Ironhaven

The City of Ironhaven

Ironhaven stands as a testament to human ambition and resilience. Its towering walls of enchanted stone have never fallen, not in the three centuries since the city's founding. Within those walls, scholars pursue forbidden knowledge while soldiers train for the endless war against the corruption that spreads from the Arcane Spire.

The city is built in concentric rings, each district rising higher than the last until finally reaching the Royal Castle at its heart. From its highest towers, one can see the Arcane Spire piercing the clouds to the south—a constant reminder of the threat that looms over all.

History

Ironhaven was founded by Alaric the Wise, a powerful mage who foresaw the coming of the Blight. He gathered the greatest minds and bravest warriors of the human kingdoms, pooling their resources to create a city that could withstand any assault—magical or otherwise.

For generations, the city prospered. The Arcane Spire was a place of learning, where mages unlocked the secrets of the universe. But something changed. The experiments grew darker, the researchers more secretive, until one fateful night when screams echoed from the tower and the doors sealed themselves shut.

Those who emerged were... changed. And those who didn't emerge at all were the lucky ones.

Districts

The Town Square

The heart of Ironhaven's public life, the Town Square features an enchanted fountain that never runs dry. Street vendors hawk their wares while bards sing tales of heroes past. A shimmering portal stands at the center—one of the great magical achievements that allows instant travel between the realm's cities.

The Castle District

Home to the royal family and the noble houses, the Castle District is a maze of marble halls and gilded chambers. The throne room hosts daily audiences where citizens may petition the crown. Hidden within the royal library are tomes of forbidden knowledge about the tower's corruption—knowledge that the crown guards jealously.

The Military District

The beating heart of Ironhaven's defense, where rows of barracks house the city's soldiers and the armory holds weapons blessed against the darkness. Training halls echo with the clash of steel as new recruits learn the ancient fighting techniques developed specifically to combat the tower's horrors.

The Temple of Light

A serene sanctuary where the faithful seek guidance and healing. Stained glass windows paint the interior in a kaleidoscope of colors, and a glowing altar serves as a focal point for divine power. The priests here have dedicated their lives to finding a cure for the Blight.

The Crafting Quarter

The smell of molten metal and alchemical reagents fills the air in this district. Zara's Alchemy Emporium offers potions and elixirs, while the forge masters create weapons and armor of legendary quality. It is said that the finest blade in the realm was forged here.

Culture

Humans of Ironhaven value knowledge above all else, but they temper their curiosity with discipline. The excesses of the Arcane Spire serve as a constant reminder of what happens when ambition goes unchecked.

The city maintains a strict hierarchy, with the crown at the apex and various guilds governing their respective trades. Despite this structure, merit can elevate even the lowest peasant to positions of power—a fact that draws ambitious souls from across the realm.

The Threat

The Arcane Spire looms over the city, its upper floors shrouded in an unnatural darkness that not even the brightest magical light can penetrate. Strange sounds echo from within—whispers in dead languages, screams that cut off suddenly, and worst of all, a rhythmic pulsing like a heartbeat.

The corruption spreads slowly but inexorably. Each year, the darkness claims a few more feet of the land surrounding the tower. The scholars of Ironhaven work tirelessly to find a way to reverse the Blight, but so far, their efforts have only slowed its advance.

"Only the brave... or foolish... venture within." — Inscription above the Spire's entrance