Neue Yaark
| Neue Yaark | |
|---|---|
| File:Neue Yaark.jpg | |
| Neue Yaark on the Wolf River | |
| Settlement type | Mining village |
| Duchy | Toreen |
| District/province | — |
| Population | — |
| Founded | — |
Neue Yaark is an isolated mining village in the Duchy of Toreen, Kalderesh. It stands beside the Wolf River on the Stormreach Uplands, in the foothills of the Ironcrest Hills. The village is best known for its coal and gold mines and for the difficulty of reaching it from the principal roads of the duchy.
Geography and access
Neue Yaark lies in broken upland country. The Greelwood Forest borders the settlement to the north, while the terrain to the north-east becomes increasingly rugged and has a longstanding reputation for skrags and other dangerous creatures.
The village is not situated on a major road. A rough track runs approximately 30 kilometres west to the Stonemoor Secondary Road. The journey commonly takes two days because of the condition of the ground. From Stonemoor, travellers may continue towards Gaunt's Watch and eventually reach the Royal Road.
The Wolf River supplies the settlement with water and power. Market Street Bridge is the principal local crossing.
Village
Neue Yaark is largely self-sustaining. Its principal civic and commercial buildings include the Council Hall, school, mill, brewery, tannery and smithy. Most everyday trade serves farming families, miners and the transport of ore and fuel.
The Three Tree Inn stands on the eastern edge of the village. It is a popular meeting place for residents, miners and the few travellers who make the journey to Neue Yaark.
Mines
The mines lie approximately one hour east of the village. They were originally opened for coal, but the later discovery of gold brought a period of rapid expansion and attracted labourers, merchants and prospectors.
A substantial mining settlement has grown around the main entrance. It includes worker hostels, coal storehouses, a general shop, the Small Barrel Inn and the now-empty Golden Sheep public house. The mining complex remains economically dependent upon Neue Yaark, although its distance from the village gives it a distinct character.
The older workings are extensive and imperfectly documented. Stories of lost passages, missing miners and haunted galleries are common, although accounts vary considerably.
Government
Neue Yaark is formally governed by its Town Council. The Council has limited revenue and has accepted financial assistance from Varig Krunz, a wealthy landowner whose fortified residence stands approximately 50 kilometres south of the village. Krunz has acquired substantial property in the surrounding region and has become increasingly influential in local affairs.
Arthur Greenbottom, who bears the title of Steward, acts as Krunz's principal representative in Neue Yaark. Opinion concerning the arrangement is divided: some residents regard Krunz's money as necessary support for an isolated settlement, while others consider it an attempt to gain control of the mines and Council.
Religion
Religious life in the village centres upon an All-Gods temple and a dedicated Temple of Oohm.
An abandoned Chapel of Qidra stands at the mining complex. It was formerly tended by Lady Yoren, who withdrew from the settlement and now lives in the nearby Hills of Lemon.
Notable residents
- William Streams
- An accomplished local alchemist.
- Becky Rolland
- A gem cutter whose work is closely connected to the gold-mining trade.
- Rendal Twoshanks
- A mining overseer who is widely distrusted and frequently accused of corruption.
- Arthur Greenbottom
- The Steward and local representative of Varig Krunz.
Recent events and rumours
In early 4691, Neue Yaark and its mines suffered a series of disturbing events. Several miners disappeared, rumours of strange occurrences spread through the older workings, and skrags attacked both the settlement and the mining district. The immediate attacks were repelled, but the surrounding wilderness and abandoned passages remain dangerous.
The causes of these events are disputed. Common explanations include ordinary skrag raiding, criminal activity, mining accidents and the persistent claim that something in the deepest workings has been disturbed.
See also