Amberdo

Protector's Report

Deep within the White Rose Forest, a day South-East past the cranberry filled waters of Redmouth, one can find at the foot of Mount Lan'Stev's waterfall the town known as Amberdo. Due to the local bog iron deposit self-renewing every year, Amberdo is one of the most important strategic location of the Vinian Crown, as well as a point of interest for many universities trying to replicate the phenomenon. Currently the Lester noble family is owning the town and its ressources.
Since the death of the Good King political tensions and criminality have risen throughout the nation, Amberdo is no exception, whilst the Lester family is officialy aligned with the Margrave, Crown Breakers see the town's remote location as well as its strategic ressources as a path toward an independent barony owned by themselves. As with most southern Vinian Crown town, the commonfolks are split between The Ravens (those who believe the Margrave should rule) and the Swans (those who believe the rumored adopted Prince should rule) with a minority being Crown Breakers, dangerous criminals who believe a nation is stronger in a perpetual state of war.
Recent disappearances have been worrying the populace of Amberdo, with key members of all three factions being found dead weeks after being reported missing. All three parties blaming each other, it is now a quite common occurrence to see a brawl in a public area. Recently the Iron Hand Sevina Howlkin and the Baron sent a call for aid for Protectors, promising a bounty of five hundred gold to any party or guild able to restore order to the town, due to the lack of any major Aether Crystal deposit in the area the Loremaster's Association has evaluated the danger levels to be minor (threat level 0 to 2), Protectors should be cautious regardless.

Demographics

After the fall of the Karborro Empire to the Great Wyrm, Tar'Task, a great amount of the Wöld population has fled through the many tunnels of the empire, one such tunnel is located in Mount Lan'Stev, since then Amberdo, as with many Vinian towns, has been home to the refugees. The population of the town is almost evenly split between the Azhors (Humans) and the Wölds (Dwarves), with a minority of Karash (seafolks) and Sel'Ani (Elves).
Most of the population of Amberdo is working on the bog iron mines, filling various roles from digger to metallurgist to foreman, or as craftspeople of various kind. Wealth classes vary but rumor has it that the only truly rich family within the town is the Lester family as they tax every ore shipment as well as metals going out of Amberdo, that said the town has been growing in prosperity ever since the baron has taken over. The town is currently bidding to have access to the crown's railway, while this would be a detour to the current plan for the arcane engine, Lord Cormin Lester argues that a path through the town and through Mount Lan'Stev is the most efficient road to the Kingdom of Taria and the neighboring nations, Kitia, Oxmark and Calastor which would greatly benefit trade throughout, this is heavily disputed by the duke of Stonebridge.

Government

The Baron, currently Lord Cormin Lester, owns the town and its ressources, as such a small fee is charged for every ore or piece of metal entering or exiting the town. Protector's must note that their weapons and armors are no exception to this rule. The Lester family reports directly to the duke of Stonebridge.

The Chamberlain, currently Olea Baret, is in charge of the town's treasury and taxes. Sevina Howlkin reports to the Baron and to the duke of Stonebridge.

The Lord Surveyor, currently Theodor Whiteglade, is in charge of the mine operations. Theodor Whiteglade reports to the Baron and the Chamberlain.

The Iron Hand, currently Lady Sevina Howlkin, is in charge of the town's security and the town's provisions. Lady Sevina Howlkin reports directly to the Crown if the need arises.

The High Artificer, currently Master Serlo Jaspar, is in charge of maintening the town's infrastructure. Master Serlo Jaspar reports to the Baron and the Chamberlain.

Defences

Amberdo is protected by a palisade and three wooden towers set strategically at the northern end of the town, the town is also set at the foot of the Lan'Stev mountain, making it nearly impenetrable from the South. Amberdo has three entry points which are positioned next to the towers, two of them are closed during the night to avoid roaming animals entering the town. Due to its strategic nature a hundred Red Badge, "Meatshields" led by the Iron Hand, are stationed in Amberdo, in the event of a military invasion up to a quarter of the populace can be levied and armed, basic weapons and armors can be found at the garrison.

Industry & Trade

Amberdo's main export is iron and products deriving from it, steel, horseshoes, nails, tools, simple weapons and armors, bog iron is considered unsuitable for higher end armaments. The town also export clay, wallnut wood, and leather but in comparison to iron these only represent minor exports.
The town main imports include wheat, bread, cranberry, grapes, beef, wool, sugar, salt, dyes and pewter. Lately illusion beads for both media purposes and to play Living Scrolls have increased in demand, bordering a major import.
Importing Caravans are seen every week and usually stay for a few days to trade. Merchants usually come from Stonebridge or Redmouth.
Every month a protected convoy is sent from Stonebridge to export Amberdo's iron, steel, weapons and armors.
Marked Goods, magically sealed crates, from Aguilos WIP are imported once a year.

History

Old Amberdo was founded over a century ago by Lord Archibald Lester, an honored knight of Elkwood who was given the territory to create a castle at the northern edge of the White Rose Forest. The bog iron deposit was discovered within a decade of the first settlers coming to the region, although Elkwood tried to hide the ore existence from its neighboring countries, it was quickly uncovered as Vinia, Garm, Nebon, Kotengar, Volkir, Luren, Kasmar, Elkwood and the Karborro refugees signed the Crown's Accord which merged all eight countries into a single nation, the Vinian Crown, ruled by nine kings/queens. After the Crown's Accord was signed, plans for Amberdo's castle were abandoned leaving only faint ruins of the fortification behind, regardless more settlers incentive as well as a more reliable chain of supply were established.
Fires have been a source of concern throughout the town's history, the first bloomery furnaces were first set within the town which resulted in what is known to the townsfolk today as the "First Day of Ember", where the grand majority of Old Amberdo only remains were ashes. After Amberdo rebuilt, due to a decree from the Crown, bloomeries were set outside of town despite the heavy protest of the Iron Hand and the Baron, which led in turn to the "Second Day of Ember", where the entire northern edge of the White Rose Forest, including Old Amberdo, was completely burnt.
In a third attempt to exploit the iron, an attempt was made to resettle Amberdo near a waterfall but were quickly paused due to the event of the Star Fall era, which made magic accessible for possibly the first time since the Ancients in the form of Aether Crystal and its byproduct Aether Mist. The town was finally settled in its current form, 8 years into the Age of Aether (45 years ago) by the young Cormin Lester, this time with recent advancement in technology, magic and the fusing of both, which should in theory avoid a "Third Day of Ember" as bloomeries are now placed on artificial islands, the molten slag flowing directly into the bog's water.

Points of interest

Amberdo possess a few locations which may interest an entrepreneurial Protector:

Amberdo's waterfall, although a wonderful sight during the summer as water flow directly down from Mount Lan'Stev basin, during the winter it is prone to freezing, the town will hire anyone brave enough to climb the mountain and bring down blocks of ice, recently sights of a harpy tribe have been sent to the Loremaster's Association, wether they are hostile, friendly or beastial is unknown.

Old Amberdo ruins, as the old town was supposed to hold a castle some "secret" tunnels were built underneath the town, such places are commonly infested with daemons such as goblins or kobolds if Aether Mist was to amass there. This could be a good opportunity for new Protectors, that said those locations are also prone to attracting reckless locals trying to acquire an Aether Crystal which can result in dangerous situation, as always caution is advised.

The bloomeries and Digging "Ground", called "Steam Bog" by the locals, while this is heavily protected by the Red Badges ("Meatshields") this remain an important location in the Vinian Crown and may be worth visiting. Bold students trying to fill research papers on the bog phenomenon may need an escort further down the bog, while this is an appropriate task for new Protectors, be wary, as failing to protect a student of a prestigious university will lead to permanent consequences for you and your guild.

The tavern, called Dragon's Breath. It's always a good idea to visit the local tavern as it is the social center of town and the best place to gather rumours for potential work, bringing your custom illusion beads for Living Scrolls will always impress the locals.

The town's market, caravans exiting town may need an escort.

The Karborro Empire tunnel, currently sealed, only highly experienced Protectors should enter and hope they never encounter the Great Wyrm.

The Path to Taria, wild trails through the mountains that go down to the Kingdom of Taria, old watchtowers from the Age of Iron can be found throughout.

The Redbloom Cavern, as the name suggest Redblooms bloom there which may attract many types of creatures, tincture made from the flower's petals can be used for scrollmaking, it is situated a Est from Amberdo.

The Red Badge training grounds, as the name suggest it could be a good place to hone your skills.

Amberdo's Bog Iron

Bog iron is as the name suggest a form of iron found in bogs or swamps, while it can be picked up by hand in some circumstances, Amberdo's deposit is dug up with shovels. To remove some of the impurities of the bog iron, the metal is smelted in bloomery furnaces, the excess slag is then taken back to the bog waters. Amberdo's bloomery furnaces are set on the bog many "islands" to reduce the risk of fires and also act as ice melters during the colder months.
The smoke produced by the furnaces and slags as well as the waters of the bog are all toxic, caution is advised.

Food and Water Access

Clean water is sourced from the waterfall which the town surrounds. During the winter, in which the waterfall may freeze, blocks of ice are cut and then boiled at the local tavern to provide some drinking water to the townspeople. During harsher winters where cutting ice might be too dangerous, local Lampbearers are tasked with acquiring water from Redmouth, in those instances twenty or so caravans are sent every day with large metal crates to be filled with water. The town is currently working on creating a storage house, which should be able to hold enough water for a week worth of consumption.
Amberdo's land being inhospitable to farms, most of the food is gathered or hunted from the local woods or imported from Redmouth and Knight's Rest. Local cuisine often includes fowl, rabbit, hare, chicken, eggs, black walnut, cranberry (imported), grapes (imported) and bread (imported).

Founding Date

-86 BSF (139 years ago)

Type

Large town

Population

Approximately 2000

Location under

Vinian Crown

Owner/Ruler

Cormin Lester

Ruling/Owning Rank

Baron