Dragon's Back Mountains

The Dragon's Back Mountains split the isle of Ardfarjord in half. Long ago these mountains were the center of a powerful Ice Giant Empire which, according to legend, commanded tribute across the northern archipelagos from its high-mountain capitol of Winter King's Hall. Today the mountains are shelter for scattered bands of goblins, orcs, and other monstrous humanoids squatting in ruins and caves. High in the northern Dragon's Back sits Stillvale, a large and well-forested valley that is home to Clan Kint.

Upper Dragon's Back Mountains
The northern half of the mountains is wider than the south and has larger glacial valleys and more rivers. It is here that the large valley of Stillvale is located, as well as the hardy mountaineers of Clan Kint.

Lower Dragon's Back Mountains
The lower half of the mountains are sharp and jutting, in some places rising quite suddenly from the surrounding lowlands. The valleys here are sharp and narrow, twisting along the path of rivers. The area is virtually uninhabited by the civilized races, though orcs, goblins, and other verminous sentiments exist in isolated pockets plying the regions valleys and taking advantage of the extensive cave system to hunt and raid. Generally, such creatures are a mere local nuisance for the plainsmen that live in the mountains' shadow. Rarely, however, an orc or goblinoid will stumble upon some ancient remnant of the Winter King's long-dead empire. Twisted and engorged by the ancient and alien power of that horrid dominion, the newly crowned "Winter Lord" gathers a following of lesser goblins and orcs about them to raid and reave the lowlands-or at least that was long the conventional wisdom. Recently, Clan Kint scouts have discovered that a number of Winter Lords do not follow this path, but rather retreat deep into the mountains' caves with a group of thralls. What they are doing there is unknown, but it was ominous enough that Clan Kint sent news of their discovery across Ardfarjord. Regrettably, far more pressing matters have demanded the Clans' resources. Only a small contingent of rangers and scouts have thus far been dispatched, their mission purely one of reconnaissance.