==== Description ==== Frosthaven is the largest and most prominent settlementa sprawling, fortified city built on the edge of a massive glacier. Its towering walls, reinforced with frostforged steel and enchanted runes, have stood against countless sieges from frost trolls, Abyssal horrors, and other tundra dangers. The city serves as a hub for trade, governance, and exploration, acting as the last bastion of human civilization in the frozen expanse of Aeltharion, serving as a beacon of hopewilds. The architecture of Frosthaven is both functional and imposing, with stone towers capped with frostglass spires that shimmer faintly in the otherwise unforgiving tundra. Built into the face of an enormous glacier known as the Ivory Wall, Frosthaven thrives as a center of trade, survival, and political intrigue. It is atundra’s pale light. The streets are lined with snow-covered stone buildings, and warmth radiates from enchanted frostglass lanterns that dot every corner. The city of contrasts: both a bastion against the frost and a hub where cultures, adventurers, and merchants converge. **[[The Glacier Gates]]:** Massive steel gates carved into the glacier's surface, reinforced with arcane runes to repel frost giants and other tundra threats. Guards armed with enchanted weapons patrol the gates, ever vigilant. **[[The Hollow Market]]:** An expansive market within caverns of ice, lit by bioluminescent crystals. Merchants sell goods such as frost-resistant gear, enchanted weapons, and exotic items scavenged from the ruins of ancient empires. **[[The Luminarum]]:** Alayout centers around The Luminarum, the grand hall adorned with intricate ice sculptures and magical torches that never melt their surroundings. This serves as the seat ofwhere Frosthaven’s council, where decisions about trade, defense, and exploration are made. **[[The Forge Warrens]]:** Deep beneath the glacier, geothermal vents power the forges of blacksmiths and artisans. Frosthaven is renowned for its frostforged steel, a material prized for its durability and ability to withstand extreme cold. **[[The Frozen Hold]]:** A heavily guarded prison where dangerous criminals and frost-infected beings are held. Its icy cells are said to sap the strength of even the most formidable captives. **[[The Frozen Hearth]]:** The Frozen Hearth is a cozy, well-worn tavern famous for its warm atmosphere and hearty meals, offering a much-needed respite from the tundra’s relentless cold. Its sturdy stone walls are reinforced with frost-resistant timbers, and its large hearth—crafted from enchanted frostglass—radiates a comforting, magical warmth. Above the bar hangs a chandelier made of icicles, enchanted to glow faintly blue, giving the tavern its signature frosty ambiance. The walls are adorned with relics and trophies from daring adventurers: frost troll claws, fragments of Abyssal creatures, and faded maps of the Glacial Labyrinth. The tavern’s reputation as a gathering place for mercenaries, scholars, and travelers ensures it’s always buzzing with stories, deals, and the occasional brawl governs, surrounded by bustling markets, barracks, and residential districts. ==== Society ==== **Rulers:** Frosthaven is governed by the Glacier Council, a coalition of representatives from major guilds, nomadic tribes, and religious leaders. While their decisions often aim for balance, political tension arises from conflicting interests. **Inhabitants:** A mix of hardy survivors, merchants, scholars, and adventurers. The city is also home to outcasts from the Frostforged Clans and traders from far-off lands. **Customs:** Festivals like the Aurora’s Ascension celebrate the northern lights, with music, dancing, and storytelling to honor survival and unity. ==== Challenges ==== **Encroaching Threats:** Frost giants, frostwyrms, and raiding bands from rival factions often test Culture ==== Frosthaven’s defenses. **Internal Struggles:** Disputes between the Glacier Council factions—particularly between the nomads and merchant guilds—threatenculture is one of resilience and cooperation. Its people are a mix of merchants, scholars, adventurers, and craftsmen, all united by the shared struggle of surviving the tundra. Festivals often celebrate the city’s unity. **Ancient Secrets:** Unearthed ruins and icy caverns beneathendurance, with songs, feasts, and storytelling around massive bonfires that light up the frozen streets. Frosthaven is also the center of political intrigue, where noble houses vie for influence and power while factions like the Frosthaven Vanguard ensure the city hint at dark powers ti’s safety. **Focus:** Trade, exploration, governance. **Population:** Diverse (humans, scholars, merchants) **Defense:** Walls, Vanguard, Glacier Gates ==== Key Locations Within Frosthaven ==== * [[The Luminarum]] * [[The Hollow Market]] * [[The Glacier Gates]] * [[Temple of Valthyra, The Flame of Renewal]] * [[The Frostspire Academy]] * [[The Snowdrift Inn]] ==== Key Factions ==== **[[Frosthaven Vanguard]]:** The city’s military force, trained to the Frostveil Ascension. Explorers risk everythingdefend against threats from the wilds. **[[The Frostspire Academy]]:** Scholars and mages dedicated to uncover the truthstudying frost magic, Abyssal influence, and ancient ruins. **Noble Houses:** Including [[House Frostveil]], [[House Coldmere]], and [[House Icebane]], each with their own ambitions and influence.