Far to the north of Skarnheim stands Karak-Durak, the kingdom’s most infamous and feared prison. Carved directly into the heart of a colossal black granite mountain, this underground fortress is deliberately isolated from all settlements, reachable only by the treacherous road known as the Widow’s March.
Karak-Durak is not simply a prison — it is a living tomb where the people of Skarnheim send those they wish to punish but not quickly kill. Here, the mountain itself breaks the inmates over decades of unrelenting labor and soul-crushing cold.
Physical Description
The prison’s outer structure rises like jagged obsidian fangs from the mountainside, constantly battered by blizzards and freezing winds. Massive rune-etched iron gates guard the entrance, and only the upper levels are visible above ground — cold, windowless barracks for the guards. The true horror lies deep beneath the mountain.
The interior descends through nine levels known as The Descent:
Upper Levels (1–3): For political prisoners, disgraced nobles, and those with useful skills. Harsh, but survivable.
The Deepvein (4–6): The main labor floors. Prisoners toil endlessly in freezing mines and rune forges under brutal overseers.
The Black Abyss (7–9): The deepest and most nightmarish levels, reserved for the worst criminals — traitors, forbidden mages, berserkers, and those condemned to “eternal atonement.” The cold here is said to freeze not just the body, but the soul.
Notable Features
The Howling Shaft: A colossal central chasm that runs through the entire prison. Inmates swear they can hear the screams of the dead rising from its depths.
The Rune Forges: Massive workshops where prisoners are forced to inscribe unstable runes onto weapons and armor, often dying from magical backlash.
The Frost Graves: An enormous cavern used as a mass burial pit. Bodies are thrown into the darkness below, where they freeze and are eventually consumed by blind, pale creatures.
Atmosphere
The cold inside Karak-Durak is unnatural and soul-draining. The air reeks of iron, sweat, mold, and frozen blood. Even the guards are rotated regularly, as prolonged exposure causes many to lose their minds. Legends say that something ancient and ravenous sleeps at the very bottom of the prison — and that the mountain itself is hungry.
Current Status
Karak-Durak is currently overcrowded due to rising unrest across Skarnheim. It holds thousands of political prisoners, captured raiders, failed rebels, and those accused of dealing with Veil magic or forbidden runes.