A frozen cemetery of iron and ash where the sky weeps charcoal.
ARAshen Reach
Overview
The Ashen Reach is a desolate, permafrost-locked basin surrounded by crumbling obsidian peaks. Lost for centuries, this graveyard of a forgotten civilization is choked by a constant rain of black volcanic ash. Metallic flora pierces the frozen ground, and ruined spires tower like skeletal fingers. Life here is a desperate gamble, as recent pioneers in the village of Hollmen struggle against a hostile climate and a legendary predator that stalks the gloom.
Cultures
Frontier communalism focuses on mutual survival above all else.
Technical reverence is given to salvaged ruins of the past.
The population is defined by a grim but enduring resilience.
Places
4 settlements
Small · Frontier VillageHollmenMain FootholdIt is a new settlement built on the safer basin edge.
Tiny · Fortified CampCinder-HoldDefensive LookoutThis site guards the primary pass into the basin.
Small · Trading PostRusty-GaitScrap HubIt sits atop a massive system of iron-wood roots.
Tiny · OutpostAsh-WatchScientific StudyScholars here monitor the volcano and the black snow.
How they spread
PatternSettlements are sparse and clustered near heat vents or defensive ruins for survival.
Common kinds
Fortified hamlets provide safety from the wind.
Scavenger camps move frequently to follow scrap deposits.
Mining outposts extract valuable minerals from the frost.
Trade routes
The Cinder Path links the newer outposts together.
The Frost-Iron Road follows ancient stone highways.
Dangers and hooks
3 threats
Most dangerous · ExtremeThe ProwlerUnique MonsterUbiquitous
Rust-ConstructsHighAncient Machines
Localized
Ash-Lung SicknessModerateEnvironmental Malady
Widespread
Hazards of the land
Corrosive ash can damage leather and cloth gear.
Hidden sinkholes are masked by deceptive black snow.
Plot hooks
1
The Prowler HuntCombatA bounty is offered for the head of the stalking beast.Starts: The tavern in the village of Hollmen.Reward: A deed to a small plot of sheltered land.
2
Lost BlueprintExplorationA scholar needs a scroll from a soot-choked library.Starts: The research tent in Ash-Watch.Reward: A set of high-quality winter survival gear.
3
Fuel ShortageResource RetrievalThe village must find new heat-producing crystals.Starts: A village council meeting during a cold snap.Reward: A permanent discount on local supplies and lodging.
The land
Climate and ground
ClimateThe air is a frigid mixture of arctic frost and warm volcanic soot.
TerrainThe ground consists of broken basalt plains and deep frost-clefts.
Biomes
Stark barrens are choked with layers of thick ash.
Frozen groves consist of trees made from twisted iron.
Soot-slicked glaciers move slowly across the basin floor.
Waters and borders
Waterways
The Ink River flows with a dark and viscous fluid.
Subterranean canals are carved into the frozen bedrock.
Borders
The Smoking Rim consists of jagged volcanic peaks.
The Ice-Wall Mountains form a massive northern barrier.
On the road
Metallic minerals cause compasses to spin without direction.
Thick ash clouds can blind travelers during sudden storms.
Landmarks
The Shattered Archway stands as a lonely stone monument.
The Copper Grove contains trees with shimmering metal leaves.
The Great Obsidian Spire towers over the central basin.
Landforms
Obsidian spires rise high above the frozen plains.
Deep craters mark the impact of ancient falling debris.
Iron ridges cut across the landscape like jagged teeth.
Resources
Scrap metal can be harvested from ruin foundations.
Rare volcanic salts are found near warm vents.
Iron-wood timber provides heavy construction material.
Power
Rule
GovernmentA council of elders and militia captains manages local resources.
SeatA central meeting hall serves as the main assembly point.
StabilityGovernance is fragile due to extreme isolation and scarce resources.
Laws
Rations must be shared equally during the long nights.
Lamps must be shuttered to avoid attracting the beast.
Salvage rights must be registered with the council.
Factions
The Ash-WalkersExplorer Guild
Influence: ModerateThey seek to map the ruins and secure lost technology.
The Hearth-WatchParamilitary
Influence: HighThey aim to protect the new settlers from the stalking predator.
The Scrap-KingsScavenger Union
Influence: ModerateThey want to monopolize the collection of rare metallic flora.
Faiths
The Cold Flame
Influence: ModerateFire and Survival
The Great Silence
Influence: LowStoicism and Endurance
Stone-Mind
Influence: ModerateAncestral Veneration
People and trade
Who lives here
How manyThe population is very low with vast empty stretches between outposts.
Main peoples
Hardened pioneers seek a new life in the cold.
Tough scavengers trade scrap for food and fuel.
Other peoples
Wandering scholars study the ancient ruins.
Reclusive hermits live in deep ash caves.
Languages
Most people speak the common tongue of the realm.
An old dialect is still used by basin natives.
Trade cant is used for bartering between camps.
Trade
WealthMost residents live at a poor, subsistence-based level.
Work
Metal salvaging is the backbone of the local economy.
Frost-farming utilizes heat from volcanic vents.
Exports
Refined alloys are sold to distant merchants.
Treated hides provide protection against the cold.
Volcanic glass is used for precision tools.
Imports
Medical supplies are desperately needed for the sick.
Fresh grain must be brought in from southern lands.
Markets
Hollmen serves as the primary gateway for newcomers.
The Waystop Ruins act as a central trading point.
History and secrets
Once a thriving center of metallic innovation, the Reach fell when the Great Volcano erupted centuries ago. The ensuing black snow buried the cities in permafrost and ash. For generations, the land was forgotten by the world at large. Recent efforts to reclaim the metal-rich soil led to the founding of Hollmen, though the pioneers found the land far from empty or hospitable.
Key events
The Era of Iron
The Gilded ZenithThis era saw the construction of the great metal cities.
The Era of Ash
The Great AshfallThe volcano erupted and blanketed the entire basin in soot.
The Era of Frost
The Founding of HollmenPioneers returned to the basin to establish a permanent camp.
Secret 1 · GM only
The volcano is being suppressed by failing ancient machinery.Found by: Rhythmic tremors are felt deep within the mine shafts.If found: Failure of the machines could trigger a second cataclysm.
Secret 2 · GM only
The Prowler was once a guardian created by the old civilization.Found by: Faded murals are hidden in the Great Obsidian Spire.If found: It may be possible to pacify the beast with ancient commands.
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