go around replacing stones as they come loose, often at their own expense.

Vardesleirholm

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Guilds and Factions

Mordrun Union

The Mordrun Union is an industrial union for miners working out of Vardesleirholm. Their primary aim to ensure respectable pay and ethical working conditions for its members. While the union excludes workers in the mills, they have the advantage in that most of the miners in the large steel companies are union members. The union is named after Saint Mordrun, the patron saint for miners. Each mine has its own union representative, and the group of representatives works alongside a board of trustees to advocate for individuals and groups of miners. They hold considerable political sway as well, and there is always a union representative on the city council.

Stonemason Guild

It's the oldest guild in Vardesleirheim with its founding dating back to the city's creation. They're open to all stone workers whether refining discarded rocks from the mines or quarrying flagstones. Like the Mordrun Union, its emphasis is on the laborers. The guild strives to keep a minimum standard of quality from its members and uses that guarantee in training and ability as leverage.

The unions in Vardesleirholm are powerful organizations. Even though the company owners have more money, the unions could grind all production to a halt and cripple the nation if their demands aren't met. Here, the people have a voice that they're not afraid to use. It's hard to say if giving unions this kind of sway is a good thing, but so far, they've pressed for changes that benefit the workers. Because of unions, workers here receive good wages and adequate time off.
Something that really surprises me about the unions is that they have similar goals to the companies they work with. Both groups wanted employed workers and a booming trade that benefits Retland as well as them. Speaking to several representatives, there's rarely any need to threaten strike action. Most of the companies are reasonable to work with, and an appeal to cost and profit goes a long way. What makes the unions in Vardesleirholm different is that a much larger percentage of the city's workforce belongs to a union. Elsewhere in Retland, the unions may have more members, but they're spread out across the country and frequently have differing needs and goals even if the labor is similar.

— Talia Hrynvar

Architecture

Most buildings in Vardesleirholm are single or two-floor stone buildings with metal roofs often pressed to look like slate shingles. Richer homes have slate roofs with the primary living quarters on the second floor and a wooden staircase leading up to the main entrance.

Tamaris Map

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A map of Tamaris in 5040

Maps

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  Vardesleirholm

Alternative Name(s)

Vardes City

Type

City

Population

65,000

Inhabitant Demonym

Vardeslerer

Location under

Tamaris

Owning Organization

Retland

Quick Guide to
Vardesleirholm

I would never have thought that an industrial town like Vardesleirholm would be a tourist spot. If you're interested in metallurgy or stonework, this is a must-see place. The air takes some getting used to, but most of the interesting activities take place indoors. Getting here can be a challenge. Trains from Dalursund only go as far as Rønebjerg. After that, the best way to get to there is by boat. Barges travel daily between Rønebjerg and Vardesleirholm, and they will transport passengers for a modest fee.
Hotels in the Market Square start at a mid-range price with the most luxurious hotels overlooking Saint Mordun's Plaza. I stayed at Flødoverse Hotel near the city wall. I also spent a night at Ulvstrand Sloskyllfell, and the service and quality live up to their reputation. If you can afford to stay there, I highly recommend it.
Restaurants here are inexpensive, and I could afford dinner with an appetizer and dessert for half of what I'd pay elsewhere. Most of the places I ate at are family businesses, and they tend to have a homey atmosphere. I would suggest trying the fish special from Narbirsen located in Black Gate and any cake from the Snow Leaf Restaurant. My favorite is the chocolate mousse cake. For a more formal dinner, Nordlys in Fortress Hill offers a unique experience with local crops and game meat. The tasting menu for two is expensive but well worth it.
The museums tend to be small, and most only take a couple hours to see everything. The Statuary Museum and Tarhus Museum are both located in the Stone Quarter and can easily be seen in one day. The Statuary Museum shows the process of turning a block of stone into a statue while the Tarhus Museum is about the history and advances of stonemasonry in Vardesleirholm. In the Miners Quarter, the Åslev Mine Museum is well worth visiting. It makes good use of space and is packed with artifacts and documents from the now defunct Åslev Mine. It also has an excellent exhibit located well below the city that gives visitors an opportunity to see what it was like working in an iron mine and what dangers the miners faced.
The Hebren Gardens are worth visiting along with the accompanying greenhouses, though those require an admission ticket to see. Most of Hebren's art collection is in the Hebren Museum which includes a tour of Hebren Fortress. There is also an architectural walking tour to see the grand houses built in Fortress Hill. Tours are usually an hour and a half long, and the guides are knowledgable about the family and house histories.
During the warmer months, the South River Plaza market is an absolute must-see. It costs nothing to go, and the food is very inexpensive. Performances vary from week to week, though there are musicians playing throughout the day, and the stage performance is always scheduled for early afternoon. Travelling vendors often have stalls at the market, so it's possible to find goods from all over Tamaris for a reasonable price.
In summary, Vardesleirholm is an out of the way place to visit, but it does well to cater to tourists. Lodging is the most expensive part of staying here, and the food tends to be good for its remote location. There is very little to see outside of the city, and it's possible to see everything interesting here over a weekend. I don't have plans to return, but for anyone who is interested in Retland's industry, this place is well worth the visit.

— Talia Hrynvar