Held by: The High Thane of Frostvein
Nature: Absolute authority in war and survival crises
Frostvein Hold is ruled by strength proven through endurance. At its apex stands the High Thane, chosen from among the most resilient and respected leaders of dwarf clans and goliath tribes. Authority is not inherited lightly—it is confirmed through survival, lineage, and the ability to protect the Hold against extinction.
The High Thane’s word is law during war, siege, or natural catastrophe.
Strength is duty
Endurance is virtue
Failure endangers all
Frostvein believes the North must be held not for glory, but so that memory, lineage, and ancient responsibility do not vanish beneath ice and flame.
Function: Governance, tradition, and long-term survival policy
Nature: Deliberative, ancestral, and uncompromising
The Winter Moot governs Frostvein beneath the High Thane. It is a council of elder dwarves and goliath chieftains who represent clan, tribe, and ancestral claim.
Clan Elders of the Great Holds (Dwarves)
Sky-Chiefs of the High Ranges (Goliaths)
Relic Wardens (non-voting, advisory)
The Moot debates law, resource allocation, and succession. During peacetime, it may challenge the High Thane’s decisions—but in war, its authority yields completely.
Consensus is valued. Indecision is not tolerated.
Role: Internal administration and defense zones
Frostvein territory is divided between Clan Holds (subterranean dwarven domains) and Sky Domains (goliath-controlled mountain ranges and plateaus).
Clan Holds oversee mining, forging, food preservation, and relic vaults
Sky Domains control passes, scouting routes, and aerial approaches
Each owes warriors, supplies, and tribute to Frostvein Hold
Local autonomy is respected so long as survival obligations are met.
Enforced by: The Cold Wardens
The Icebound Code is an ancient body of customary law rooted in survival impact rather than morality.
Crimes are judged by consequence to the Hold
Oathbreaking is the gravest offense
Punishments favor exile, forced labor, or ritual atonement
Execution is rare, reserved for betrayal that threatens extinction.
Command Authority: High Thane of Frostvein
Heavy dwarven infantry trained for tunnel and fortress warfare
Equipped with cold-forged armor and rune-etched weapons
Masters of attrition, choke-point defense, and siege endurance
They are trained to fight for weeks without resupply.
Command Authority: Sky-Chiefs under Thane’s banner
Goliath warbands specializing in vertical and high-altitude combat
Serve as scouts, raiders, and early-warning forces
Use terrain, beasts, and weather to devastating effect
They form Frostvein’s first and last line of defense.
Oversight: The Relic Wardens
Ancient vaults containing artifacts predating modern factions
Relics are guarded, catalogued, and sealed
Use is permitted only during existential threat
Relic Wardens answer only to the High Thane and Winter Moot.
Operated by: Clan-appointed Wardens
Monitors infiltration, sabotage, and internal dissent
Especially vigilant against Ashen Dominion expansion
Works closely with Skyrend Clan allies
Silence and vigilance are their greatest tools.
Frostvein Hold does not practice centralized worship.
Ancestors are honored, not prayed to
Survival is sacred
Relics are responsibilities, not blessings
Faith is expressed through endurance and memory, not devotion.
The High Thane must remain visibly strong—or be challenged
Dwarves value tradition; goliaths value action—tension is constant
Relics tempt desperate use
Frostvein will never conquer Andorea—but it will not fall quietly
PCs may engage Frostvein Hold through:
Defense of mountain passes
Relic recovery or protection
Clan or tribe mediation
Joint operations with Skyrend Clans
Counteroffensives against Ashen Dominion forces
Frostvein does not promise glory—only that those who stand will be remembered.