The Wilderlands

"He ventured into the north, into the Wilderlands. I do not have much hope he survived, but I would appreciate you searching for him. Of course I'll pay quite well." - Qelline Alderleaf, speaking to the The Marklund Five about the disappearance of her husband; Riedoth Alderleaf.
Doro-Helg, or The Wilderlands in common, was a plain of vast arctic tundra, situated in Astora's far northern region. It was well known as a wasteland of ice and snow, devoid of most civilized life, yet provided a home for only the most sturdy and often dangerous creatures.
Those that call this region home are among the most resilient of Astora. This includes the Arctic Dwarves of Stoneridge and the mysterious and nomadic tribes of Goliath, a sub-race of Human.

Geography

The Wilderlands sat in the far north of Astora, situated between the Vilmyr Mountains in the west, the Royal Mountains in the east, and the coast of the Sea of Ghosts to the north. The Marklund Pass was the main trail into the region, a small gorge that sat between Astora's mountain ranges, connecting south Astora to the north. The main regions of the Wilderlands consisted of nothing but rolling hills of snow, occasionally giving way to the patches of long dead grass beneath. The cliffs of Astora's mountain ranges collided with the plains in the western and eastern edges, creating mazes of perilous plateaus, mesas and caves, long covered in thick layers of ice. The coastlines of this region were a combination of solid ice leading out into the sea, punctuated by clashes of massive ice flows, erupting into bergs as they slowly collided with Astora's north shore. Sailing this area would be treacherous, if not downright suicidal.
Very few sentient creatures dared to call this region home, though those that did, were very adept at navigating the harsh conditions of the Wilderlands. Packs of Dire Wolves and Arctic Wolves roamed these frozen wastes, searching for food in the form of the mighty Astoran Elk; gigantic cousins of the elk and deer of the Ironwood Forest. These elk often traveled in vast herds, sometimes equaling up to 1000 in number. Other tundra creatures, such as bears, rabbits, seals and birds of prey called this region home, though it was a constant struggle for survival. As for civilized creatures, many tribes of Arctic Dwarves called this region home, inhabiting places such as Icewind and Stoneridge.

History

Discovery

The Wilderlands were discovered by Astoran settlers early in the Age of Renewal, though many tribes of dwarves had already been active here. These dwarves were likely forgotten ancestors of Armok's first creations during the 1st Age. This region was already well known to the Elves of the Ironwood Kingdom as well, and had named it Doro-Helg "Land of Ice". By the time Astora was founded, this region became known as the Wilderlands, named in common for it's harsh and unforgiving climate.

Abandonment

The Wilderlands was quite active in the early years of the Age of Renewal, with Astora attempting, and succeeding, to erect several settlements in the harsh north. Most of these town were founded as footholds into the region, as explorers attempted to completely map the area. But as the years grew on, Astora began to explode in prosperity, with the vast majority of this new found peace and wealth found in the south. Settlements like Whitewatch and Ghostport were slowly abandoned, the inhabitants leaving for the south in search of a better life. By AoR 400, most human settlements in the Wilderlands had been abandoned, left to be reclaimed by nature. In AoR 598, the longstanding settlement of Forlorn was destroyed by a Green Dragon named Venomfang, bringing an end to the last true human settlement in the north.

Notable Locations

• Whitewatch: A mostly abandoned settlement on Astora's northwestern coast. At one point, Whitewatch served as a port and foothold to the area, though it now sits devoid of most life. Astora manages a very small garrison in the region, a post that any soldiers would dread.

• Stoneridge: One of the Wilderlands only "civilized" settlements, Stoneridge is known as the Astora's northernmost town, it's population almost entirely made up of arctic dwarves. These dwarves are unique in the fact that they partake in water travel and use the frozen waters as a source of survival. They are quite adept at navigating the treacherous waters of the Sea of Ghosts.

• Dagr-aen Mountain: This solitary peak serves as a landmark to those that would dare travel the frozen wastes of the Wilderlands. Futhermore, Astora's largest tribe of Goliath have taken this mountain as their territorial home.

• Ghostport: A long abandoned port in Astora's Wilderlands. None know the current status of the infrastructure there, as it has not been visited in over 100 years by any official source.

• The Shelf: The Shelf is less of a settlement, and more of an outpost. It has no standing population, and serves only those that desire a port in the dangerous northern waters. A large Inn exists here, built into a massive ice shelf.

• Cold Dwarf Lake: Cold Dwarf Lake is a freshwater basin, fed by a spring deep within the Vilmyr Mountains. When not completely frozen solid, Cold Dwarf's overflow drains into the Sea of Ghosts.

Basic Information

Type: Arctic Tundra
Location: North Astora 
Inhabitants: Arctic Dwarves, Dire Wolves, Bears and other wildlife.