Redrock

The Settlement of Redrock

Origin

The settlement of Redrock is owned by the Spine Peak Mining Company. It was set up twenty years ago when they purchased the mining rights to a large sector of this part of the Dragonspine Mountains when no-one else was interested.
Their decision was mocked by other mining companies for early testing had shown no chance of uncovering anything valuable here. And the Council of Churiss gladly accepted the license fees to what they considered at the time to be worthless country.
But the company pressed ahead, bringing in a skilled labor force of dwarves from a western clan hitherto unknown to the people of The Nation of Churiss.
In all, they brought in about five hundred or so experienced dwarven miners with required support staff and built an entire town in the mountains where they felt at home.
The company did not name the town, but the people of Churiss named it, rather unoriginally, Dwarf Town. However, when the true nature of this site was realized, it was quickly, and more appropriately, renamed.

Natural Geology

Although the company seemingly made a huge misjudgment on the mining value of this location, they knew what they were doing. Their tests in the area showed strong indications of rich veins of ore they were experts in finding, mining, and selling.
They moved quickly to make bids on the mining rights for they knew that if their tests were accurate they would make a fortune out of this place.

Chensah

The company was right - within months of mining, they found significant deposits of Chensah.
It is a relatively rare substance, even when found in its more usual form as an ore. This has an earthy red color and is primarily used as a pigment and in traditional medicines when ground to powder.
The rarest and most valuable form is beautifully pure red gem crystals that can be cut into exquisite jewelry and carved ornaments. With the right skills applied, these items fetch enormous sums on the open market. Every member of the super-rich classes wants to be seen with an item fashioned from the purest Chensah.
The miners had struck it rich - they had uncovered big deposits of both forms of Chensah.

Demographics

The population is 100% dwarves, of which 65% are male. The non-mining inhabitants provide support services for the miners, consisting of cooks, bakers, clothing and boot repairs, etc. But you will not see a barber in this town - a dwarf never lets anyone else cut their beard.

Government

The town is run by the local manager of the Spine Peak Mining Company, Debela Windrock. She runs the town and mining operation to plan - her plan. No-one can step out of line and not be noticed by Debela.
But she is also forgiving of genuine mistakes and is a skilled work and life coach.
The mix of her obvious skills, disciplined approach and compassion to her fellows has earned her the full respect of her workers - they work as hard for her as they do for their pay.

Industry & Trade

90% of the Chensah they mine is exported abroad - interestingly not much is exported back to the homeland of the dwarves themselves.

Infrastructure

The town is very simple - most buildings are huts made from stone quarried and built by the miners.
They have erected a series of lifts and platforms rising into the mountains to various mine shafts to aid the journey to and from work each day.
Within the mines, they have constructed cart tracks to transport miners to the rock faces and to transport mined materials back to the surface.
Chensah is known to be often found near hot springs - the result of past volcanic activity. This proved true of Redrock. The dwarves built stone channels from a number of springs directing the water to a group of stone-built bathhouses.
Many mistakenly believe that dwarves do not bathe. This is incorrect and the hot baths rich in natural minerals was a welcome addition to their settlement providing an ideal way to unwind and recharge their strength at the end of a hard days work - usually with a tankard of ale in their hand at the same time.

Assets

There are three main equipment and material stores on the outskirts of the town where skilled builders and metalsmiths make and repair equipment for the mining operation. These are busy roles as the dwarves of Redrock are fast miners and any slowdown of production is expensive to the company.

Location of Redrock

Redrock is situated towards the southern end of the Dragonspine Mountains in the The Nation of Churiss and indicated on the map by a black mine cart.

Churiss

Open full size

Having secured its independence one hundred years ago, it flourishes as a center of trade and culture.

Founding Date

The town was constructed twenty years ago.

Alternative Name(s)

Dwarf Town

Type

Town

Population

Five hundred and thirty three

Inhabitant Demonym

Rockers

Jewelery

The deep red gem crystals are highly prized and skilled gem cutters can turn them into objects that only the most wealthy can afford.

Carved Ornaments

Skilled craftspeople can carve the ore into exquisite ornaments that fetch a handsome sum of money to the right (and rich) buyer.

Cover art by: Pexels  https://pixabay.com/users/pexels-2286921/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=1839298

Vase image by: Jing https://pixabay.com/users/jing-48262/

Picture of crystal by: Ren_mch https://pixabay.com/users/ren_mch-16362152/

Map produced using: Wonderdraft https://www.wonderdraft.net/