Miner Hall

History

Founded about thirty turns after the Ninth Pass ended, the Miner Hall was set up to take advantage of the major lodes of ore in the surrounding mountains. About fifteen turns later, the Hall was approached about building a new Hold, Garnet Valley. The Hallmaster was reluctant to comply, since the miners had just hit a mother lode of valuable ore. When a deal was struck that the Miners could keep whatever valuable ore and gems they found while digging out the Hold, the Hallmaster relented.

Approximately thirty-six turns after Garnet Valley Hold was established, the Smithcraft Hall was founded within a short walking distance. With their close proximity, the Halls were able to reach trading agreements fairly quickly.

The two crafts worked closely together from the beginning, and it is not uncommon to see Miners at the Smith Hall or Smiths at the Miner Hall on a daily basis. As part of their cooperation, a small Healer station was created at Miner Hall to provide for the needs of both Halls.

Location

The Main Hall is located slightly away from the mountains. The first Hallmaster thought this to be the best location because of the possibility of earthquakes. Subsequent buildings have been situated closer to the mountains, but only after careful surveys were conducted.

Building Information

While the general image of miners wouldn't seem to reflect a beautiful Hall, one often forgets that the Minercraft produces the masons responsible for much of the world's stonework. The Hall is a large building built free of any cliffs or mountains, almost a design lesson just in studying it visually. Ornate stonework coupled with precise angles makes for an elegant Hall that most Lords would be proud to call their Hold.

The building is four-storeys tall, more because the Hallmaster who designed it enjoyed his craft too much to build something small than because the Hall needed so much space. Plumbing and gas-heated hot water are available on all levels of the building, and each set of quarters for journeymen, master, and senior staff has private bathing facilities. The apprentice dorm has a single large bathing chamber shared with the regular hall staff.

Technology Level

Due to the nature of the work conducted at the Miner Hall, their tools are usually modern and as high quality as trade with nearby Smith Hall can manage. They have limited electricity from the Garnet Valley geothermal power plant, since they don't have as much need for it as the Smith Hall or the Hold itself. Rooms are well-heated in winter, and the kitchens have essential systems. Lighting is conducted either with traditional glowbaskets, candles, or in the main corridors and rooms of the building, with gas-lit lamps embedded into the walls.

Female Policy

This is a very male-dominated craft, one of the most stubborn in keeping women out (not that it was overrun with them even before the ban). The only female crafters left in minercraft are in their early seventies or older.

Population and Plague Effects

When the plague struck with sudden fury, many promising journeymen and journeywomen were lost. In the aftermath of the plague, the Hallmasters have tried valiantly to rebuild the Hall to its former prestige. The current population is a mere fifth of the Hall's capacity, with only sixty crafters in residence plus support staff. Back to the Top

Economy

As the call for the ore that the Hall dug dwindled, the Hallmaster decided to turn the Hall into more of a Surveying Hall. While this was considered radical by those at the other Mining locations, the Garnet Valley Miner Hall soon became known as the best place to learn the Surveying subcraft.

With the success of the Surveying subcraft, the Hallmasters who followed stayed open-minded and turned their Hall to more subcrafts. Today the Miner Hall provides ore for the local Weyr and for the surrounding Holds and Smith Hall, but most of its mineshafts are closed due to a lack of need.

The discovery of some unique marble in the area approximately thirty turns ago allowed the Hall to bring in additional income. The marble quarries produce handsome stone that brings high prices from those who can afford to pay to have it delivered. Back to the Top

Transportation Information

A stable shared with the Smith Hall houses about a dozen riding runners and a half-dozen draft-bred runners. An addition gives bad weather shelter to the sturdy burdenbeasts who work with the quarrymen. The two dozen beasts are usually left in an open corral for the evening. Back to the Top

Copyright ©2002-2003, Triad Weyrs, all rights reserved. Information courtesy of Will and Angelina (see Club Credits and Copyright).