Re: Miners & Mine workers

From: Joerg Baumgartner <joe_at_...>
Date: Wed, 26 Sep 2001 20:30:32 +0000


Darran

> I was wondering why there wasn't an occupation for miners, someone has to
> get the metal for the redsmiths to work?

I guess that's because there aren't that many among the average Sartarite clans. The only active Sartarite mining site I know of is the hills near Tink, which is outside of the tribal lands of Sartar, north of the Creek. Maybe one or two clans have something resembling a mining activity, but even then I expect this to be riverine "gold-washing" (for lesser metals, though) rather than scratching tunnels into mountainsides.

After all, the Sartarite clans left Heortland to be spared the life of thralls.

In my Heortland campaign notes, there are silver mines in the upper foothills of the Storm Mountains, the source of the Heortlander Guilders, and a source of conflict between thick-hided mountain folk and urbane feudalists.

In traditional Heortling society, I suppose that digging for ore is similar in status to stickpicking - people just go out and gather natural resources without much sophistication needed. Smelting or refining the ore is done by the smiths, who receive the charcoal produced by other stickpickers as well. Smiths might oversee the ore-gathering operations, or sages whose expertise (in myths or natural law) can direct the gatherers.

In Heortland, miners will form guilds or fraternities, ersatz-clans which might grow (or have grown) into the real thing (i.e. just another whacko clan specialisation).

> On top of that, what god/aspect would they worship?

A subcult of Orlanth Allfather could be a miner, by default. A specialist deity might be involved, too - Gustbran or Quivin spring to mind.

> Mostal seems okay but not very Heortling-like.

More likely some Orlanth(i) deity which befriended or stole from Mostal. Perhaps Isidilian or one of his siblings, if you want to go to extremes.

> Asrelia the goddess of the
> Earth's Wealth seems more apropriate but comes across as strictly female
> worshipped goddess not one for big, burly miners (at least to me anyway).

Asrelia will be the goddess whom the mining god might have to seduce (or similar) in the rites.

Which might make mining slightly unpleasant, knowing that you have to seduce a crone...

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