Garnet Valley Hold
Contents
History
Garnet Valley Hold was created fifty turns after the end of the Ninth Pass, in the Western Barrier range.
Location
Garnet Valley is located at the base of the Western Barrier Range. Due to this, it has a very rocky terrain and not much in the way of natural greenery. The natural foliage it does have is a hardy brush like grass and evergreen type trees.
The Smith Hall and Minerhall are co-located approximately a mile from the main hold. It is approximately a half candlemark walk.
Weather at the Hold ranges from pleasantly hot in summer, to cool, almost chilly in winter. But beware to those who get caught out after dark: when the sun goes down, the temperature can drop thirty degrees Fahrenheit! The Hold gets little precipitation, with an annual average of three inches of rain, and only light snowfall in the wintertime.
Building Information
Garnet Valley Hold is more like Fort(tm) Hold in construction than any of the southern Holds, being carved out of a series of natural caverns in the Western Barrier Range. The only parts of the Hold that are not contained within the mountain are the Entrance Hall, and the six guard towers that surround it. The builders of the Hold decided to leave the Hold's interior as it was, working only to enlarge and beautify natural caverns and tunnels. There is not a room or a corridor that does not have some sort of carving or decoration.
The cotholds surrounding the Hold are undoubtedly unique in their design. Scattered across the mountain's face, they are carved directly from the surrounding rock. Some look like miniature versions of Garnet Valley Hold; some like the fronts of normal cotholds; some, well, who knows who came up with them? The minor holds are more traditional, but always with some chambers in the mountain's face.
Technology Level
Garnet Valley is fortunate to have a source of electric power. Using a diagram from the AIVAS(tm) files, the Smithcraft Hall created one of modern Pern's first geothermal generators. This system not only provides the hold with electricity, but also an abundance of hot air and hot water.
Female Policy
The formal policy of Garnet Valley is to not allow female crafters from the Hold itself. This makes it quite difficult with the transition of the Smithcraft Hall allowing female apprentices. It is a situation that has yet to be tested so it is unknown how the current Lord would react to any of his holders requesting to apprentice.
Population and Plague Effects
There are approximately 250 people beholden to the Hold, but that is just a fraction of its population at the height of its prosperity before the plague.
Being the most isolated Hold, Garnet Valley Hold was the last place the recent plague touched. The previous Lord Holder, Atraft, a slightly eccentric old man, locked up the Hold when he first heard of the plague, allowing no one in or out. His intent was to wait the plague out, then come out as one of the most stable and prosperous Lord Holders. His plan backfired: the Hold's supplies, depleted the previous winter, lasted no more than a few months. Atraft was forced to open the Hold, or face mass starvation. With trade re-opened, the plague raced in.
By the time the sickness passed, more than half the Hold's population was dead. What's worse, the Hold's Bloodline was decimated. The only members of the Blood left were the old Holder, Atraft, and his only son, Aswic. Blaming himself for the death of his family and the people beholden to him, he committed suicide. Before he died, he named Aswic his successor. Now, Turns later, Aswic is finally beginning to achieve what has been his life's goal: return Garnet Valley Hold to it's former prestige and wealth.
Economy
Farming, once thought impossible in the rocky and arid environment of the Hold, is now a large source of food for Garnet Valley. The main crops are grains like wheat and barley, grown on man-made, irrigated plateaus. These were cut from the mountain two centuries ago as an experiment, and were enlarged as their worth became evident. A few beastholds scattered across Garnet Valley Hold provide a source of meat, and a small source of income as well.
The two Halls near the Hold are the Miner Hall and the Smithcraft Hall. The two halls are co-located within the same land, sharing dining facilities and kitchens with separate living quarters.
The Miner Hall actually outdates the Hold, as the surveys that discovered that caves that house Garnet Valley Hold also indicated large deposits of metals and usable stone, and the Minercraft wanted to get to such a motherlode quickly. The first Lord Holder persuaded the Miner Hall to do all the excavation and stone work for the Hold, with the provision that the miners could take any metal ore or precious gems that were found.
The Smithcraft Hall was founded about thirty-six turns after the opening of the Hold, with the advantage of being close to the Minercraft Hall. Both halls have a special agreement with the Lord Holder concerning trade. The Halls are allowed unrestricted dealings with the numerous trader caravans in the area. The only caveat is that a small fee is charged for each item sold.
