Skarhold
Continent: Morwen
Primary Inhabitants: Thaldrim
Government Type: Confederation
Capital: Varrin’s Hold (18,000)
Population: ~33,000
Symbol: A blazing ice-blue hammer over a circle of cracked mountain stone
Motto: “From the depths of storm we forge our light.”
Skarhold is a harsh and perilous island lying off the eastern coast of Morwen, once a proud colony of Drenvold. Today, it stands as a fractured, independent territory on the edge of collapse. Its people live in isolation along the coasts, where the only safe ground lies between the sea and the edge of the untamed forest. The island is shrouded in storm and mist — a place where even the bravest Thaldrim tread lightly.
The inner wilds of Skarhold are said to be cursed — filled with monstrous, unbondable beasts untouched by mortal will. Few venture inland, and fewer return.
History
Skarhold was settled centuries ago by Thaldrim explorers from Drenvold seeking iron, timber, and deep-sea resources. The island’s early colonies thrived briefly, until the first expeditions into the interior forests were met with violence and mystery. When ships and settlers began to vanish without trace, the Thaldrim confined themselves to the coasts, turning the colony into a ring of fortified ports.
Over time, the people of Skarhold declared independence, and Drendvold did not contest.. The people now live free, but hard and impovershed lives.
Geography
Skarhold is a rugged island, wrapped in jagged cliffs and dense, uncharted forest. The coastlines are rocky but rich in natural harbors, giving rise to its chain of maritime settlements. The interior is a tangle of colossal trees, choking vines, and unnatural silence — said to house predators older than recorded history.
A narrow and treacherous trail links the port towns by land, but most travel is done by sea, as storms and beasts make inland passage nearly suicidal. The island’s soil is black and rich, but impossible to farm due to the constant encroachment of the wild.
Economy
Skarhold’s economy depends almost entirely on maritime trade and resource extraction. Its shipyards produce fine ironwork, forged with minerals mined from the cliffs, and its deep-sea fishing fleets supply salted fish and whale oil to mainland markets. Timber from the forest is occasionally harvested, though every expedition inland is a deadly gamble.
The island’s wealth is barely touched due to the conditions. Smuggling, piracy, and underground trade flourish — many vessels vanish under false flags, their captains claiming loyalty to no nation but Skarhold itself.
Demographics
Skarhold’s population is approximately 33,000, with roughly 60% Thaldrim, 20% human, 15% Drasshka and 5% mixed or minority races. Most inhabitants are concentrated in the four coastal towns, where the largest communities of Thaldrim dockworkers and forgemasters reside.
Life expectancy is low, and the population declines slowly as more islanders seek to flee by ship than to stay and fight the island’s rule.
Culture
The Thaldrim of Skarhold retain fragments of their ancestral traditions, though their songs are mournful and their forges burn dim. They speak of “The Heartwood,” a place deep within the forest where the island itself watches and remembers. To them, Skarhold is alive — not a land to be conquered, but one that rejects those unworthy of it.
Superstitions dominate island life. Few venture out after nightfall, and every sailor leaves offerings to Drenmir, the Deep Forger, before setting sail. The island’s storms are believed to be his warnings — to leave the wilds untouched.
Despite isolation, a quiet unity binds the coastal towns. In the creak of rigging and the clang of hidden forges, a low, defiant rhythm echoes — the heartbeat of a people who refuse to forget what freedom once felt like.
Major Settlements
| City / Town | Population | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Varrin’s Hold | 18,000 | Capital and principal seaport; once a Thaldrim colony stronghold, now a fortified port-city ruled by the most powerful clan. |
| Brineshield | 7,700 | Major shipyard and naval base; produces war galleys and trade vessels used by every clan on Skarhold. |
| Kaldren’s Moor | 6,400 | Coastal mining and smelting town; exports iron and salt, home to a large Thaldrim labor force. |
| Saltmere | 1,700 | Fishing hamlet and supply port; sustains much of the island’s food supply through deep-sea hauls. |
Notable Locations
- The Heartwood - A vast and ancient forest said to be the living soul of Skarhold itself. No map charts its true boundaries. Trees here are impossibly tall, their roots twisted into shapes resembling bones. The few who ever returned speak of voices whispering in the wind — and of the forest moving when unobserved.
- The Shattered Forge - Once the greatest Thaldrim forge outside Drenvold, now a ruin overrun by the wilds. Its smelters burned for centuries before the final storm drowned the valley in molten ore. Pilgrims still visit to leave offerings to Drenmir, the Deep Forger. On some nights, the ruins glow faintly with blue fire.
- The Black Strand - A beach of jet-colored sand on the southern coast where strange metal fragments wash ashore after great storms. Thaldrim scholars believe the shards are remnants of fallen stars, while locals insist they are scales shed by the island’s ancient beasts.
- Gravemount Keep A ruined fortress atop a cliff overlooking the western sea, now used as a beacon post for passing ships. It was once Drenvold’s colonial stronghold, abandoned after an entire garrison vanished overnight. The locals light its tower flame each solstice, said to keep the dead from wandering.
- The Bleakroad - The only land route connecting Skarhold’s coastal towns — a narrow, perilous trail skirting the coast. Constantly threatened by rockslides, beasts, and storms, it is less a road and more a scar carved by centuries of desperate travelers. Ancient mile-markers of black stone guide the way, etched with runes that glow faintly when danger nears. Few walk the Bleakroad without leaving offerings at its wayshrines — and fewer still make the journey twice.
Relations
Allies
- Vass’Kaal — since their sepration from Drenvold, Skarhold has been in much contact with Vass’Kaal.
Enemies
- Drenvold - Skarhold holds grudges over abandoned colonial ambitions and lost resources.
Neutral
- Dun’Rhael - No contact since they are separated.
- Njorath - Skarhold is too small to reach all the way to Njorath.
- The Ashen Marches — Skarhold does not communicate with the Ashen Marches at all.
- The Supremacy - Since the Supremacy does not have any regard for Skarhold, they have not had any contact.
- Vardessa - Skarhold has attempted to reach out to Vardessa. There is a little trade here, but Skarhold is too small to help Vardessa with their goals.
“I’ve struck stone and sailed the black waves, yet the Heartwood takes more than a hammer can measure. It whispers in roots and shadows… I left, but part of me lingers where the trees have teeth.”
— Brogan Ironwake, Thaldrim Survivor