Copperton

Copperton is a major producer of copper and bronze goods at the edge of the Frostcrag Mountains.

Overview

Copperton began as a joint venture between Dwarven clans in the area and a number of Bricians who had taken up residence along the Ashflow river. The two groups joined together over the profits that both sides made mining, smelting, and transporting the ore to port. Copperton is the second largest settlement in the Crucible after Ashport. It just edges out Goldmead in terms of total size.

Copperton sits at the edge of the Frostcrag Mountains, which is where it derives its mineral wealth from. There are many mines covering the mountains that are visible from the walls of Copperton. It is said that many of these lead down into the shadowy Underdark beneath, and that strange creatures come up from the depth at night in order to trade with secret cabals and cults within the city.

City is probably a generous term to describe Copperton. It is technically a large town, but it is just on the edge of becoming a real city. Attempts have been made to draw more people to live in the area, but this has proven difficult. The poisoned waters, large heaps of slag surrounding the city, and the cramped conditions within make the town a very unhealthy place to live.

The Overboss, a has tried to make things seem easier. He official renamed the stream that runs through the town "Tangy Creek" in order to make it sound more appetizing when people have to drink copper-flavored water. Additionally, he had all the towns bakeries shut down and two massive industrial scale bakeries built in order to fill the streets with the scent of fresh baked bread to cover the smell of molten slag. Everything is covered in a layer of dark soot, though, and many of the townsfolk in the northern districts know that nothing has actually changed.

There is constant unrest in the city, with protests weekly over the conditions. These protests are typically broken up by the very capable and cruel guard that the Overboss keeps employed at great expense, who are sometimes backed up by the Overboss' personal guard. Executions without trial have become common place.

The towns is almost two-thirds human, but of those two thirds almost half are of Geir ancestry. They are the descedents of indentured servants who were forced to travel from the south with caravans to serve the town masters over the last few centuries. They see the Bricians as oppressors. Conversely, the Bricians see the Geir as barbaric, despite them both actually being under the yoke of the ruling class.