The Ironbound North is a region of endurance. Dominated by the Iron Mountains and shaped by its cold, unforgiving climate, it is where Osan’s oldest surviving civilization—the dwarven stronghold of Nin’Durahl—has stood since before the Split. The region is economically vital for its mineral wealth and culturally significant as the birthplace of Osan’s post-Split identity. It is also, in recent events, the epicenter of the Glowstone crisis.

Nin’Durahl

The heart of dwarven society on Osan, Nin’Durahl is a city carved from the Iron Mountains themselves. Its underground chambers, halls, and mining tunnels extend deep into the range, connected by a labyrinth of passages that have been expanded over centuries. The city’s economy is built on mining, metalwork, and gem crafting, and its smiths are considered among the finest in the world. Nin’Durahl survived the Split largely intact due to its mountain fortress construction, and it served as a stabilizing force during the earliest decades of the Rebuilding.

The city is governed by a dwarven king—currently Udrek Kegjaw—who rules with the counsel of guild heads and elder advisors. Nin’Durahl’s libraries are extensive, maintained in part by the Elder Sage of Divination, Galmir Lothiren, who serves as both librarian and advisor to the king.

Wyndmoore

A village in the northwestern foothills of the Iron Mountains, Wyndmoore is known for the luminous Jade River that runs through it and for the Glowstone deposits concentrated in the surrounding area. For centuries, Wyndmoore’s economy was built on three pillars: the Glowstone trade (processed by the Jewelers’ Guild into decorative gemstones), lumber, and agriculture. The village was small, remote, and unremarkable—a trading post that never quite became a city.

That changed when the Glowstone reactivated. Wyndmoore is now the center of a crisis it was never equipped to manage. Scholars, treasure-seekers, and opportunists have flooded in. The village council—led by figures including Thodain Copperbeard of the Rangers’ Guild and Sophia Wie of the Gray Cloaks—is struggling to maintain order. The Jade River itself now glows with an intensity that is beautiful and unsettling in equal measure.

Frostgate

Positioned on the eastern edge of the Ironbound North, Frostgate is a fortified town that serves as the gateway to the Frozen Wastes. It is known for its skilled blacksmiths, its sturdy walls, and its population of experienced rangers and adventurers—people who have made a living exploring the most dangerous terrain on Osan. Frostgate’s economy is built on trade with expeditions heading north, smithing, and the sale of rare materials recovered from the Wastes.

Geographical Features

The Iron Mountains. The mountain range that defines northern Osan. Rich in iron, silver, and other minerals, the Iron Mountains once connected to the Iron Mountains of Volaxia before the Split tore the continent apart. Dwarven ruins dot the range, and Nin’Durahl is its greatest surviving stronghold.

The Jade River. Originating from snowmelt in the Iron Mountains, the Jade River flows through Wyndmoore and is central to the village’s identity. The river’s waters have always carried a faint green luminescence from dissolved Glowstone particles. Since the reactivation, the river glows visibly, even in daylight.

Dwarfhold Ruins. Ancient dwarven constructions scattered throughout the Iron Mountains, predating Nin’Durahl. Many remain unexplored. Some are structurally sound; others are death traps of collapsed passages and unstable stonework.

The Eldertree. A sacred, ancient tree in the northern wilds, revered in local folklore. Its age is unknown—some claim it predates the Split. Pilgrims and druids visit it regularly, and its wood is considered sacrosanct.