Arenam's Quarry: Difference between revisions
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{{Settlement Infobox | {{Settlement Infobox | ||
|Image=[[File:Arenams Quarry | |Image=[[File:Arenams Quarry - General 02.jpg|thumb]] | ||
|Name=Arenam’s Quarry | |Name=Arenam’s Quarry | ||
|Type=Glass Mining Settlement | |Type=Glass Mining Settlement | ||
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}} | }} | ||
{{Settlement Sections | {{Settlement Sections | ||
|Introduction='''Arenam’s Quarry''' is a small but vital mining settlement in the Glass Fields of [[Zanarak]], where raw mirage glass, obsidian, and rare crystalline formations are extracted from the fractured desert. Named after [[Arenam]], the Spirit of Sand and Glass, the town is as harsh and unforgiving as the desert itself—a place where every step is a risk, and every shard has value. | |Introduction='''Arenam’s Quarry''' is a small but vital mining settlement in the [[Glass Fields]] of [[Zanarak]], where raw mirage glass, obsidian, and rare crystalline formations are extracted from the fractured desert. Named after [[Arenam]], the Spirit of Sand and Glass, the town is as harsh and unforgiving as the desert itself—a place where every step is a risk, and every shard has value. | ||
|Geography=Arenam’s Quarry is located north of [[Azirith]], nestled within the Glass Fields of Zanarak. The land surrounding the town is a treacherous expanse of jagged, splintered glass formations, formed by the intense fusion of desert sands and Ashland heat. | |Geography=Arenam’s Quarry is located north of [[Azirith]], nestled within the Glass Fields of Zanarak. The land surrounding the town is a treacherous expanse of jagged, splintered glass formations, formed by the intense fusion of desert sands and Ashland heat. | ||
The town itself is built low to the ground, its stone and glass-reinforced dwellings designed to withstand the deadly glassstorms that sweep through the region. Deep within the quarry, a network of tunnels and shelters, known as | The town itself is built low to the ground, its stone and glass-reinforced dwellings designed to withstand the deadly glassstorms that sweep through the region. Deep within the quarry, a network of tunnels and shelters, known as [[Omareth’s Hollow]], protects miners and traders from the elements. | ||
|History=Arenam’s Quarry was founded centuries ago when [[Gilaari]] prospectors first uncovered vast deposits of mirage glass deep within the Glass Fields. The settlement grew around the richest veins, its survival dependent on the constant demand for glass and obsidian in cities like Azirith and [[Orundahl]]. | |History=Arenam’s Quarry was founded centuries ago when [[Gilaari]] prospectors first uncovered vast deposits of mirage glass deep within the Glass Fields. The settlement grew around the richest veins, its survival dependent on the constant demand for glass and obsidian in cities like Azirith and [[Orundahl]]. | ||
Over time, the [[Sunshifters]] arrived, bringing their expertise in alchemical refinement, transforming raw glass into weapons, enchanted artifacts, and illusionary lenses. Though Arenam’s Quarry has never been a thriving metropolis, its resources are invaluable to Zanarak and beyond. | Over time, the [[Sunshifters]] arrived, bringing their expertise in alchemical refinement, transforming raw glass into weapons, enchanted artifacts, and illusionary lenses. Though Arenam’s Quarry has never been a thriving metropolis, its resources are invaluable to Zanarak and beyond. | ||
|Notable Locations==== Tzelha’s Wake === | |Notable Locations==== Tzelha’s Wake === | ||
[[Tzelha’s Wake]] is largest open-pit mine in the region, said to have been split open by the final act of [[Tzelha]], an enigmatic figure whose name is now spoken only in fragments of legend. | |||
* The terrain is unstable, with sections collapsing and reforming unpredictably as the desert shifts. | * The terrain is unstable, with sections collapsing and reforming unpredictably as the desert shifts. | ||
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* Certain areas of the quarry are avoided due to unexplained disappearances, with some believing that disturbing the oldest formations brings misfortune. | * Certain areas of the quarry are avoided due to unexplained disappearances, with some believing that disturbing the oldest formations brings misfortune. | ||
=== Vothar’s Forge === | === Vothar’s Forge === | ||
[[Vothar’s Forge]] is a [[Sunshifter]]-operated refinery where mirage glass is melted, reshaped, and infused with alchemical energy. It is named after [[Vothar]], a figure from Sunshifter history who was said to have woven light into glass, though whether he was a real person or a symbolic myth remains uncertain. | |||
* The furnaces burn with alchemical fire, producing heat capable of reshaping even the hardest materials. | * The furnaces burn with alchemical fire, producing heat capable of reshaping even the hardest materials. | ||
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* Apprentices must undergo the Trial of the Glassfire, a test of patience and control that determines whether they are worthy of the craft. | * Apprentices must undergo the Trial of the Glassfire, a test of patience and control that determines whether they are worthy of the craft. | ||
=== The Xalreth Span === | === The Xalreth Span === | ||
The [[Xalreth Span]] is a fractured ridge of black glass, forming a natural bridge over the lower quarry. The name comes from an old Gilaari word meaning "shattered paths," referencing both its unstable footing and the way voices seem to carry unnaturally across its surface. | |||
* The ridge is known for sudden fractures, making crossing it a calculated risk. | * The ridge is known for sudden fractures, making crossing it a calculated risk. | ||
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* Some believe the span was once part of a much larger structure, long since consumed by the desert. | * Some believe the span was once part of a much larger structure, long since consumed by the desert. | ||
=== Omareth’s Hollow === | === Omareth’s Hollow === | ||
[[Omareth’s Hollow]] is a network of underground tunnels and shelters carved beneath the settlement, used as a refuge during the glassstorms that periodically sweep through the region. | |||
* The name comes from an oral tradition among the Gilaari, which tells of a caravan led by Omareth that survived a month-long storm by taking shelter in an early form of these tunnels. | * The name comes from an oral tradition among the Gilaari, which tells of a caravan led by Omareth that survived a month-long storm by taking shelter in an early form of these tunnels. | ||
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* Certain tunnels remain unmarked on any known map, with rumors of hidden chambers that predate the settlement itself. | * Certain tunnels remain unmarked on any known map, with rumors of hidden chambers that predate the settlement itself. | ||
=== Shavhiri Market === | === Shavhiri Market === | ||
Arenam’s primary trading post, where merchants from distant settlements barter for raw glass, obsidian tools, and alchemical components. The market takes its name from the Sunshifter term "shavhiri," which refers to wealth gained through mirages—an allusion to the way fortunes rise and fall unpredictably in the desert. | [[Shavhiri Market]] is Arenam’s primary trading post, where merchants from distant settlements barter for raw glass, obsidian tools, and alchemical components. The market takes its name from the Sunshifter term "shavhiri," which refers to wealth gained through mirages—an allusion to the way fortunes rise and fall unpredictably in the desert. | ||
* The location of the market shifts depending on the season, alternating between open-air spaces and underground chambers. | * The location of the market shifts depending on the season, alternating between open-air spaces and underground chambers. |