Ashenkin Dominion
Population
~480,000
Capital
Ironhearth
Government
Psionic Oligarchy
Enslaved
~60%
The Iron Depths is a subterranean civilisation of approximately 480,000 souls — sixty percent of them enslaved — built beneath Eshara's desert by the ashenkin, dark dwarves who wield psionic power as both weapon and governance tool. Twelve Psion-Lords rule through a combination of mental domination, military force, and economic control centred on the seven Eternal Forge-Hearts.
Tyrant-Lord Morganax the Chained is aging and paranoid, his psionic control fraying. His likely successor, Kethral, plans surface expansion that would trigger continental war. Meanwhile, a hidden rebel city of 55,000 prepares for uprising, and something anomalous stirs in the deepest caverns — a psionic signal that even the Psion-Lords cannot explain.
The twelve Psion-Lords maintain control through the Psionic Nexus — a network of mental energy channelled through the Eternal Forge-Hearts that allows them to monitor, influence, and when necessary dominate the minds of the enslaved population. Morganax sits at the nexus's centre, but his failing mind creates fluctuations — moments of freedom that the enslaved have learned to recognise and exploit. The rogue psion Greymind broadcasts interference that creates permanent dead zones in the network, and the rebels of Deep-City Sanctuary have gathered individuals with natural psionic resistance to shield their hidden city. The system is cracking. When it breaks, the Iron Depths will convulse.
Capital city carved from volcanic rock, lit by the glow of the seven Eternal Forge-Hearts — enslaved fire elementals whose energy powers the forges, lights the caverns, and maintains the psionic nexus that keeps the population under control.
The Iron Depths' primary trade hub, where goods flow between the underground and surface worlds. Merchants brave enough to descend can find metals, weapons, and enchanted goods unavailable anywhere else — for prices measured in more than gold.
Military stronghold guarding the primary entrance from the surface. The fortress has never been breached, protected by layers of physical fortification and psionic wards that induce terror in approaching enemies.
Mining districts stretching for miles through mineral-rich rock. Forty thousand workers — mostly enslaved — extract ore, gems, and stranger things from the stone. Working conditions are lethal; replacement workers are procured through raids and trade.
A secret rebel refuge hidden in abandoned cavern systems. Fifty-five thousand escaped slaves and dissidents have built a functioning city that the Psion-Lords cannot find — protected by individuals with natural psionic resistance.
Ruler (Aging, Paranoid)
Once the most powerful psion in the Iron Depths, Morganax is failing. His mind frays, his control slips, and he chains himself to his throne during episodes of psionic instability — hence his title. His paranoia drives increasingly brutal crackdowns that accelerate the very rebellion he fears.
First Among Psion-Lords
The most likely successor if Morganax falls. Kethral is younger, sharper, and possibly more dangerous than his master. He advocates for expanding the Iron Depths' territory into the surface world — a plan that would bring war with every kingdom in Eshara.
Slave-Master General
Commands the apparatus of slavery — procurement, breaking, assignment, and disposal. Thorne is efficient, emotionless, and views enslaved people as resources to be optimised. His logistics network is the backbone of the Iron Depths' economy.
Trade Liaison
Manages all commerce with the surface world, maintaining the carefully controlled flow of goods through Deepmarket. Vex presents a civilised face to surface merchants while ensuring they see nothing of the slavery that produces the goods they buy.
The Anomaly
A psion of extraordinary power who has gone rogue, hiding somewhere in the deepest caverns. Greymind broadcasts psionic interference that disrupts the Psion-Lords' control network. Whether Greymind is a freedom fighter or something worse remains unclear.
Rebel Leader
A former slave who escaped to Deep-City Sanctuary and now coordinates the growing rebellion. Torvin is building a network connecting rebel cells across the Iron Depths, preparing for a coordinated uprising when Morganax finally falls.
Tyrant-Lord Morganax suffers a catastrophic psionic episode, temporarily releasing thousands of mind-controlled slaves from his influence. The window of freedom lasts only hours — but Torvin Goldforge seizes the moment to launch a premature uprising. The party must choose sides in a desperate underground war.
The Anomaly in the Deep — a strange psionic signal from the lowest caverns — is growing stronger. The Psion-Lords want it investigated; the rebels believe it might be their salvation. The party descends into darkness where even the ashenkin fear to tread.
A surface kingdom hires the party to negotiate a trade agreement with the Iron Depths, unaware that the 'refined metals' they're buying are produced by slave labour. The party discovers the truth mid-negotiation and must decide whether to complete the deal or expose it.
Greymind contacts the party through psionic visions, offering knowledge of the Iron Depths' weaknesses in exchange for a single favour — retrieving something from Morganax's personal vault. The heist would require infiltrating the most heavily guarded location underground.
Deep-City Sanctuary's location is about to be discovered. Torvin Goldforge needs the party to create a diversion massive enough to draw the Psion-Lords' attention while fifty-five thousand people evacuate to a new hiding place.
Mining town
Dwarven forgehold
Lakeside village
Trading post
Frontier outpost
Coastal watchtower
Monastery village
Highland shepherds
Naval garrison
Border outpost
Blighted village
Elvish settlement