Eiselcross
Far north of the rest of Wildemount is a collection of imposing islands of ice, danger, and powerful, forgotten relics. Eiselcross and the Greying Wildlands are collectively known as the Biting North. For centuries, most of the world dismissed Eiselcross as an uninhabitable glacial land of blizzards and yetis. Only fishing vessels ever got close to the frozen shores—until one of those ships found an Aeorian item.
The flying city-state of Aeor, a place of inventors, magic, and progress, was hurled into Eiselcross by gods both good and evil during the Calamity. The Prime and Betrayer deities agreed on a momentary armistice to achieve this mammoth task, for Aeor’s people crafted weapons made to kill the gods and had to be stopped. The gods tried to wholly destroy Aeor, but its protections against divine entities were carefully tuned and unexpectedly strong. It took the most of the pantheon to crash the city.
Aeor was long believed to have been obliterated, and the gods’ silence on the matter only furthered this conviction, so the books of lore left nothing more to be studied or discussed on the once-powerful nation. However, recent discoveries of Aeorian artifacts revealed the truth of Aeor’s resting place and spurred rumors of arcane secrets frozen beneath the ice of Eiselcross. Now Dwendalian, Uthodurnian, Xhorhasian, and mercenary expeditions search the hazardous terrain for materials that could change the tide of the war between the Dwendalian Empire and the Kryn Dynasty .
Eiselcross is a collection of eight icy islands, some of which have small, snow-covered mountain ranges:
Beissel. Eiselcross’s third largest island is so far north that even prepared explorers have trouble surviving the cold. Most don’t dare brave an expedition, and those who do turn back once they see the white dragons that rule Beissel.
Dampfkan. This island is an active volcano that steams into the sky. Dampfkan’s few explorers have seen a large structure in the lava, but nobody knows what this mysterious monolith is.
Foren. The largest island of Eiselcross is also its most desirable destination for treasure-seekers, since Aeor’s main crash site is on Foren.
Frostbogen. Given its proximity to Foren, one might think that this island is also a popular destination for explorers. But ever since a Cerberus Assembly delegation of over one hundred people, their ship, and all their belongings vanished during an expedition to Frostbogen, no one has dared to explore the island.
Gelier. Eiselcross’s second-largest island holds the body of Quajath, the Undermaw, and its wormkin.
Kaltsel. The smallest of Eiselcross’s islands floats off the southeast coast of Foren and is said to be the home of Mynarc Furdahl, an undead warlock of Asmodeus willing to make deals in exchange for souls.
Schneescel. A permanent magical blizzard rages across Schneescel, a small island to the west of Foren, making it nigh impossible to explore. Many believe that a fallen Aeorian relic causes this storm.
Taergoss. Eiselcross’s second smallest island is a favorite spot for fishing vessels to anchor overnight. The crews tend to stay on their boats and never set foot on shore, since faint wails can be heard at all times of day coming from Taergoss’s center.
While most of the world did not know about Eiselcross’s secrets for centuries, the islands are home to nomadic clans of humans and halflings. These people move in small groups, following herds of elk and mammoths. They have no gods but instead revere the animals and natural phenomena such as the wind, snow, and waves. The wildfolk avoid Aeor’s ruins and the terrible dangers that lurk there.
Eiselcross’s wildfolk live simple, harsh lives. They hunt, gather, and support each other, taking shelter in tents made of furs. If they have disputes with one another, they reconcile or simply go separate ways. Taking the life of another Eiselcross native for any reason is an even greater transgression than murder normally is in the other areas of Wildemount. The penalty for such a crime is a facial branding in the shape of a knife and permanent exile from any wildfolk clan.
For all their peace with each other, the wildfolk of Eiselcross are fierce warriors. Their cold environment shapes them, and they must defend against saber-toothed tigers, yetis, and even more dangerous predators such as white dragons. The wildfolk tend to be distrustful of outsiders, especially after seeing explorers from across the sea going into locations the native people dare not enter and using arcane magic to uncover the frozen secrets of their land.
Clans
Although several clans of wildfolk travel the frozen wastes, three are most prominent on Foren.
Nalagate. These humans roam the southeastern half of Foren, particularly in the region known as the Thin Sheets.
Clan Silverwind consists primarily of halflings. Their territory borders that of the Nalagate.
Ipsis. This clan, which is a demographic blend of human and halfling, occupies territory to the west of the River Inferno. Of all the wildfolk clans, they have the most interaction with Allowak's Sanctuary.
The flying city-state of Aeor, a place of inventors, magic, and progress, was hurled into Eiselcross by gods both good and evil during the Calamity. The Prime and Betrayer deities agreed on a momentary armistice to achieve this mammoth task, for Aeor’s people crafted weapons made to kill the gods and had to be stopped. The gods tried to wholly destroy Aeor, but its protections against divine entities were carefully tuned and unexpectedly strong. It took the most of the pantheon to crash the city.
Aeor was long believed to have been obliterated, and the gods’ silence on the matter only furthered this conviction, so the books of lore left nothing more to be studied or discussed on the once-powerful nation. However, recent discoveries of Aeorian artifacts revealed the truth of Aeor’s resting place and spurred rumors of arcane secrets frozen beneath the ice of Eiselcross. Now Dwendalian, Uthodurnian, Xhorhasian, and mercenary expeditions search the hazardous terrain for materials that could change the tide of the war between the Dwendalian Empire and the Kryn Dynasty .
Islands of Eiselcross
Eiselcross is a collection of eight icy islands, some of which have small, snow-covered mountain ranges:
Beissel. Eiselcross’s third largest island is so far north that even prepared explorers have trouble surviving the cold. Most don’t dare brave an expedition, and those who do turn back once they see the white dragons that rule Beissel.
Dampfkan. This island is an active volcano that steams into the sky. Dampfkan’s few explorers have seen a large structure in the lava, but nobody knows what this mysterious monolith is.
Foren. The largest island of Eiselcross is also its most desirable destination for treasure-seekers, since Aeor’s main crash site is on Foren.
Frostbogen. Given its proximity to Foren, one might think that this island is also a popular destination for explorers. But ever since a Cerberus Assembly delegation of over one hundred people, their ship, and all their belongings vanished during an expedition to Frostbogen, no one has dared to explore the island.
Gelier. Eiselcross’s second-largest island holds the body of Quajath, the Undermaw, and its wormkin.
Kaltsel. The smallest of Eiselcross’s islands floats off the southeast coast of Foren and is said to be the home of Mynarc Furdahl, an undead warlock of Asmodeus willing to make deals in exchange for souls.
Schneescel. A permanent magical blizzard rages across Schneescel, a small island to the west of Foren, making it nigh impossible to explore. Many believe that a fallen Aeorian relic causes this storm.
Taergoss. Eiselcross’s second smallest island is a favorite spot for fishing vessels to anchor overnight. The crews tend to stay on their boats and never set foot on shore, since faint wails can be heard at all times of day coming from Taergoss’s center.
Wildfolk of Eiselcross
While most of the world did not know about Eiselcross’s secrets for centuries, the islands are home to nomadic clans of humans and halflings. These people move in small groups, following herds of elk and mammoths. They have no gods but instead revere the animals and natural phenomena such as the wind, snow, and waves. The wildfolk avoid Aeor’s ruins and the terrible dangers that lurk there.
Eiselcross’s wildfolk live simple, harsh lives. They hunt, gather, and support each other, taking shelter in tents made of furs. If they have disputes with one another, they reconcile or simply go separate ways. Taking the life of another Eiselcross native for any reason is an even greater transgression than murder normally is in the other areas of Wildemount. The penalty for such a crime is a facial branding in the shape of a knife and permanent exile from any wildfolk clan.
For all their peace with each other, the wildfolk of Eiselcross are fierce warriors. Their cold environment shapes them, and they must defend against saber-toothed tigers, yetis, and even more dangerous predators such as white dragons. The wildfolk tend to be distrustful of outsiders, especially after seeing explorers from across the sea going into locations the native people dare not enter and using arcane magic to uncover the frozen secrets of their land.
Clans
Although several clans of wildfolk travel the frozen wastes, three are most prominent on Foren.
Nalagate. These humans roam the southeastern half of Foren, particularly in the region known as the Thin Sheets.
Clan Silverwind consists primarily of halflings. Their territory borders that of the Nalagate.
Ipsis. This clan, which is a demographic blend of human and halfling, occupies territory to the west of the River Inferno. Of all the wildfolk clans, they have the most interaction with Allowak's Sanctuary.
TypeSub-continent
Included LocationsAeor Crash SiteBalenpostFortress of the Dead JarlMutalosRiver InfernoSyrinlyaTomb of the WormVurmas
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