The Frozen Wastes

Region

Browse more

Region AtlasFrontierProvince (150-300 miles)

The Frozen Wastes

A province of ice and wind where clans move like the herds they follow.

PopulationSparse, with people clustered near resources and…

ClimatePolar with extreme cold, long winters, and short…

TerrainTundra broken by glaciers, fissures, and…

StabilityFragile and seasonal, with alliances shifting as…

A rugged polar province of tundra, fractured ice, and narrow coastal fjords that stretches across a cold 150 to 300 mile expanse. Nomadic clans and hardy coastal communities share a harsh environment and fragile trade networks. Magic is rare and practical skills rule daily life, making survival and mobility the primary concerns for inhabitants and travelers while seasonal changes open and close routes and fortunes.

Field Observations

Travel by sled or skis is fastest across level ice in winter.,Sea lanes open briefly in summer and allow coastal trade by boat.,Seasonal thaw makes rivers passable but destabilizes shore ice.

Cultures

Nomadic clan traditions centered on herd movement and seasonal rites.

Coastal fishing culture oriented around boats, whales, and salt trade.

Crafting clans that preserve old carving and hideworking techniques.

Industries

Subsistence herding of hardy grazing beasts.

Coastal whaling and fishing operations.

Fur trapping and preparation for trade.

Trade Goods

Furs and hides durable in extreme cold.

Dried fish and whale oil used for heat and lamps.

Raw ores and basic metalwork from small mines.

Imports

Grain and woven cloth from temperate regions.

Trade Hubs

Fjordside trading post that gathers seasonal goods.

Geography

ClimatePolar with extreme cold, long winters, and short cool summers.

TerrainTundra broken by glaciers, fissures, and occasional geothermal pockets.

Biomes

Arctic tundra with low scrub and lichen-covered ground.

Coastal pack ice and seasonally open fjords.

Glacial highlands of crevassed ice and blue seracs.

Waterways

A frozen river that becomes a swift meltwater channel in summer.

A deep fjord that stays navigable for a short summer season.

Scattered seasonal meltwater lakes that provide freshwater in thaw.

Borders

A steep mountain barrier to the south that channels migrations.

Open polar sea to the north that widens in summer.

A broad ice shelf to the west that ends in cliffs and floes.

Demographics

Nomadic clans who follow migratory herds across the plains.

Coastal fisherfolk who harvest sea mammals and fish year round.

Independent trappers who work the interior ice and ridges.

Minor Groups

Itinerant merchants who link camps and coastal posts.

Exiled craftsmen who sell specialized tools and cold-weather gear.

Languages

Northern clan tongue used for oral law and songs.

Coastal trade pidgin used between fisherfolk and merchants.

Ritual dialect used by elders and spiritual specialists.

Economy

Status

Modest, with wealth concentrated in tradeable goods and stores of oil.

Visual sheet

Turn The Frozen Wastes into a sheet

A high-res, share-ready sheet you can post or print.

Gallery

The Frozen Wastes Image

Settlements

Iceford

Fjordside trading postMedium

Regional trading hub for coastal and inland goods.

Harbor's Rest

Fishing villageSmall

Fishing village and small shipyard.

Steamwell

Thermal settlementSmall

Thermal hamlet that supplies repairs and winter refuge.

Snowgate

OutpostSmall

Gate and safe haven for travelers crossing interior ridges.