Fort Valiance Region
The Frostfall Clans
Fierce tribal kingdoms of humans, orcs, trolls, giants, and hobgoblins — bound by warrior ethos, shamanic magic, and reverence for the Old Gods. They raid, they conquer, and they endure.
The Northern Wilds
Situated in the rugged terrain northeast of Fort Valiance, the Frostfall Clans occupy a vast stretch of wilderness nestled between dense forests, rolling hills, and small mountains. The land is heavily forested with thick, ancient woods where rivers and streams crisscross the landscape, providing natural barriers and strategic advantages for the clans that dwell here.
The climate is harsh and unforgiving — long, brutal winters and short, cool summers define life in these lands. Frequent mists and heavy snowfall add to the foreboding atmosphere, ensuring that only the strong survive. The clans are a collection of tribal kingdoms populated by humans, halflings, orcs, trolls, goblins, hobgoblins, giants, and gnolls — all united by a fierce warrior ethos and the practice of raiding and plundering to survive and prosper.
They worship the Old Gods, ancient deities representing the primal forces of nature and war. Their halls echo with songs of glory, their altars stain red with sacrifice, and their warriors die with blades in hand — for there is no greater shame in the Frostfall than dying in a bed.
The Ravager's Coast
Terrain
Mountains, forests, rivers
Climate
Harsh winters, cool summers
Races
Humans, orcs, trolls, giants, hobgoblins
Faith
The Old Gods
A Frostfang Clan warrior patrols the frozen frontier
The Great Clans
Four great clans of monstrous races dominate the harshest territories — their strongholds carved from living rock, their warriors tempered by ice and blood.
The Wolfsgard Clan
Orc-ledLeader: Gothi Thrain Bloodaxe
Known for their brutal raiding parties and berserker warriors. They are feared for their savage combat tactics and unwavering loyalty to their Jarl.
Wolfsgard Hall
A massive, fortified longhouse built into the side of a mountain, serving as the clan's main stronghold.
The Bloodfields
A sacred battleground where the clan holds rituals and training sessions.
The Stonefist Clan
Troll-Ogre-ledLeader: Gothi Grogg Stonefist
Known for their immense strength and resilience. They are expert stonemasons and build formidable defenses and siege weapons.
Stonefist Fortress
A heavily fortified keep carved from a mountain, virtually impregnable.
The Stone Circle
An ancient site of standing stones used for worship and rituals.
The Blackfang Clan
Hobgoblin-ledLeader: Gothi Morgana Shadowblade
Specialize in stealth and assassination. They are adept at night raids and use poison and shadow magic to incapacitate their foes.
Blackfang Citadel
A hidden fortress in the heart of a dense forest, protected by traps and illusions.
The Shadow Glen
A dark, twisted grove where the clan communes with dark spirits and gods.
The Thunderpeak Clan
Giant-ledLeader: Gothi Bjorn Thunderhand
Known for their control over thunder and lightning magic. They are formidable warriors, often leading charges in storms created by their shamans.
Thunderpeak Stronghold
A citadel atop a mountain peak, often shrouded in storms.
The Storm Altar
An ancient altar where sacrifices are made to the storm gods, ensuring their favor.
The Human Kingdoms
The human kingdoms of the Frostfall Clans are a collection of fiercely independent and warlike tribes, each with unique cultural practices, shamanistic magic, and distinct fantasy elements. They are unified by a common philosophy of strength, honor, and survival through raiding and plundering.
Dragonfire Keep — built within a dormant volcano
The Frostfire Clan
Leader: Gothi Sigrid Iceheart
Renowned for their cunning and mastery of fire magic. They use enchanted fire to instill fear and chaos in their enemies during raids.
The Ravenskull Clan
Leader: Gothi Astrid Ravenshadow
Masters of necromancy and spirit communication. They use their shamanistic powers to commune with the dead and summon spectral warriors.
Strongholds: Ravenskull Hall · The Spirit Cairns
Ghostly warriors, spectral ravens as spies, cursed relics
The Iceblood Clan
Leader: Gothi Eirik Frostbeard
Known for their control over ice and cold magic. They harness the power of frost to enhance their combat abilities and protect their lands.
Strongholds: Iceblood Keep · The Frost Altar
Ice golems, enchanted frost weapons, conjured blizzards
The Thunderwolf Clan
Leader: Gothi Ragnar Thunderhowl
Fierce warriors who command the power of thunder and lightning. They are known for their lightning-fast raids and storm magic.
Strongholds: Thunderwolf Hall · The Storm Shrine
Lightning-infused weapons, storm elementals, summoned thunderstorms
The Dragonfire Clan
Leader: Gothi Hilda Fireheart
Possessors of ancient dragon magic, allowing them to wield fire and draconic power. They are revered dragon slayers and dragon riders.
Strongholds: Dragonfire Keep · The Drakespire
Fire-breathing warriors, dragon companions, enchanted dragon armor
The Shadowclaw Clan
Leader: Gothi Sigurd Shadowstrike
Masters of shadow magic and stealth. They excel in guerrilla warfare and assassination.
Strongholds: Shadowclaw Hall · The Veil of Shadows
Shadowy assassins, cloaks of invisibility, shadow manipulation
The Ironbear Clan
Leader: Gothi Torvald Ironfist
Known for their incredible strength and resilience, augmented by earth magic. They are expert blacksmiths and builders.
Strongholds: Ironbear Fortress · The Forge of Giants
Golem guardians, enchanted stone constructs, magical fortifications
The Seawraith Clan
Leader: Gothi Ingrid Seabreeze
Skilled sailors and navigators who command the power of the sea and water magic. They are feared for their coastal raids and naval prowess.
Strongholds: Seawraith Keep · The Tidal Temple
Water elementals, enchanted storm-sailing longships, tidal control
The Wolfkin Clan
Leader: Gothi Ulfric Wolfbane
Lycanthropes who can transform into wolves and harness the power of the wild. They are feared berserkers and trackers.
Strongholds: Wolfkin Hall · The Moonstone Circle
Werewolf warriors, spirit wolves, summoned wolf packs
Shadowclaw Hall, concealed within the depths of the dark forest
The Old Gods
The Frostfall Clans worship a pantheon of ancient deities representing various aspects of nature, war, and survival. These gods predate the civilized pantheon of the southern kingdoms — they are raw, primal, and demand blood.
The Frost Altar — where offerings are made to the Old Gods
Wulfric
God of War and Winter
Often depicted as a great wolf, Wulfric embodies the harshness of winter and the ferocity of war. Warriors invoke his name before battle, smearing ash and blood across their faces in his honor.
Fjorgyn
Goddess of Earth and Fire
A motherly figure associated with the earth's strength and the destructive power of fire. She is both creator and destroyer — her forges birth weapons, her eruptions bury cities.
Helka
Goddess of Shadows and Death
A mysterious and feared deity who governs the realms of death and the unseen. Her priests walk between the living and the dead, and her shrines are found in caves and crypts.
Key Locations & Landmarks
The Hall of Heroes
The Frostfang Mountains
A range of small mountains that provide natural fortifications for the clans, their peaks crowned with ancient watchtowers and shrine-cairns.
The Whispering Woods
A dense forest filled with ancient trees and hidden dangers. It is said that the spirits of the dead whisper secrets to those who dare to listen.
The Ravager's Coast
A rocky coastline from which the clans launch their raids. The cliffs are dotted with watchtowers and signal fires.
The Hall of Heroes
A grand hall where the greatest warriors of the clans are honored. It is a place of feasting, storytelling, and planning for future raids.
Demigods of the Frostfall
Two demigods walk the mortal world among the Frostfall Clans — born of divine and mortal blood, they are revered as living avatars of power and cunning.
Lokiir Shadowgleam
Domain: Trickery, Fae Magic, and Deception
Born from the union of a trickster god and a powerful fae queen, Lokiir embodies the essence of cunning, deception, and fae magic. He is known for his cleverness and ability to manipulate reality to his whims, often playing pranks on both mortals and gods alike.
Appearance: A lithe and graceful figure with a mischievous grin and eyes that sparkle with a hint of malice. He has delicate, pointed ears and an aura of shifting shadows and flickering lights, embodying his fae heritage. His clothing is an ever-changing array of illusions.
Symbols
Foxes, masks, and moonlit glades
Worship
Elaborate masquerades, trickster games, and rituals conducted under the light of the moon. Offerings include items of beauty and craftsmanship, left in hidden groves.
Powers: Grants followers the ability to weave powerful illusions, change their appearance, and manipulate the minds of others. He can bend reality, creating portals and summoning fae creatures.
The Shadowclaw Clan holds Lokiir in highest regard, seeking his blessings for their stealthy raids and cunning strategies.
Thaldrin Stormbreaker
Domain: Storms, Strength, and Valor
The son of a mighty storm god and a mortal warrior queen, Thaldrin embodies the raw power of storms and the indomitable spirit of a warrior. He is revered for his unmatched strength, bravery, and ability to harness the fury of the elements.
Appearance: A towering, muscular figure with a presence that commands respect and awe. His hair crackles with static electricity, and his eyes glow with the intensity of a thunderstorm. He wields a massive warhammer that radiates lightning and thunder.
Symbols
Hammers, storm clouds, and bolts of lightning
Worship
Grand feats of strength, battles held during storms, and rituals performed at high altitudes to be closer to the storm gods. Offerings include weapons, trophies of valor, and mountaintop sacrifices.
Powers: Grants followers control over the weather, allowing them to summon and command storms in battle. He enhances their physical strength and combat prowess.
The Thunderpeak and Thunderwolf clans revere Thaldrin above all, their shamans channeling his fury in battle.
Adventure Hooks
A Wolfsgard warband is spotted crossing the Howling Pass toward Ironholt. Lord Cormac seeks mercenaries to bolster his defenses — but is he truly planning to fight, or to strike a deal?
The Thunderpeak shamans have begun summoning storms that drift south into Fort Valiance territory, destroying crops and flooding roads. Is this a prelude to invasion, or a warning?
Traders report that the Dragonfire Clan has captured a young dragon in the Frostfang Mountains. If they manage to bind it, the balance of power among the clans — and the threat to the south — shifts dramatically.
A delegation of Wolfkin Clan werewolves appears at Stormwatch Garrison under a flag of truce, requesting an audience with Queen Amalia. Their offer: alliance against the spreading Dragoblom — but at what price?
The Blackfang Clan's assassins have been spotted in Fort Valiance itself, targeting a noble suspected of harboring Sporesworn agents. Are they acting on their own, or has someone hired them?
An explorer returns from the Whispering Woods babbling about a Ravenskull necromantic ritual that raised an entire battlefield of ancient dead. The spectral army marches south — but toward what target?