Cloud & Stone: Inhabitants of the Ironfangs

Cloud & Stone: Inhabitants of the Ironfangs is a book recovered from the Rail Raider camp in Halterslate Islet.

## Description

Cloud & Stone: Inhabitants of the Ironfangs is a large tome filled with illustrations that help break up a series of ponderous chapters pertaining to the humanoid and non-humanoid residents of the Ironfangs, stretching back as far as the years shortly after Aita's Second Gift.

## Research

### Completed by Dane Evergreen

The Ironfangs is the only mountain range of the Ahlusian continent, and thus have drawn interest and marvelling from scholars, poets, explorers and vagabonds alike over the centuries. Offering vast stretches of peaceful and isolated valleys, towering peaks from which the observe the continent in all directions and unyielding veins of ore spreading like roots beneath the surface, a number of sentient and less so creatures have come to reside within the region, some fleetingly, others more steadfast and resolved.

Of those more bestial or primitive, goats, sheep and aurochs have long resided upon the thin pastures between the peaks, alongside their natural predators. Terrestrial amongst these are lions and other mammalian beasts, as well as bulettes, and kruthiks, both of which are known to hunt in packs. Nesting in the mountain crags griffins, hippogriffs, rocs, chimeras and manticores are all not unusual, and have caused troubles for trade caravans passing near, prompting a number of purges of nests under the orders of the Ivory Emperors of the Empire of Raq. Where the Ironfangs meet the Halmbrae Hills to the north, the tribes of Halholm gathered to the hatcheries of Terrorwings as part of initiation rituals, for this is where those beasts roosted most densely.

Those more gifted of intelligence by the divine can subsequently be grouped into three categories - that of dragons, giants and humanoids.

#### Dragons

The width and breadth of the Ironfangs, the relative inaccessibility of its peaks and the variety of surrounding landscapes makes the Ironfangs a perfect place of residence for draconic creatures. Red, Copper and Silver dragons prefer the mountainous crags aplenty, whereas Green-scaled varieties find themselves spoiled for choice for nearby forests, with High Holt and Scylbialia Grove to the south, Uldingweld to the north and the vast Tviatini Jungle to the east. The Shifting Dunes and Halholmite Plains create the arid surroundings preferred by Blue and Brass individuals, and so the Ironfangs has come to be synonymous with its draconic residents - as exemplified by the Realm of Nidaynia which continues to show such influences even within the sphere of the Astedian Empire.

#### Giants

The aptness of the mountain range for dragons is only surpassed by their common foe, the giants. The foothills and uplands that surround much of the Ironfangs have become a popular place of residence for Hill Giants, as well as other giantkin such as Verbeegs, whereas the deep tunnels winding beneath them are occupied by both Stone and Fire Giants, the lattermost prospering greatly beneath the flaming summit of Mount Durnach. Upon the peaks, it was said that warring factions of Storm and Cloud Giants caused the entire range to descend into continuous tumultuous weather for years at a time, though reports of which side proved victorious is likewise disputed with much tumult. It should be known that many of these wars were reported to take place in the skies far above even the highest summits of the Ironfangs, flying cities sustained by unknown means and outfitted for peace and war alike. Said conflicts have not been reported for many years, with most Storm Giants having retired to their city of Anuthas, and the Cloud Giant populace within the city on Ulding's Keep, once mobile but now supposedly run aground upon the towering peak.

#### Humanoids

Over the years, both dragons and giants have come to enact tributes and other offerings from the other residents of the inhabitants, the humanoids - often resulting in skirmishes, wars and conflicts of notable bloodshed. Most mundane, but undeniably most varied of the historical and present inhabitants of the Ironfangs are the humanoids that reside within its steppes, crags and valleys, either as part of one of the many Realms, or living independent isolated lives. It is surely beyond the scope of this book to discuss the individual cultures and customs of the peoples of Ra-Larara, Mol Boramm, Nidaynia or Halholm, so I would instead suggest procuring appropriate tomes for their particular study, but the more traditionally civilised folk are not the only humanoid residents presents. Kobolds, orcs and goblinoids in great number make camps and strongholds hidden from view, some keeping to themselves while others still seek out pillage and plunder from their neighbours. Isolated tribes of goliaths and aarakocra may live the entirety of their lives without interacting with an individual from outside their race, and likewise convicts, refugees and other individuals fleeing their homelands have come to seek a new life over the years hidden amongst cloud and stone.