NORTH
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It is known by many names — Borealia, the Highlands, Cold Counties, or more aptly...
THE GREAT, HOWLING NORTH
A sparesly populated land under a near-constant blanket of stark white snow. In the more remote areas it is easy to get stranded as the roads become covered and obscured from travel. Towns are few and far between while the ones who live within them are close-knit.
The North presents many threats... chief among them is the 'Old North Wind' which is said to have a mind of its own and but one purpose: to chill those caught outside to the bone.
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HEARTHOMEISOLATED — FRIGID — INHOSPITABLEMt. A'Kerry
Skyhaven County
Kasuria
The North is a dangerously cold place where even the air was an adversary and dagger-like icicles dangled from every roof.
Hearthome, the long abandoned home of a mine, sits tucked into the cleft of a mountain. Years ago it had been a thriving iron settlement but as the deposit dried up it was unceremoniously deserted and left to rot. Northerners are notorious for their obstinacy, and a few courageous souls stood firm in their refusal to leave. It was home after all, and home is where the hearth is.
❄️ THE PASSAGE
Snow often obscures or completely blocks the primary path up the mountainside. The settlement had fought to maintain it in its heyday, but now it's been neglected, and the wild had gladly taken over in response. Travelers who are familiar with the area still utilize Hearthome as a stopover on their way further North and can become stuck if the Passage closes.
❄️ IRONGATE
Hearthome is walled in with stone and wood to protect itself from the frozen wilds; the gatehouse stands as the only way in or out to The Passage. It is usually manned by one or two guardsmen who keep a sharp eye out for any weary travelers in search of the settlement. They also act as the first line of defense for any bandits or wildlife.
Past the thick wooden doors is in intake to inspect visitors before they are allowed into the main area. Because only a pair of guards remain on duty at most it is not the most secure entrance.
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MISC PLACES
❄️ FARM
While the bulk of the tending is done by the locals the modest farm was mainly kept alive with Fire runes carved into the wooden struts of the awning.
❄️ BIRD COOP
Similar to the farm and home to a few paltry birds — a few chickens and a pair of herdbirds. A tall stack of logs and kindling sat alongside the coop for anyone to use. The Warden makes it a mission to get after those that don't replace the wood they take.
❄️ GRAVEYARD
The ground up the mountain is far too hard to for digging deep graves which meant the ones here in Hearthome were too shallow for comfort. Luckily a thick blanket of snow covered the dead.
THE WHITE KEEP
Home to the "Warden of Hearthome", a once prestigious title that is now only given to those with meager station amongst nobility. The frozen lake out front, surrounded by a quaint forest, is a beautiful sight to behold in the snow.
The wooden doors pushed into a dimly lit foyer with a second set of doors on either side of the room. A helpful coat rack sat in the corner for any outwear too soaked from the snow. From there the doors led to the first level of the Great Hall which had a petrified tree in the middle.
The Ironsick Tree
Many years ago, toward the end of the iron mine's life, they dug too deep. The Primes are known to punish those who's greed knows no bounds and so it is said they inflicted the ironsickness on the population.
The magical disease ran its course in quick order through the miners first, a few locals second. It caused flesh and bone to calcify into a hard, rocky substance that would result in the loss of fingers, paws, arms, etc unless removed.
When the Great Hall was first furnished the resident mage set aside space in the front to grow an ironwood tree, a small glimpse of green in an otherwise white world. To this day no one is sure who but someone with the affliction touched the bark of the tree and it too became ironsick... it rapidly hardened into the dead tree that can be found in the Hall present day.
Care must be taken not to touch the tree — the locals insist that it can still transmit ironsickness, but in truth its an extremely fragile tree due to petrification. Even a light touch can cause a heavy twig or branch to snap off and shatter on the floor below.
The second level of the Hall was the widest portion. In the middle of the room sat a long table, one best used for a feast but often sat a few people at most these days. On the other side of that was the central fire which roared through the bulk of the day to keep space around it heated. On either side were stairs and doors that led deeper into the White Keep.
Finally, the 'third level' of the Hall was where the Warden of Hearthome is meant to sit. In the 'good old days' they held a semblance of court but the chair only collected dust now.
