Overview

The Monaghan Mining Company is more than a business—it’s the master of Shadewood Hollow. Founded by Josiah Monaghan in 1850, it controls the mines, the store, the housing, and, by extension, the lives of its workers. Every miner's wage is spent before it’s earned, with debt shackles tighter than any chain. Those who resist meet Victor Draven, Monaghan’s infamous enforcer, whose presence alone is enough to quiet a crowd.

But danger doesn’t just come from Monaghan's control. Strange symbols have appeared in the mines, and the rhythmic hum known as "The Hollow Sound" echoes in the dark. Some say it’s the breath of the mountain itself. Others call it something far worse. No miner will claim to have carved the spirals on the walls, but all of them leave offerings at the shaft entrances—bread, coins, and cloth—to keep "it" appeased.

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​​​​Secrets & Lore

• The Hollow Sound: The hum that echoes through the shafts, soft as breathing but steady as a heartbeat. “They’re knocking back,” the miners whisper.

• The Spirals: Strange carvings that appear overnight. Some think it’s sabotage, others say it’s the mark of something older than any spirit.

• The Offerings: Bread, coins, cloth—miners leave these offerings at the mine entrances, hoping to ward off whatever listens in the dark.

• The Debt Cycle: Workers live in Monaghan-owned houses, buy from his store, and pay him with their wages. Every payday, they end up deeper in debt than before.

• The Shadows Below: After Shaft Seven collapsed, miners claimed to see figures moving just beyond the lantern light. No one speaks of it openly, but every man carries a charm or token into the mines.

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Miner Roles

• Greenhorn – A fresh recruit with no experience, given the hardest, dirtiest jobs.

  • Weekly pay: $5.00

• Pickman – A skilled miner who works the coal face with tools like pickaxes.

  • Weekly pay: $10.00

• Foreman – The shift leader who oversees miners, enforces safety, and answers directly to Monaghan's higher-ups.

  • Weekly pay: $12.00

• Mine Baron – The absolute ruler of the Monaghan Mining Company, overseeing coal production, worker control, and company store debts, while wielding unchecked power over the town’s livelihood and law enforcement.

  • Weekly pay: $15.00

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Monaghan Company Roles

• Enforcer – Monaghan’s personal muscle, ensuring all workers within the company stay in line.

• Supervisor – A Monaghan representative who oversees all operations and businesses. They report directly to the company.

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Goods

• Minerals & Resources: Coal, limestone, clay, and iron ore. ​

• Sandstone & Shale - Available March - November.  

• Gold (Rare) - Available March - May. 

• Silver (Rare) - Available June - August. 

• Gemstones (Rare) - Available September - November.