Iron Marches
Geography
The Iron Marches stretch east of the Gaural Plains and north of the Tellaran Peninsula, encompassing the rugged eastern coastline and parts of the eastern Midlands. This region is characterized by its rocky, mountainous terrain, deep valleys, shaded woods, and yawning chasms. The once-rolling fields have been scarred by centuries of warfare, leaving a landscape marked by battle and destruction. Life seldom grows in these old battlefields due to the marshy soil and residual magic and nebula. Forts and towns once belonging to the Steelsworn Empire now lie in ruins. The lucky ones out of the way of battle are long abandoned, making room for nature to reclaim these lands. Others aren't so lucky - either partially destroyed in battle or consumed by the encroaching nebula.
The Iron Marches are also known for their deep caverns, which serve as a primary entry point into the Underdark, a vast subterranean world. These gateways are largely hidden from sight through both conventional and unconventional means, and each are used by different groups of interest. Some are located between the rocks - entrances to cavernous networks - while others are hidden in plain sight through magic.
Fauna & Flora
The flora of the Iron Marches is hardy and resilient, adapted to the rocky and often harsh environment. Tough grasses, hardy shrubs, and ancient, gnarled trees are common, with the shaded woods home to rare medicinal plants and fungi. However, little grows within the center of this region due to the ruined soils and pervasive nebula.
The fauna includes mountain goats, dire wolves, and giant eagles that nest in the cliffside north. More dangerous creatures, such as cave trolls, rock elementals, and wyverns, inhabit the deeper valleys and underground caverns, posing a constant threat to those who venture into their territories. The Midnight Horde, spawned from the corruption of the Midnight Star, also infests the region. Their numbers grow seemingly endlessly, and are largely concentrated in and around the ruins of Paleve. The spirits of the deceased linger within this region; beings like banshees and poltergeists inhabit the long abandoned ruins of fallen settlements, and was the reason for Memorial's establishment.
Natural Resources
Once, the Iron Marches were rich in valuable deposits of precious metals and ores, including iron, gold, and mithril. These rich veins have since mostly dried up to fuel the Steelsworn Empire's rise and war campaign against all of the Midlands. After the Midnight Crisis, only few of these deposits remain, but a new resource has emerged - Midnight Shards. A large amount of debris from the Midnight Star crashed in the Iron Marches and the Steelsworn capital of Paleve, its latent nebula triggering the growth of the crystalline shards. What few remain of the mountain veins still yield high-quality stone and minerals, essential for construction and crafting. The deep caverns and chasms, rarely explored, also contain rare gemstones and crystals, some with magical properties, making the region a lucrative but dangerous destination for miners and adventurers alike. Due to this, the Iron Marches have attracted numerous mining operations and ventures though all is watched under the Bureau's careful gaze.
History
The Iron Marches have a long and tumultuous history marred by tragedy and ambition. From the Xerasian Invasion during the Third Doom to the recent Steelsworn War, the region has been a battleground for various factions vying for control. The Steelsworn Gigant's rampage left lasting scars on the land, and the impact of a shard of the Midnight Star further corrupted the area. In its ashes, Memorial, a town dedicated to placating the restless spirits of the departed and remembering the wars fought here, filled the void left behind by those that once inhabited these lands. The ruins of Paleve, the former capital of the Steelsworn Empire, stand testament to the follies of unchecked ambition. Paleve, devastated by the Gigant and corrupted by the Midnight Star, is now an otherworldly ecosystem teeming with strange life forms known as the Midnight Horde. The Bureau maintains a research facility in Memorial to study the remnants of the Midnight Star in this region and Paleve and the new life forms it has spawned. Due to its history of conflict, few permanent settlements exist, with only stubborn locals, mining towns, and Memorial enduring in this hostile environment.
The dominant population consists of humans and dwarves, who are primarily involved in mining and metallurgy. Aasimar populate the town of Memorial, a lineage apparently descended from an angel sent to the region to quell the rousing dead. There are also communities of gnomes, who excel in engineering and alchemy and study the Midnight Shards intently as part of the Bureau's research teams. The region's proximity to the Underdark means that drow and duergar (dark dwarves) are also encountered, though they seem disconnected from their Zarathar or Northern counterparts entirely.
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Iron Marches
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