Barghast

Once a prosperous mining boomtown, now a large and corrupt city that has been taken ahold of by a dark syndicate of crime families and their lead enforcer. Steam pipes full of hot spring water and dodgey mining equipment make up the underbelly.

Barghast began as a mining operation in the Drekayan Empire, targeting a single site in the mountains of Central Drekaya. Initial estimates underestimated the vast mineral reserves, leading to rapid expansion. A boomtown emerged around the mining camp, adopting the name "Barghast."

Over 150 years, the town steadily grew as mining extended deeper and farther into the mountains. These tunnels, resembling highways, became vital trade routes, enabling easier mountain traversal. Barghast capitalized on this by operating the tunnels as toll roads, fueling its transformation into a thriving trade hub. As the city expanded, merchant companies merged with mining groups, creating powerful trade blocs that solidified Barghast's economic dominance. But even moreso than it's stark mountainous aesthetic burrowed deep in the earth, is the story of it's downfall and plunge into a cesspit of corruption.

Barghast is a sprawling network of tunnels and caverns carved into Black Dog Mountain. The upper levels feature a stonework city built into the mountain face, housing civilian quarters, markets, and businesses. The mid-levels host minor gangs and support the city's mining and processing operations. Deep within, the Criminal Families maintain strongholds for their activities. Crime permeates every level, creating an atmosphere of constant chaos.

Barghast is nestled within the subterranean tunnels of the Barghast Mountains, built around hot springs that originally provided heating and fresh water. In its early days, the miners maintained the springs well, but as their numbers grew, pollution drove away timid wildlife, leaving only dangerous predators that occasionally served as food but often preyed on miners.

The hot springs now power the city's heating systems and ore foundries, but poorly maintained piping releases steam, creating a smoky, damp, and often toxic environment in the lower levels. This neglect has left Barghast's air heavy and its atmosphere perpetually muggy.