Second Rizian Gold Rush

The Second Rizian Gold Rush (1875-1885) was an era of unprecedented prosperity and technological advancement for Rizia. It began with the discovery of gold deposits in heretofore unexplored areas in Brenas and Cardesse-Montaklar. Alongside the state-owned mines set up by the Rizian Royal Gold corporation, a number of small-scale entrepreneurs began operating in the region, all competing to extract the resource the fastest. Among them was Aurelia Itxaro, a Montaklar-based industrialist rumored to have backers in the recently founded Republic of Arcasia. Before long, Itxaro’s extraction volume was far outpacing those of his competitors, and even that of RRG itself. He was revealed to be in possession of proprietary mining technology, developed in a joint venture with an Arcasian firm. Unable to nationalize Itxaro’s company without losing access to his technology, Queen Lyza Toras conducted a series of closed-door meetings with the businessman. In these meetings, a landmark agreement was reached, allowing Itxaro’s operations to continue as part of Rizian Royal Gold. This arrangement proved to be mutually beneficial: Itxaro maintained autonomy over his business while gaining the Queen’s favor and protection, and RRG acquired cutting-edge technology to significantly boost its gold mining capabilities. The collaboration between Itxaro and RRG led to an increase in production efficiency across the region and solidified Rizia's position as a leading gold producer. Moreover, this strategic partnership set a precedent for public-private cooperation in Rizia, demonstrating Queen Lyza's acumen in navigating complex economic and industrial challenges.