Kaltheim – The Land of Ice and War

“The wind howls, the mountains weep, and the fjords run red with battle. In Kaltheim, only the strong endure, and only the worthy are remembered.”

Kaltheim is a realm of unrelenting cold, towering mountains, and ancient legends carved into stone and ice. It is a land where the gods walk as warriors, where giants roam the frozen tundra, and where honor is measured in battle and blood.

The land is harsh and unforgiving, but so are its people—fierce warriors, hardened hunters, and wandering seers who read fate in the bones of the slain.

A Frigid Land of War and Gods

Kaltheim is a vast, frozen archipelago, its islands scattered like shattered shields upon a stormy sea. The land itself is alive, filled with sacred mountains, deep fjords, and ruins older than mortal memory.

Geography & Notable Locations

Skjaldholm (The Warrior’s Seat)

The greatest city of Kaltheim, a stronghold of warriors, jarls, and shieldmaidens.

• The Hall of Sagas, where skalds record the deeds of heroes in rune-carved stones.
• The Allfather’s Temple, where priests sacrifice to the gods and seek omens in the stars.
• The Iron Docks, where longships are built, ready to sail for war or glory.

The Frostgrave Mountains (The Spine of the Gods)

A range of jagged, frozen peaks, where it is said the gods themselves once walked.

• The Worldbreaker Pass, where a single battle long ago split the mountains in two.
• The Thunderpeak, a summit that is forever shrouded in storm, where only the boldest warriors seek visions from the storm-god.
• The Tomb of the First King, where it is said the greatest ruler of Kaltheim slumbers, waiting to rise again in the end times.

The Fjords of Blood and Bone

The icy waterways of Kaltheim, home to raiders, fishermen, and monsters from the deep.

• The Maw of Jörmungandr, a whirlpool that is said to lead to the lair of a sleeping world-serpent.
• The Sunken Isles, where an ancient kingdom was swallowed by the sea, its ruins still visible beneath the waves.
• The Crimson Shore, where a thousand battles have been fought, and where the sands remain stained with blood.

The Ice Wastes (The Edge of the World)

Beyond the last settlements, where the cold itself is a living thing.

• The Rimefang Glacier, said to house an ancient, slumbering dragon.
• The Lost Hall of the Frost Giants, where the last of their kind still plot vengeance against the gods.
• The Nightwood, a haunted forest where the dead do not rest, and where the Wild Hunt rides beneath the aurora.

The Clans of Kaltheim

Kaltheim is not ruled by a single king, but by fierce warrior clans, each vying for glory and dominion.

The Wolfborn Clan (Keepers of the Old Ways)

The oldest clan, who honor the gods and spirits of the land.

• They refuse to bow to any single ruler, believing that each warrior carves their own fate.
• They tame dire wolves as companions and mounts.
• Their warriors are blessed with uncanny senses, able to see omens in the wild.

The Ravenhelm Clan (Masters of War)

The most powerful clan, known for their unyielding warriors and blood-soaked victories.

• Their warriors shave their heads and paint their faces in blood before battle.
• They hold Skjaldholm, making them the most influential clan in the land.
• Their leader, Jarl Veldrik the Red, seeks to unite Kaltheim under his rule—by force if necessary.

The Stormborn Clan (Chosen by the Thunder)

Said to be descended from the storm god himself, their warriors are born in tempests and blessed with raw might.

• They live atop the highest mountains, believing that only the strong survive the storm.
• Their warriors are immune to cold, and some say they call down lightning with their weapons.
• They see battle as a sacred act, and never refuse a challenge.

The Frostfang Clan (The Cursed Ones)

Once a great clan, now shunned as outcasts, accused of dealing with forbidden magic.

• They live in the Ice Wastes, where even the gods’ reach is weak.
• Their warriors are unnaturally strong and do not fear death.
• They wield ice magic, which many believe is the power of the Frost Giants themselves.

Factions & Power Struggles

The War of the Five Clans

Kaltheim is on the brink of war, as the clans fight for dominance and survival.

• Some believe a High King must rise, while others say Kaltheim should remain free and divided.
• The prophets speak of an ancient enemy returning, but few listen amidst the bloodshed.

The Valkyric Order (The Chosen of the Gods)

A sacred order of warrior-priestesses, who serve as judges, executioners, and guardians of fate.

• They decide who is worthy of a warrior’s afterlife.
• They are feared and respected, for their word can doom a clan or elevate a warrior to legend.

The Rune-Singers (Keepers of the Old Magic)

Mystics and seers who carve runes of power into stone, steel, and flesh.

• They foresee events in the patterns of the stars and ice.
• Some say they know the secret of the end times—but dare not speak it aloud.

Superstitions & Beliefs

Kaltheim is a land of omens and prophecy, and its people live by the words of their ancestors and gods.

• “The wind carries the voices of the dead.” If it calls your name, do not answer.
• “A sword without a name is a sword without a soul.” To wield an unnamed blade is to invite misfortune.
• “The gods demand courage.” Those who flee battle are cursed to wander the afterlife alone.
• “The aurora is the breath of the gods.” When it shines bright, a great hero is born—or a great king will fall.
• “Beware the blood moon.” On those nights, the dead walk, and the wolves sing their names.

Themes of Kaltheim

The End of an Age – Ancient forces stir beneath the ice—will Kaltheim stand or fall?

Strength & Survival – In a land of cold and war, only the strong endure.

Fate & Prophecy – Do the gods dictate destiny, or do mortals carve their own path?

Honor & Betrayal – Oaths are sacred, but treachery lurks behind every ambition.