Miner

"If you hear a tapping sound, and it isn't coming from you, best leave the mine and come back another day."

—Anonymous miner^[2a]

A miner is a person who extracts ore, coal, chalk, clay, or other minerals from the earth through the act of mining. There are two senses in which the term is used. In its narrowest sense, a miner is someone who works at the rock face; cutting, blasting, or otherwise working and removing the rock. In a broader sense, a "miner" is anyone working within a mine, not just a worker at the rock face. Mining is renowned as one of the most dangerous jobs in the mortal world -- and for good reason. Cave-ins, explosions, toxic air, and extreme temperatures are some of the most perilous hazards observed to take place in subterranean mining.

Mountains surround the Empire. To the east are the Worlds Edge Mountains, to the south the Black Mountains, and to the west the Grey Mountains. Dwarfs and Humans have mined these mountains from time immemorial, despite constant attacks from Goblins and other subterranean horrors. Miners brave these conditions in search of iron, silver, gold, gems, and other valuable resources. Others prefer to prospect on the surface, particularly in the Middle Mountains, which straddle the provinces of Ostland and Hochland.^[1a]

Although these forest-shrouded mountains are fully within the Empire's borders, they are a haven for Trolls, Beastmen, and other foul creatures. Surviving in such an environment takes skill and toughness. Mining is not limited to the Empire's mountains, but is also prominent in areas such as Reikland's Skaag Hills.^[1a]^[3a]

Role[]

Many prospectors are tempted by stories of gold in the Skaag Hills, but real mining is hard work down dark, dangerous tunnels. Adept at constructing supports and assessing mineral ores for their value, miners are alert to unexpected dangers from explosive gas to tunnelling Greenskins, and are notoriously tough, both physically and mentally.^[3a]

Prospectors usually work on commission, with a license to prospect in return for sharing finds with the local lord. Some noble houses' fortunes are built on the rich mines in their lands, and often miners in these pits will be criminals or debtors pressed into service. Quarrymen hewing open-face stone ostensibly have a safer job than those underground, but accidents are common and Beastmen attack from the forest is an ever-present danger.^[3a]

Many independent miners find themselves thrust into peril when set upon by Goblins or other subterranean horrors. Some find the rewards of this life more lucrative, if not less dangerous, than slaving away for a mine owner for a pittance. Prospectors have many opportunities for adventure and can easily pull together a band of like-minded folk eager for riches and glory.^[3a]

Miners tend to be of solitary temperament, but band together for protection. They often deal with merchants who trade in the raw materials they pull from the rocks, and after they've been paid, they spend much of their money at inns and bawdyhouses, seeking to forget the terrible dangers they must face daily to make their living.^[2a]

To Dwarfs, mining is not an occupation limited to commoners. Rather, they are considered artisans of great skill and are well-respected amongst the Dawi. Possessed of a keen sense for stone, Dwarfs are drawn to valuable seams and seemingly have a sixth-sense for when to shore up passages. Some Dwarf clans hold such pride in their mining ability that they march to war armed with picks rather than axes.^[3a]

Dwarfs were the first to discover that some animals -- namely songbirds and small rodents -- are very sensitive to the presence of poisonous gases, dying of exposure long before the concentration is dangerous to Dwarf or Man. While a sad end for these little creatures, they are a foolproof indicator of unseen threats, saving many lives in the process.^[2a]

Perils of Mining[]

"After your supplies from the store are deducted, and your load of sixteen added, you made...let me see…no, you actually owe us two for today. Another day older and deeper in debt, boy."

—Frederika, victualler of the Delfgruber Minehead^[3a]

The rarest and most precious gifts the earth has to offer must be pried from deep within her rocky bosom. Miners live a dangerous existence plucking gems and valuable metals from the deep places of the mortal world. It is gruelling, backbreaking work with numerous dangers, but the tantalising rewards often prove too tempting to keep a miner away from their pick and shovel for long.^[2a]

Cave-ins and toxic gases are often the least of a miner's worries; Goblins, Trolls, Chaos mutants and other terrifying creatures reside in tunnels under the mountains, and the miner who hopes to enjoy a long career must be prepared to heft his pick as a weapon as well as use it to hew rock. Rumours also persist of a strange race of humanoid ratmen who live in the deepest cavern systems, but such gossip is dismissed by the more serious professional miners of the Empire.^[2a]

Dwarfs are naturally adept at mining, and tend to be the most common people found at this trade, though plenty of Humans seek to make their fortune by striking a lode of precious metal. A Dwarf's short stature is well-suited to the cramped quarters miners work in.^[2a]

Although there are many wealthy mines within the Empire, the richest seams run deep below the mountains bordering the emperor's lands. This is Dwarf territory, and the centuries-long concord between Men and Dwarfs threatens to break down when greedy Human prospectors encroach on Dwarf claims.^[2a]

Mining in the Empire[]

Iron mines are the most common underground works of both Men and Dwarfs.^[4b] Iron ore is a necessity in a world that craves weapons and armour. While more exotic metals such as gromril are highly prized, and searched for with obsessive determination by the Dwarfs, it is iron that turns the wheels of industry on the world of Mallus. From iron comes steel, the foundation material of countless objects from swords to war machines to steam-powered tanks.^[4a]

Mining was first taught to Men by the Dwarfs, who were delving deep into the mountains long before Humans mastered fire. These days, mines are found anywhere where ore is discovered. For instance, the Worlds Edge Mountains have long been rich in iron seams, and their supply shows no sign of being exhausted.^[4b]

Iron smelters process the raw iron ore, so it can be turned into steel or fashioned by smiths. The largest smelters in the Empire are in the city-state of Nuln. Here, the Imperial Gunnery School stretches across an entire district -- a warren of forges, gunsmiths' workshops and pock-marked gun ranges. The Dwarfs, too, have gigantic smelting facilities deep within their holds, places of extreme heat and choking ash.^[4c]

Mining in Sylvania[]

"The blackest iron ore can be found in the deepest pits, underneath the mountains upon which gothic castles perch."

—Description of the Dark Iron Pit from Total War: Warhammer.^[4d]

Since before the building of the Liche Nagash's fortress of Nagashizzar, necromancers have used Zombies to burrow and mine mountains for their minerals.^[4e] Deep in the caverns that riddle Sylvania's mountains are the black iron pits -- noxious, scabrous places where black iron ore can be found next to hunks of raw warpstone. Peasants are sent in as punishment and rarely emerge alive or... unchanged. It is perhaps a blessing to be slain first and then sent into the pit as a fleshy, Undead puppet than alive.^[4d]

When a Vampire or necromancer discovers a seam of black iron or something more valuable such as warpstone, they will send in Zombies to rend the ore from the mountains. Zombies have many advantages over the living in this regard, as they don't require pay, or rest, or indeed any kind of safety considerations!^[4e]

A scoured iron mine is one where such a seam of cursed iron is discovered. Cursed iron ore is laced with warpstone and as such mines containing it are prized. Only the Undead can mine this, for mortals will be mutated by the iron within. The ore is priceless, sought by necromancers from across the Known World to fuel the darkest experiments. There are also other creatures that crave such material -- red eyed and be-tailed, but the rulers of the Empire do not talk about them...^[4f]

Mining in Norsca[]

It may seem the land of the Norscans is a bleak place with little to offer, but the mountains are rich with veins of silver and iron. In addition, where farmland does exist, it is always fertile, enriched by the minerals carried down from the mountains by the snowmelt. Norscans are skilled fishermen, and whalers brave the tempestuous seas to harvest the greatest bounties of the ocean.^[5a]

Ivory, iron, fine woods, and other materials are readily available for the taking. But given the importance of warriors in Norscan society, much of the labour falls to the thralls taken from raiding and the peasants who manage them.^[5a]

Iron ore is certainly an important material for any war-mongering group, steel being the primary metal from which Norscan weapons and armour are forged. A readily-accessible source of iron ore mostly means more deadly weapons for the Norscan reavers and Chaos Marauders.^[4g]

Norscan mining techniques are slightly more primitive than other peoples' due to the fact that their enslaved thralls are used to do most of the dirty and dangerous work, meaning that safety is often the least of their concerns and mine cave-ins are common. It is thought that the primitive mining techniques of many other nations of the mortal world were originally stolen from the Dwarfs, who were delving into mineshafts long before most of Men were even using fire.^[4g]

Sources[]

1: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 2nd Edition: Core Rulebook (RPG)
- 1a: pg. 45
2: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 2nd Edition: Career Compendium (RPG)
- 2a: pg. 146
3: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 4th Edition: Core Rulebook (RPG)
- 3a: pg. 81
4: Total War: Warhammer (PC Game)
- 4a: Iron Mining Pit (Building Description)
- 4b: Iron Mine (Building Description)
- 4c: Iron Smelter (Building Description)
- 4d: Dark Iron Pit (Building Description)
- 4e: Zombie-Infested Iron Mine (Building Description)
- 4f: Scoured Iron Mine (Building Description)
- 4g: Norscan Iron Mine (Building Description)
5: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 2nd Edition: Tome of Corruption (RPG)
- 5a: pg. 142