Volcanoville

The metropolis of Volcanoville, as its name suggests, was situated at the base of an active volcano, Mount Caution. Indeed, it was built on top of a lava field which spanned the entire valley, called Burning Man Gulch. Luxurious houses spanned the width of the gulch, from one rock face to another, towering vertical cliffs on both sides. It was a bustling city with crowded markets supported by a lively mining industry, Lava Rock International Inc.

Volcanoville was fortunate enough to reside on top of the world's only natural deposit of manstone. This natural resource was highly valued for its scarcity and intrinsic beauty, and all types of jewelry were fabricated from it. Its characteristic opaque, amber hue was unmistakable and the envy of all who hadn't the enormous wealth required to afford it. It was Volcanoville's only export.

Lava Rock International had the mineral rights to all of Volcanoville's manstone, and extracted the large oblong deposits from enormous mines that rested beside and even directly beneath the city. The excavation would progress like clockwork, requiring the skilled cooperation of thousands who took great pride in their work. Many families claimed to be the fourth or even the fifth generation of Mount Caution miners.

As well-paid as the miners were, no one in the city could justify even the smallest piece of manstone themselves. It was certainly an unneeded extravagance. However, the town folk were constantly blessed with its illustrious beauty whenever they gazed high on the cliffs where the owners of Lava Rock International had constructed their mansions out of it. The benevolent Wiertz family had owned and operated the mines since before anyone could remember.

One year, to the dismay of the Wiertz family, the mines were falling well behind their quotas. The miners were forced to do without raises and their vacation time was cut in half to make up for the difference. Try as they might, the miners simply did not discover enough chunks of manstone no matter how much they dug. Without the sales, Lava Rock International began losing revenue. In an effort to trim expenses, many miners lost their jobs.

The revenue shortage led to a massive economic catastrophe for Volcanoville. The shops dependent on business from the miners began to close. In a desperate attempt to hold onto what little income they had, the miners formed a union and went on strike. All mining operations ceased completely.

The next day Mount Caution erupted. The subsequent lava flow pounded through Burning Man Gulch burying all of Volcanoville and its inhabitants under twenty feet of molten rock. The news shocked local towns and the tragedy was met with deep sympathy from around the globe. The daily newspapers included an account of the day's horrors from the perspective of the Wiertz family, who concluded their detailed description with a heartfelt eulogy.

Despite the destruction of most of their machinery, with some public funding, Lava Rock International, under the sympathies of its owners, was able to initiate recovery operations with surprising efficiency.