Lortmil Mountains

The Lortmil Mountains are a mineral-rich range home to dwarves, gnomes, and halflings, renowned for their precious metals and gems. Once the battleground of the Hateful Wars, these peaks now conceal ancient strongholds, hidden valleys, and vast subterranean tunnels connecting the region.

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Geography and Climate

The Lortmil Mountains form a vast, low-lying mountain range in central Flanaess, creating the eastern border of the Sheldomar Valley. Spanning approximately 60,000 square miles, this ancient range extends across multiple climate zones.

The northern peaks are the tallest, with some retaining year-round snow cover, while the southern slopes melt off in the summer heat. Heavy woodlands blanket the northeastern slopes, with roanwood forests frequently shrouded in mist and fog.

The southwestern portions enjoy warm, humid air from the Azure Sea, nurturing dense maple and beech forests that give way to thick underbrush at higher elevations. Travel beyond regular paths is nearly impossible, especially in the southern Lortmils. Autumn transforms the mountains into a vibrant display of color, while winter rains make passage treacherous.

Riches Beneath the Stone

The Lortmils are renowned for their gem and precious metal deposits. The deep mines of this region produce gems larger than those found elsewhere, and dwarven miners extract legendary quantities of gold, silver, and mithril.

A vast network of interconnected tunnels, mines, and caverns, collectively known as the "Low Road", runs beneath the mountains, connecting the Principality of Ulek to the Lorridges in the north.

Inhabitants

The Lortmils are home to thriving dwarven, gnomish, and halfling communities.

• Dwarves rule many of the deepholds, growing immensely wealthy from the mountains’ riches.
• Gnomes operate their own industrious settlements, excelling in engineering and gem-cutting.
• Halflings, especially tallfellows, inhabit the foothills, coexisting with human enclaves.
• Aarakocra tribes soar above the peaks, watching over the highlands.

The Hateful Wars (498–510 CY) saw the complete expulsion of orcish and goblinoid forces from the region, forcing them into the Pomarj, where they remain a looming threat.

Settlements and Notable Locations

• Esmerin – A hidden valley where tallfellow halflings and stone giants coexist in secret.
• Thrunch – A village within the Principality of Ulek, home to merchants and miners.
• Dwarven Citadels – Numerous strongholds dot the mountains, some as wealthy as city-states.
• Celene Highlands – Remote mountain ridges controlled by elven lords, wary of outsiders.

History and Conflict

The Hateful Wars were fought to cleanse the Lortmils of goblinoid infestations, with the dwarves, gnomes, and humans uniting to drive the creatures into the Pomarj. However, rumors persist that the humanoids had magical assistance—potentially from an elder lich or an unknown arcane force—that prolonged the war.

Though the humanoids were ultimately routed, they continue to plot revenge from their exile. The rise of Turrosh Mak and his unification of the Pomarj tribes poses a renewed danger to the mountain folk.

The Wealth and Influence of the Dwarves

The dwarven lords of the Lortmils are as rich as princes, sought by foreign nations for aid. Yet, dwarves are known for their unyielding loyalty—offering their wealth only for the benefit of their kin and the Principality of Ulek.

The mountains hold secrets, dangers, and fortunes for those bold enough to explore their depths.