Stonefast
Once a distant outpost in a land dominated by orcs and giants, Stonefast now stands as one of the three prominent cities in the Greenwold - alongside Slew and Grayhaven. Built during a much needed alliance between human and dwarven civilizations, when both were threatened by rampaging forces from the region, what began as a trade post gradually expanded into a heavily fortified city. Massive stone walls reinforced with beams of black iron surround the inner city boroughs. Doors of brass and adornments of silver and gold on the buildings hint at the city’s mineral wealth and speak to its large population of dwarven craftspeople.
As impressive as the city is, the network of mines below dwarves it in size and complexity. A labyrinth of endless excavations below the surface have unveiled an immense trove of precious metals, which the people of Stonefast use to fuel their economy. With access to a seaport, and a position near the ore-rich mountains, Stonefast's importance to the rest of the mineral-poor Greenwold is difficult to overstate.
For much of its history, Stonefast remained a stalwart fixture on the map of many dwarves and humans who ventured to the coast. As refugees and nomads began to settle around and within the fortress walls, merchants and artisans began forming small guilds and cooperatives. Before long, the fort expanded into a full-fledged city-state, governed by a council of human bureaucrats and dwarven traders.
Demographics
Dwarves and humans split the population in this fortified city on the mountains – the one place a large population of dwarves can be found outside of their isolated mountain homes in the frozen Highland Reaches.
Defences
After centuries of delving, a vast network of tunnels, caverns, mines and thoroughfares sprawls under the city - continually growing and all but unmappable.
Secure in their legendary defenses, and rich with the wealth of the realm, the folk of Stonefast are the proudest and staunchest in the Greenwold, confident that their city will outlast even the mountains.
The Gates of Stonefast
The walls of Stonefast are famously impenetrable, having turned aside scores of armies over the ages. Ideally, the adventurers use the info in this section to enter the city by stealth, but should they storm the magically protected gates, here is what they face.
Two 20 ft. high steel and mithril gates are held together with an enormous mithril bar on the interior. When in place, the bar renders the gates resistant to all damage.
The walls around the gates are 30 ft. high, and lined with battlements, whichprovide 3/4 cover. Four ballistas are built into the walls near the gate. Six arrow slits set in the tower walls allow strategically placed knights or priests to attack or cast spells at any attackers.
Industry & Trade
From within the safety of its towering walls the alliance of men and dwarves flourished, and commerce sprang forth. Stocked by the caravans of the dwarves, and supplemented by the rich veins of ore below its own foundations, Stonefast became the primary provider of silver, iron, copper and other metals in the Greenwold.
Infrastructure
The Stone
Castle of Stonefast, built of stone and ornately decorated, it is the seat of power for the rulers of Stonefast. It is centrally located with the city.
The Mining Tunnels
Tunnels beneath the city of Stonefast that allow movement underneath the city and into the caverns where the minerals and exports of the city are obtained.
Constructed over the span of centuries, the tunnels under Stonefast weren't exactly built with a navigational plan in mind
The King's Forge
Located in the deepest levels of the Stone. It served as the subterranean throne room of the old dwarf rulers, with a single tunnel to the surface and a magic gate that seals the exit, only able to be opened from the inside.
The King's Forge is built on a colossal scale, with tiered levels of ramps and rail connecting it to important locations throughout the mines.
History
Stonefast, Bastion of the North, was born from the first alliance of dwarves and men. Starting as a humble frontier outpost it has grown into a wealthy port and trade hub.
One of the three great cities of the Greenwold (along with Grayhaven and Slew), Stonefast was founded in war. Orcs and giants, their rampages from the north long unchecked, met their first defeats at the impregnable gates of Stonefast - a city wrought with dwarven cunning, fueled by man's ambition, and forged in courage.
The Empyrean Invasion
In 1001 AWD, the city was sieged and conquered by the Empyrean as the Heroes of Greenwold were at the Grand Necropolis, and odd time magic caused what seemed like days to them was weeks back in Greenwold. The mines were able to be used by an underground resistance force until the arrival of the Heroes to aid them in taking back the city.
By the time the Heroes of Greenwold arrived in Stonefast, the worst of the damage had been done. The city of exquisite stonework and ambitious architecture still stand for the most part, though lifetimes of fine detail were destroyed in the quick, unexpected onslaught.
The King and Queen were killed during the onslaught of the forces of the Empyrean, only their son who was away at the city of Slew survived, thus allowing their line to continue.
Entire buildings were missing on some blocks, blasted apart by magical attacks designed to take down structures while rampant fire damaged many more.
The once-bustling city streets were quiet, save for the regular guard patrols of the Warmaster's men methodically sacking and searching those buildings were left standing.
Those citizens who weren't able to flee the city in the initial assault ended up as prisoners of the Warmaster or took to ground in the tunnels under the city.
The greatest numbers of the Red Academy troops could be found at the city gates and operating out of The Stone - the heavily fortified castle in the heart of the city. Smaller posts were stationed around securely blockaded entrances to the mines below. The rest of the city was monitored by Red Academy shock troopers patrolling from the air and small groups of soldiers on foot, retreading already decimated structures, hoping to find more prisoners for the Warmaster.
Despite the oppressive military presence, as the Heroes of Greenwold passed through the city they could occasionally hear distant scuffles, shouts of alarm, or the reverberation of magical attacks. Unable (or unwilling) to leave Stonefast, resistance fighters used their knowledge of hidden tunnels to strike when and where they could, hampering the Warmaster's activities and stealing supplies.
With the Red Academy troops divided between the surface and the mines below, the resistance had been able to claim a handful of victories - but as the number of troops in the city only increases, the resistance found their hands increasingly tied.
The Heroes of Greenwold pushed the invaders back to the portal and pursued them through, entering into the Red Academy in search of the children that were stolen by the Empyrean forces. The Heroes of Greenwold returned about two weeks later to the city as it once again came under control of the people of Greenwold.
Architecture
The city is built out of stone that has been intricately carved and decorated over the centuries. The city sits within the mountains and overtop numerous caverns below.
Natural Resources
Stonefast is the primary provider of silver, iron, copper and other metals in the Greenwold.
Recent Developments:
After the fall of the Empyrean, industry in Stonefast flourished. Fueled by new mineral deposits unearthed below the keep, metalsmiths developed new tools to harness and mold the powerful metals. Recently, a promising adamantine mining operation turned violent when the excavators were attacked by a contingent of dark dwarves. Realizing a passageway to the darklands had opened in the depths, the council now scrambles for a response. Dwarven hatred for their cruel cousins has spurred their kind to action, leading to increased patrols into the depths. But the humans advise caution, and suggest collapsing the tunnels, less they stir up more trouble from the deep caverns far below.
Roads of hard, smooth stone run in an orderly grid from the towering city gates through the low, cramped buildings.
The rumble of activity in the mines can be felt underfoot. The clang and clink of hammers on metal and chisels on stone can be heard everywhere.
The smell of coal smoke from a hundred forges and distant pine trees fills the high mountain air.
Alternative Name(s)
Bastion in the North
Type
Large city
Location under
Owner/Ruler
Ruling/Owning Rank
Owning Organization
Characters in Location
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