Waithe

Waithe is the processing center for raw materials gathered in the north, home to remarkable works of engineering. Built around a volcano, they harness its geothermal power for their forges. Surrounded by tundra and many failed experiments, the people of Waithe are a hardy bunch, who have survived in their mountain warrens ever since their homes were razed by invaders centuries ago. The only survivors of the catastrophic war were the engineers who crafted weapons of war and the miners who were toiling in their caves. This has left them a rather conservative culture who are suspicious of outsiders who came very late to help their dying culture, and at that point only in exchange for their knowledge and materials.

Upon descending into the valley surrounding Waithe, one sees a metropolis of glass and metal, rimmed by hulks jutting out of the permafrost. These vary from failed airships to mechanical suits that were too heavy to move, and everything in between. Creations such as these are common, and as quickly as they are smelted, another scrapped experiment replaces it. This is not to say the craftsmen of Waithe are failures, as their city proper is connected by a spiderweb of trains, filled with many mechanical marvels, and their skyscrapers above are a hybrid of both form and function. Some are the products of single engineering genius over the course of years, while others are collaborative efforts. While not outwardly expressive, those of Waithe channel their emotions into creation and invention. Every Waithe child builds a custom watch as part of their coming of age ceremony. They can manipulate metal and other resources with great ease, and the most skilled can create fuel and materials from even the most unlikely of items. It is said that all those from Waithe need to get out of any situation is a paperclip, some chewing gum, and their own sweat.