Edgehall
Edgehall, formerly known as Naemoira, is a rugged and unforgiving region defined by its towering mountains, dense forests, and a resilient, hardworking population. Nestled along the northern border of Arailia, Edgehall serves as both a critical resource hub and a defensive bulwark against the untamed Northern Lands. Despite its wealth of natural resources—including iron, copper, and the rare frost-steel—Edgehall has suffered from neglect and corruption under King Damon’s reign, leaving its people to endure harsh conditions and constant threats.
Lacking a central city, Edgehall is a patchwork of mining towns, fortified villages, and remote outposts, all interconnected by treacherous trade roads. Its ports along the western and southern coasts facilitate the transportation of valuable materials, while its mountains and forests harbour both opportunities and dangers. The Shiverstone Range and the ominous Ashen Grove dominate the landscape, shaping the lives of those who call this austere region home.
Known for its grit and resilience, Edgehall’s people are miners, soldiers, and traders who face adversity with unwavering determination. However, the region is not without strife; corruption, dangerous working conditions, and the ever-looming threat of Northern raiders and monstrous creatures cast a shadow over daily life. Edgehall stands as a testament to the strength and endurance of its people, even as they struggle against the forces of greed and neglect that threaten to undermine their survival.
Geography
Edgehall is a rugged and foreboding region defined by its unforgiving terrain and harsh climate. The land is dominated by the Shiverstone Range, a sprawling mountain chain with jagged peaks that tower over the region. These mountains are rich in valuable resources like iron, copper, and the rare frost-steel, but their steep cliffs and narrow passes make mining and travel perilous. Below the mountains lie the Ashen Grove, a dense and eerie forest that provides timber for construction and trade. However, it is also home to lurking dangers such as monsters and guerrilla raiders from the North, who use its shadows as cover.
To the south, the foothills of the Shiverstone Range give way to rocky plains and scattered patches of fertile land. Small villages like Ashvale eke out a living here, cultivating hardy crops like oats, barley, and root vegetables. Beyond the plains, the region meets the Ascian Ocean, where port villages such as Port Morlund and Stonehaven Landing connect Edgehall to the wider kingdom through maritime trade. The rocky coastline is dotted with cliffs and coves, offering both natural defences and hidden dangers.
The climate of Edgehall is cold and unforgiving, with strong winds whipping through the mountains and heavy snowfall blanketing the higher elevations during winter. Even the foothills and coastal areas experience chillier weather year-round, with only brief, muddy summers offering a respite. Despite its challenges, the region’s natural beauty is undeniable, from the towering, snow-capped peaks of the Shiverstone Range to the haunting stillness of the Ashen Grove. Edgehall’s geography shapes its people, forging a population known for their resilience and adaptability in the face of adversity.
Ecosystem
Edgehall’s ecosystem is shaped by its unforgiving terrain, harsh climate, and the constant interplay between its natural inhabitants and the monstrous creatures that haunt its lands. This balance of survival governs the region, where every organism, from the smallest insect to the most fearsome predator, has adapted to endure the relentless cold and treacherous environment.
The region’s dominant features, the Shiverstone Range and Ashen Grove, create starkly contrasting ecosystems. The mountains provide rocky perches and frigid caves, ideal for creatures like Icetalon Harriers and Snowclaw Alphas, while the forest offers dense cover for prowling monsters like Sableas and Ashen Grove Wolves. Frost-covered rivers and ice-locked streams flow through the foothills, supplying water to the lower settlements and sustaining limited vegetation. Snow blankets the ground for much of the year, and the landscape remains perpetually cold. The shorter summers bring a brief thaw, allowing root vegetables and hardy plants to flourish in the foothills. This fleeting period of growth draws herbivores like Snow Deer and Froststep Horses, which, in turn, attract predators.
Edgehall’s creatures demonstrate exceptional adaptations to their environment. For example, the Rimehorn Ox grazes on sparse vegetation, using its freezing mist as both a defensive mechanism and a means to condition its habitat. Similarly, the Snowquill Hare, with its feather-like ears, glides over snow to escape predators, blending seamlessly with its surroundings. Predators such as Shardclaw Revenants and Kravos prey on both the natural fauna and the unwary, making travel perilous. The Sablea, with its vampiric cunning, targets isolated travellers or small groups, using its ability to charm and disorient to gain the upper hand.
The more monstrous inhabitants, like Snowblind Wraiths, disrupt the ecosystem with their supernatural presence, creating patches of uninhabitable land due to their chilling auras. These creatures often force other species, both prey and predator, to relocate, causing further strain on the environment.
The ecosystem undergoes significant changes with the passing seasons. During winter, most creatures enter a state of heightened activity or lethargy depending on their needs. Predators like the Snowclaw Alpha roam widely, while herbivores such as Snow Deer seek out limited grazing grounds. Monsters like Snowblind Wraiths thrive in the long nights, and their influence expands during this time. With the arrival of spring, as the snow begins to melt, prey animals like Snowquill Hares and Snow Deer migrate to lower elevations for new vegetation. Predators follow, creating increased activity near settlements. Insects like Frostwing Dragonflies emerge, freezing small prey with their touch.
During the brief warmth of summer, there is a surge of plant growth in the foothills, providing sustenance for herbivores. Icevein Bears become less aggressive, focusing on replenishing fat stores for the next winter. The warming climate forces creatures like Snowclaw Alphas to retreat to higher altitudes. As autumn approaches, the ecosystem shifts into survival mode. Prey animals migrate or burrow, while predators stockpile resources. Monsters like Shardclaw Revenants become more active, drawn to the energy of the season’s transitions.
The Ashen Grove plays a vital yet ominous role in Edgehall’s ecosystem. While it provides timber and shelter for smaller creatures, its dense canopy hides lurking threats like Sableas and Ashen Grove Wolves, which shape the behaviour of both fauna and humans. Supernatural creatures like the Snowblind Wraith and Kravos disrupt the region’s balance, acting as apex predators in areas where their influence spreads. Despite their menace, they unintentionally maintain equilibrium by preventing overpopulation of certain species.
Edgehall’s ecosystem is a delicate, dynamic interplay of life and survival, shaped by its relentless environment and the ever-present threat of monstrous invaders. This balance reflects the resilience of both its inhabitants and the natural world they call home.
Climate
Edgehall’s climate is harsh and unyielding, defined by its cold and windy conditions year-round. The mountainous terrain of the Shiverstone Range ensures a predominantly freezing environment in the higher altitudes, with heavy snow blanketing the peaks and foothills during the long winter months. In these areas, blizzards are common, often accompanied by biting winds that howl through the valleys, creating an almost constant chill.
The lower foothills and plains experience a slightly milder version of this cold, with brief, muddy summers that bring some respite from the freezing temperatures. During this short thaw, the snow recedes to reveal patches of rocky ground and sparse vegetation. However, even in summer, the nights remain cool, and sudden frost can occur, particularly as autumn approaches.
The region’s winters are particularly unforgiving, lasting much longer than the other seasons. Snowfall is heavy, and the temperatures often drop below freezing for extended periods. The combination of icy winds and heavy snowstorms can render travel treacherous, isolating villages and mining towns for weeks at a time.
Rainfall is moderate but steady in the lower elevations, with much of it freezing into sleet or snow before reaching the ground. The coastal areas near Port Morlund and Stonehaven Landing experience slightly warmer temperatures due to their proximity to the Ascian Ocean, but they are still subject to fierce winter storms and icy rain.
Edgehall’s climate reflects the region’s rugged and unforgiving nature, where only the hardy and well-adapted can thrive. The environment is a constant test of endurance for its inhabitants, shaping a culture of resilience and resourcefulness.
History
Once known as Naemoira, Edgehall was a proud and resource-rich region that played a vital role in Arailia’s prosperity during the Blood Age. Governed by royalist lords, the region was a cornerstone of the kingdom’s economy, providing critical resources like iron, copper, and timber, while also serving as a defensive stronghold against the untamed North. The Frosthaven Keep, originally constructed as a centre of governance and military coordination, stood as a beacon of strength and resilience during this time.
Under King Damon’s reign, the region’s trajectory shifted dramatically. Governance of Edgehall was handed to Lord Derys Thal’ryon, an elf of merchant origins elevated to nobility due to his wealth and allegiance to the king. However, Derys’s inexperience and greed have left Edgehall mired in corruption and neglect. The once-pristine Frosthaven Keep now serves more as a monument to his family’s excess than as a centre of power, its weathered walls and fading grandeur a reflection of the region’s struggles.
Beyond its internal challenges, Edgehall remains at the forefront of a prolonged and bitter conflict. The lands to the north, often referred to simply as The North, have resisted King Damon’s rule for centuries, maintaining their independence through fierce resistance and guerrilla tactics. For the past 150 years, Damon has focused much of his military might on Edgehall, using it as a staging ground for his campaigns against the Northern forces. This has strained the region’s already limited resources, forcing its people to endure harsh conditions while supporting the king’s ambitions.
Despite these hardships, the people of Edgehall endure, their resilience tested but unbroken. Miners, soldiers, and traders work tirelessly to uphold their region’s contributions to Arailia, even as their lord’s mismanagement and the ongoing Northern conflict weigh heavily on their shoulders. Edgehall’s history is one of perseverance, its story shaped by the unyielding spirit of its land and its people.
Alternative Name(s)
Formerly Naemoira
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