**The City Beneath the Ice**==== Description ==== Deep beneath a glacier-covered mountain lies Ironhearth, the dwarven stronghold renowned for its masterful craftsmanship and unparalleled engineering. Built around a massive geothermal forge known as The Furnace Core, the city is a marvel of stonework and ingenuity, with lava-lit halls and sprawling subterranean chambers. Ironhearth is a sprawling subterranean city nestled within the depths of the Blacksteel Chasm, a massive fissure warmed by geothermal vents. Unlike the frozen surface above, Ironhearth thrives with industry, innovation, and a fierce spirit of independence. Home to skilled artisans, blacksmiths, and miners, the city is famous for its production ofthe industrial heart of the tundra, producing frostforged steel, a unique alloenchanted weapons, and advanced machinery that can endure even the harshest tundra conditions. The city is a marvel of engineering, with immense forges powered by volcanic heat and an intricate network of tunnels connecting its many districts. It is governed by a meritocratic council known as the Forge Assembly, where influence is earned through skill and contribution to the city's welfare. **[[The Furnace Core]]:** At the heart of Ironhearth lies its vast geothermal forge, a massive chamber filled with roaring furnaces and molten rivers of metal. This is where frostforged steel is smelted and crafted by master blacksmiths. **[[The Deep Warrens]]:** A labyrinthine network of mines and excavation sites where valuable minerals and magical crystals are extracted. Itpowers much of Frosthaven’s also rumored to house forgotten ruins and hidden dangers. **[[The Ember District]]:** defenses. The bustling residential area of Ironhearth, carved into the stone walls of the chasm. Homes are lit with enchanted lanterns, and the air hums with the sounds of machinery and life. **[[The Brass Bazaar]]:** An underground market where merchants trade rare goods, exotic wares, and advanced mechanical creations. Adventurers often visit to purchase specialized equipment and weapons. **[[The Hall of Makers]]:** A grand hall where inventors, artificers, and alchemists gather to showcase their creations. It also serves as the meeting place forcity is ruled by the Forge Assembly. **[[The Emberwatch Barracks]]:** The stronghold of Ironhearth's militia, the Emberwatch, a disciplined force trained to defend the city against incursions from the surface or deeper within the earth. **[[The Ember's Rest]]:**council of master artisans, engineers, and inventors led by prominent dwarven leaders. ==== Culture and Society ==== **Industrious Spirit:** ==== Ironhearth’s citizensulture revolves around craftsmanship, discipline, and tradition. Dwarves of Ironhearth take great pride in their work, considering each creation a reflection of their honor and legacy. Festivals and ceremonies often revolve around the completion of great works, with songs and toasts echoing through the forge halls. The city’s people are pragmatic and resilient, living and working amidst the heat and danger of the Furnace Core. Though they value hard work, ingenuity, and resilience. Status is earned through craftsmanship, innovation, or bravery. **Dwarves and Others:** While predominantly a dwarven city,their independence, they maintain strong trade ties with Frosthaven, supplying the human city with vital resources and equipment in exchange for protection and goods they cannot produce themselves. **Focus:** Craftsmanship, industry, mining **Population:** Primarily dwarves, with some outsiders **Defenses:** Subterranean fortifications, Deepguard ==== Key Locations ==== * [[The Furnace Core]] * [[The Forge Warrens]] * [[The Deep Warrens]] * [[Temple of Morgrim, The Forgefather]] * [[The Brass Bazaar]] * [[The Emberhearth Tavern]] ==== Key Factions ==== [[The Forge Assembly]]: The ruling council of Ironhearth, composed of master artisans and engineers. [[The Emberforge Clans]]: Nomadic dwarves with ties to Ironhearth welcomes other races who share their ethos, including gnomes, humans, and even reformed goblinoid clans. **Invention and Rivalry:** Healthy competition drives progress, with inventors and blacksmiths constantly vyingworship the Cradle of Flame and contribute to outdo one another. Festivals like the Forge Trials showcase these creations in dramatic contesits defense. [[The Deepguard]]: A specialized force trained to patrol the Deep Warrens and protect the city from subterranean threats.