The Iron Territories

Land of Forgotten Relics and Ancient Threats   The Iron Territories stretch across a vast and rugged landscape, a place where the echoes of greatness and shadowed pasts intertwine. Once home to a mighty dual empire, this land bore witness to the pinnacle of dwarven and elven civilization—and now stands fractured by time, conflict, and old grudges.   Beneath the surface lies Craghaven, the legendary underground dwarven empire. Revered across the realms for their masterful craftsmanship, the dwarves of Craghaven shaped wonders from stone and metal—artifacts of unparalleled power and exquisite beauty. Their forges blazed like eternal stars beneath the mountains, creating weapons, armor, and relics that carried the weight of ancient magic.   Above ground, the Elves of Elondon flourished in graceful cities that pierced the skies with elegant towers woven from living wood. Their mastery of enchantment gave life to bows that sang with power and weapons imbued with the essence of nature’s song. The elves' cities shimmered with an ethereal glow, envied by all who beheld their splendor.   Though dwarves and elves stood as the dominant powers of the age, they shared the lands with others. High in the jagged mountain passes, fierce orc clans carved out a stubborn existence—independent, resilient, and wary of the surface kingdoms’ politics. Along the outskirts of dwarven outposts, halflings brought warmth and laughter with their carefree spirit, softening the often stern demeanor of their stony neighbors. And ever-present were the gnome caravans—endless trains of wagons bustling outside city gates—whose inventive minds and trade networks wove connections across the Iron Territories. The coastal fringes bore small human hamlets, hardy settlements shaped by the sea’s relentless call and the will to endure.   The Fall of Empires and the Rise of Rivalries Centuries have passed since those halcyon days. The once-glorious dual empire has faded into legend, its memory held only in the worn relics buried beneath soil and stone. The land now fractures into competing kingdoms and bitter rivalries.   In the South, dwarven kingdoms stand as the stubborn remnants of those who once stood firm against the undead scourge. Hardened by centuries of warfare, these dwarves guard their mountain halls jealously, their stoic spirits forged in unyielding stone.   Across dense, whispering forests dwell the Woodland Elves, descendants of the proud Elondon. Their hearts are heavy with an ancient grudge, blaming the dwarves for a betrayal in times long lost to memory. Even the eldest elves cannot fully recall the cause, only that the wound festers, dividing once inseparable allies.   At the heart of the continent sprawls the Human Empire of the Central Plains, a rising power shaped by ambition and adaptability. What began as scattered bands of seafaring raiders grew into a sprawling empire that stretches from the storm-tossed shores of the Unending Sea in the west, across vast plains and deserts, to towering mountain ranges in the north and lush southern forests. Their armies grow strong, and their influence spreads, but with prosperity comes intrigue and unrest.   A Land Under Siege by Darkness Yet the Iron Territories are no mere battleground of mortal ambitions. Beneath the surface and in the shadows of every kingdom, ancient evils stir—forgotten powers awakened and hungry to complete their dark designs. Whispers of creeping corruption and shadowy forces grow louder with each passing day.   Legends long buried threaten to rise once more, as the lessons of old fade into obscurity and the fragile peace teeters on the brink. Heroes must rise, alliances must be forged anew, and the relics of the past may yet hold the key to salvation—or doom.