Angbarod

Angbaror was located in the north western reaches of Ayvindor, and south of the Forsaken Wastes. It was commonly referred to as 'the kingdom of ice and iron' due to the extreme cold and the valuable dark iron, mined from the mountains there. The blacktooth mountains made up the south, south east, and eastern borders. Narrow passes through the mountains meant that entrance to Angbarod could be easily controlled from those directions.

The capital was originally the city of Lumaeri, but was abandoned for the fortress of Faragost after the formers' destruction. Though Angborad was never very influential, the dwarves and later slaves that worked in the mines brought great wealth to the clans of that frozen land. For most of its history, Angborad was at war with its southern neighbour, Caldrimar.

Geography
Angbarod was a large country, almost double the size of its eastern neighbour, Rial. However its size was only a third of the Forsaken Wastes, to the north. The Blacktooth mountain range protected Angbarods' entire southern, south east, and eastern borders, forming natural defences with passes that were closely guarded. Thick evergreen forests dotted the northernmost areas of the country. Icy valleys, deep, cold lakes and rivers, and frozen plains make up most of the country.

Climate
Throughout Angbarod, the land is covered in snow and ice throughout the year. For most of the country, the snow never melts, except for where the fast moving rivers prevent ice from forming. In the southernmost reaches of Angbarod, snow does melt, but the ground remains frozen, making construction and farming quite difficult. Icy wind prevails year long, cutting through the garments of the unprepared, and heavy snows prevailed throughout the year.

Regions
Amathur Foothills- On the north western edge of Angbarod, several leagues east of the shore. It was known to be home to several packs of vicious ice trolls.

Lake Irimuth- The largest body of water in central Angbarod, lake Irimuth was a deep body of water and the mouth of the river Ciamur.

Caranthir barrows- A plain covered in hundreds of barrows from the people of Angbarod long past. Iceborn wraiths prowl the region in great numbers.

Mistthorn Forest-  One of the largest, densest forests in Angbarod, at its northern border. The site of several battles between Darkthorn rangers and Forsaken raiders.

Nurional Vale- In the west of Angbarod dotted with copses of trees, and with a single, stone ringed hill at the very center. The stones that ring the hill are etched with ancient runes of an unknown origin.

Whispering pass- The eastern pass into Rial, the winds of Angbarod are rather ferocious here, and as the wind passes through the stone, it often sounds like spirits whispering.

The Shivering coast- The western coast of Angbarod, ships rarely make port here, as the ice flows are treacherous, and many a mast of a sunken ship marks the folly of captains who attempted it.

Mines of the Blacktooths- The Blacktooth mountain ranges are dotted with dozens of mines, all dedicated to acquiring the precious dark iron ore.

Ruins of Lumaeri- Formerly the capital of Angbarod, the city was razed by the lord of ice and iron. Its ruins are still visible, but nearly overrun by orcish tribes.

Towns and cities
Faragost- The fortress-city of Faragost is the location of the throne of ice and iron. However, after the events of the war between the Angbarodir and the Forsaken, the former capital of the Angbarodir lies seemingly abandoned the towers and walls unmanned, and the gates still hang broken and useless. However, none that enter that place, ever return.

Ilmithra - (pop.20,000)The current capital of Angbarod, as of 2200 CC. The largest city, it is situated near the river Ciamur, and is home to roughly half of Angbarods' population.

Thanost- (pop. 12,000)- The northermost city of Angbarod, it is situated just to the east of Mistthorn forest, and heavily defended. The city's thick walls and hardened garrison draw the clans inside, offering protection from Forsaken raiders and the monsters that wander the countryside.

Arvost- (pop. 8,000)- Situated on the coast, Arvost is by far the most self-sufficient of the cities of Angbarod. Fishermen are often on the sea, unless a particularly vicious winter storm happens to sweep in.

Norholt- (pop. 3,000)- Also known as the city of smiths, Norholt is the sister city of Ornion, and is responsible for the creation of arms and armour for Angbarods' military.

Ornion- (pop. 2,000)- The town closest to Angbarods' southern border, and the Blacktooth mountain range, Ornion was once used as a trading town by the dwarves of the mountains, and the Iludrathi elves. Later, slave labour was housed there, and they were marched out to work in the mines everyday. Traded heavily with Norholt.

History
With the end of the Aeldramari empire, the remnants of the elven people scattered throughout Ayvindor. The Iludrathi, seeking to escape the bitter memories of the plague war and the even earlier kin slayings, not to mention the devastation of the Morning War, settled far to the north. The climate of this far land was ideal for the Iludrathi, and they found willing allies in a clan of dwarves that worked the 'dzar jik' dark ore, in the rock.

The elves built the city of Lumerae, a great work of shining stone and crystal tipped towers that challenged the might of the former Aeldramar empire. Erioth Maenril was the leader of the Iludrathi, and with the backing of his followers, declared himself the king of Lumerae. The city became a haven for the Iludrathi who sought seclusion from the rest of the world, welcoming the challenges the frozen land posed. With thoughts of their former empire in mind, and a desire to surpass it, the king of Lumerae named the land 'Ilumaera' meaning 'icy gem' in the elven tongue.

However, the elves were not alone in their interest in the newly founded kingdom. The First Men, having recently founded the kingdom of Caldrimar on the snow elves southern border, approached king Maenril. They sought to expand their holdings into the north.

A veteran of the Morning War and the Plague Wars soon after, Erioth remembered the failures of men in those dark days. However, he had settled in the north so that his people could start anew, free from the prejudice and strife that had torn apart the Aeldramari in the first place. The Iludrathi, and to an extent, the dwarves of the Blacktooth mountains, welcomed the humans with open arms. Together, they built the city of Ilmithra, near the bank of lake Irimuth.

In the interest of continuing trade with the dwarves, the city of Ornion was built as a trade town, where caravans from Caldrimar could bring goods from the south, and the dwarves could trade their ore and trinkets. Ilumaera flourished for over a century, challenging the growing human kingdoms throughout Ayvindor. Cooperation between the three races served as an example to many others throughout the continent. This could not last.

In the bitterly cold winter of -1503, a stranger came to the shining gem of the north. He claimed to come from Caldrimar, though the truth was much more sinister. He introduced himself to the court of Lumerae as Ulrindhir, a name the snow elves would soon come to bitterly curse. Weeks after his arrival, orcish raiders emerged from deep within the Blacktooth mountains, along with a massive horde of undead that marched in from the Shadowlands to the south east.

The first few skirmishes went in the defenders favour, the elves, men and dwarves uniting like they had thousands of years ago. But Ulrindhir was not idle while the undead and orcs did their work. He went from settlement to settlement, spreading dissent among the First Men. The Amnori were a step above normal mortals, even they were not immune to corruption.

Slowly, the men of Ilumerae were turned against their elven and dwarven allies, even as Ulrindhirs' allies to the south spread similar lies. By -1502, the elves and dwarves fought against their former neighbours, the dead and orcish thralls bolstering their ranks. A great host of twisted men marched up from Caldrimar, joining their fellows in the war, and executing those Amnori who resisted.

In the winter of -1501, another ferocious winter came to Ilumerae, worse than that winter of -1503. Troop movements were slowed, if not halted altogether, but it seemed not to effect Ulrindhirs' forces at all. If anything, it bolstered them. Several settlements fell to his forces, and the dwarves were forced back into their mines. Thousands of orcs and undead poured in after them, and despite a valiant defence, the dwarves were overwhelmed and slain to a man.

Not even a month later, the capital of Lumerae was besieged. With the last of his army around him, king Maenril was faced with either death upon the field of battle, or starvation inside the city. He knew no help would be coming. None of the messengers he'd dispatched had returned, and no friendly armies could be seen in any direction.

A great battle took place on the plains in front of Lumerae, and many undead, turncoat Amnori, and orcs were slain. King Maenril was slain by Ulrindhirs' lieutenant at the gates of the city. With the death of their king, the defenders lost hope, and began a fighting retreat into the city, pursued by the massive army Ulrindhir had gathered. The orcs and turncoats were set loose to burn and pillage, destroying the city, and leaving only ruins in its wake.

The king of Ice and Iron
After the destruction of Lumerae, the Iludrathi and surviving, uncorrupted Amnori fled east and south, but their numbers were heavily diminished. The survivors were enslaved, and set to building the great fortress-city of Faragost. Many more slaves were sent to work the mines that had formerly belonged to the dwarf clans of the Blacktooth mountains. With his task complete, Ulrindhir renamed the land to Angbarod, meaning 'hard land' in elvish.

The ancient barrows used by the First Men were corrupted, and spells of undeath were laid upon the entirety of the land. Those that died in the open plains and forests of Angbarod rose once again as ethereal creatures known as Iceborne wraiths. Shrouded and hooded creatures that wielded enchanted blades that chilled to the bone.

Dark iron was mined in great quantities, to outfit the men of Angbarod, and trade was established with the vampires of the Shadowlands. Orcs in their hundreds were corralled and made thralls for the kings' forces. Trappers hunted down and captured many trolls from the Amathur foot hills, training and armouring them the best they could.

This sudden build up of men and weapons did not go unnoticed by their neighbours to the south. The Amnori of Caldrimar were long suspicious of the sinister silence from Ilumerae. Scouts were dispatched through the mountain passes, and those that returned did so with grim news; Ilumerae was no more, their kinsmen and the elves that had founded that once proud kingdom were slain or driven out. Worse, a shadowy figure known as the king of ice and iron had made it his home, and was drawing all evil to him.

The men of Caldrimar were proud, and like lesser men, quick to anger. The king, Armost Lumion, assembled a mighty host, and marched upon Angbarods' southern border. However, men of Caldrimar greatly underestimated the forces of the north. As the Caldrimarin army marched through the pass, they were constantly harassed by archers and orcish raiders. The army's rearguard was constantly on the look out for attacks on their supply train.

When the army finally emerged in southern Angbarod, they were met by a great host of Angbarodir, who engaged them in a massive battle, one that the Caldrimaran army lost badly. This signaled the start of several centuries of warfare between the two sides, that would only end with the destruction of Angbarod five hundred years later.

Ruin of the frozen kingdom
The end of Angbarod came not from the concerted efforts of the elves and men that surrounded them, but rather from the blasted wastelands of the far north, where even the people of ice and iron dared not go. The hordes of Forsaken had been gathering for the better part of a year, lead by the great warlord Eskjar the Bold. In the early spring, Eskjars' hordes crossed into Angbarod from the north, and swept aside the meager, surprised defenders.

However, the kingdom of ice and iron was under the control of fell forces, all of which served Ulrindhir. News of the invasion reached the capital, and the clansmen of Angbarod, hordes of thralls, and wraiths were marshaled under vampiric generals. The might of the kingdom of ice and iron was united against the barbarians from the north.

What followed was a brutal war that was hidden from the rest of the world. The elven nations were beginning to suffer the first hints of dissent amongst one another, while the human kingdoms were still young and weak. Even Caldrimar was weary of Angbarods' might.

The war continued for nearly a decade, but the hordes of the north were relentless, eventually pushing down to the Ulrindhirs' greatest stronghold, Faragost. After a three year long siege, in which the besieging forces were constantly harassed by the kings' forces, the fortress-city fell. Rumor had it that the king himself was slain fighting at the gates to the keep, but his body was never recovered from the ruins.

With the destruction of Angbarods' strongest city, and the apparent loss of their king, the resisting angbarodir routed, fleeing to the furthest reaches of their fallen kingdom. Eskjar's horde rampaged unchecked, looting wealth and dark iron weaponry from the kingdoms' armoury's before striking out further south. For several centuries, the realm lay in ruins, with scattered clans of Angbarodir scraping out a living and trying to rebuild their cities.

Recent stirrings
Angbarod is not a place that draws much attention in the present day. For centuries, it has been thought near abandoned, since the hordes of Eskjar rampaged through it. However, news of clans unifying under the banner of a mysterious war lord, and remanning the old border forts. Groups of wights have been seen patrolling the roads, and movement has been seen at the old fortress-city of Faragost. Whispers hint that Ulrindhir may have returned with plans to become the dominant power in the north.