The island of Manabas lies on the northern edge of the Lucarcian continent. The north shore is rugged and wracked by storms but the southern and eastern shore lines are softer and are lapped by the Inner Sea and Lucarcian Straits. Manabas is a temperate region with warm summers, especially in the south, and cold winters. The Stoneheart Mountains dominate the island and have a huge impact on travel, trade and politics as the island is effectively split up by the massive mountain range.

The city of Stoneheart lies deep in the mountains after which it is named. In fact it would be more accurate to say it lies mostly under the mountains as most of the city is subterranean, keeping it out of the bitter winds and blizzards which often wrack the mountains in the winter. The Ice King, Agamendes Snow, rules Manabas from Stoneheart, but there are plenty of places where his reach does not extend. The most famous of these is the trade city of Dun Laren in the south east of the island. This is effectively an independent and wealthy city state, famous for its trading houses, huge dockyards and University. In the north east lies the city of Dun Realon. Remote and isolated Dun Realon is a trade destination and boasts a rare library. To the south west the forests of Manabas are home to a small nation of fey and the city of Dun Alder is their capital. Finally Dun Harrow in the far north west of the island is home to a malignant warlord of considerable power. His small army of orcs, goblins and other unsavoury types are a constant threat to the Ice King and his subjects.

The Guild of Master Merchants and Sea Farers has its base in the port town of Southport, nestled in a large natural harbor in the southern regions of the island. The Guild are a powerful political entity in the Empire. Even though this is the Trade Lords' seat of power in Manabas, most trade in the area goes to the independent city of Dun Laren, along the coast to the east, rather than into this town. This is possibly due to the better duties charged by Dun Laren's governor compared to the offices of the Ice King in Southport.

Stoneheart was built by the Dutenhammer clan in years past, to defend against the chaos the dwarves saw coming after the collapse of the Rainbow Empire. It has deep roots and many entrances to the Underdark are rumoured to exist in its lower levels. There are a few balconies where passages thrust out of the mountainside but these are extremely hard to reach from the outside. Many of these overlook the huge main gate which straddles the road up from the low lands and enters the city proper.

The city was built shortly after the great catastrope of the Writhing Death and the collapse of the Rainbow Empire. Lord Durgham Dutenhammer, first Lord of Stoneheart, oversaw the founding of the city. His vision was of an impregnable fortress which would stand forever. His vision still seems to be holding true. A thousand dwarves of the Dutenhammer clan and their vassals laboured for many years to build the corridors, vaulted halls and catacombs of Stoneheart. There is no place like it in the whole of Rodinia.

The Dutenhammers lived in, owned and ruled over this city for hundreds of years. Their reign was a prosperous one. The orcs and goblinoids of the Stoneheart mountains were fought and defeated at every turn. Durgham Dutenhammer ruled the city and surrounding lands fairly and honestly. Trade with the fey of far off Dun Alder in the south west was good. An alliance between the dwarves and fey of the island was forged and grew strong.

One day Durgham Dutenhammer disappeared. To this day no one knows what happened to the old dwarf but rumours are many fold. Interclan fighting errupted as factions argued over who would become clan chief and rule Stoneheart. The battles were bloody and many dwarves lost their lives. The Dutenhammer clan never really recovered.

Around this time humans from House Snow, the ruling house on the island of Manabas, saw the carnage that was happening inside Clan Dutenhammer and acted. They invaded Stoneheart. But not with force, rather with money. They bought Stoneheart city from the dwarves. The then acting head of clan Dutenhammer saw an opportunity to raise cash for his faction's campaign against the other Dutenhammer factions and sold the city to House Snow. Soldiers from House Snow marched, unopposed into the halls of Stoneheart and took over the city.

This made the dwarves sit up and take note. Stoneheart had fallen, and not to marauding orc tribes but to the greed of the dwarves and the civil war inside their clan. Hostilities ceased immediately, but it was too late. The humans were inside the city, legally and above board. And they were not intending to leave. By now there were so few Dutenhammer dwarves left (the dwarves being slow to reproduce and many of them having been killed in the civil war) that there was no way they could retake the city by force. So it has stayed under human control ever since.

Now the dwarves of clan Dutenhammer have returned to the city they built, but not as owners, merely as residents. Lord Agamedes Snow rules the city and they owe him fealty. They live in small numbers in the bowels of the city. Clan Dutenhammer has recovered. All differences have been put aside. The clan is still without a chieftan, and is now ruled by a council. They have vowed that no chieftan will rule the clan until the city of Stoneheart is returned to dwarven rule. But the humans of House Snow are not about to let that happen easily. But if Durgham Dutenhammer were to be found alive the dwarves would rally around this ancient symbol of their clan and who knows what might happen...

Aldervale is the forested region covering the south west of Manabas. Most of this region is under the control of the fey of Dun Alder but there are some small Human settlements here.

Dun Alder (Lothnimbul in the language of the fey ), the Leafy Citadel, home of the fey king, is nestled somewhere in the vast forest which makes up the south western corner of the island. It is known that merchants travel far to the west to trade with this citadel and they return with wondrous wooden items and strange herbs and flowers. The citadel is said to be built of shining white marble so beautiful as to take the breath away.

The northwest of Manabas is all but cut off from the rest of the island by the imposing Stoneheart mountains. This region is best avoided for it is known to be ruled by a malign and aggressive lord who calls orcs and goblins his subjects. Technically a vassal to the Ice King, this lord's soldiers would be far more likely to attack than aid the king's men.

Dun Harrow, the Iron Citadel, is located somewhere high in the mountains in the north western corner of the island, somewhere among the volcanoes and brooding peaks. In the far east this citadel has an evil reputation, with it said that the warlord here consorts with devils and may even be one himself. The exact location of the citadel is unknown in the east. It is also said that this warlord employs strange creatures from the Underdark as his personal army.

Laren Vale is the most densely populated region of Manabas and home to the mercantile trade hub of Dun Laren. Though this region technically falls under the control of the Ice King in Stoneheart, in practical terms the people here consider themselves under the protection of the Trade Lords who rule the city of Dun Laren.

The independent city of Dun Laren sits as an enigma. Historically the ruler of the city was a feudal lord, fealty-bound to the Ice King. That was the status quo for generations, until about twelve years ago when the Trade Lords moved in. The Guild recognized that the then (and present) Ice King was becoming increasingly insular. He barely ever took note of things outside his subterranean citadel, let alone actually left it. So when the incumbent Lord died, the Trade Lords swooped in and struck a deal with the soon-to-be sworn in son. They convinced him that rather than travel to the capital to bend the knee, he should declare independence and break free from the crown. The lord-in-waiting was brave and far-sighted and could see that the support of the rich and widely influential Guild was worth more than swearing fealty to a distant and apathetic monarch, so he agreed. At that time the city of Dun Laren became independent, a free city. The Trade Lords made good on their promise and piled the city with trade, making it the central hub for all trade across the Inner Sea and beyond. No Guild ships pass by without stopping in and the city has flourished under the new agreement. Rumour has it that the Trade Lords are now in discussions with Lord Angus of Dun Realon..

Southport would be considered a fairly insignificant trading port on the southern edge of Manabas, if it were not for the fact that the Guild of Master Merchants and Sea Farers has its base here. The Guild presence has been here for a score or so of years and the headquarters is well established. Despite this power base, most Guild trade actually passes through the nearby city of Dun Laren - probably because Dun Laren has signed trade deals with the Guild and charges considerably less duties on goods than the offices of the Ice King in Southport.

Located high in the mist-shrouded mountain crags of the Stoneheart Mountains, Realon vale is home to the famous city of Dun Realon. Locally known as the Grey Citadel, Dun Realon is an important trading city and a key crossing point on the turbulent river Realon. Thanks to its economy, Dun Realon is highly successful, but its remote location also ensures that it will never be terribly sophisticated.

The River Realon has only one viable crossing in the Stoneheart Mountains — a broad ford at the base of a plunging waterfall. Just below the ford, the river tumbles several hundred feet over a second waterfall before continuing down the rocky gorge. Midway across the ford, a huge slab of bedrock divides the river into two channels. On this island, many generations ago, Realon Angus staked a claim and founded a tiny trading post. Now, centuries later, expansion of the duchies and kingdoms on either side of the Stoneheart Mountains and the development of trade between them have caused the tiny trading center and way station to grow into a heavily fortified citadel, with the charter and lordship still in the hands of the Angus family.

The people of Realon vale are hardy and self-sufficient; hardships are taken in stride, and respect is reserved for those who have earned it. The woodsmen who occupy the forested slopes around the Grey Citadel regard the merchant class as arrogant foreigners from pampered lowland cities; the Guild merchants regard the woodsmen as savages whose uncouth lifestyle they tolerate only in the interests of profit.

The River Realon flows down out of the Stoneheart Mountains, first through snow-fed mountain streams, then crashing down through rocky gorges and finally calming and widening as it flows across the lowland plains toward the sea. The region surrounding the river valley (known as Realon vale) is governed from the city of Dun Realon. The authority of the Lord of Realon vale extends from the river’s headwaters in the rugged mountains to the edge of the grasslands that stretch endlessly away from the foothills of the Stoneheart mountains.

The trade road runs from the more civilized lowlands over the forbidding peaks of the Stoneheart Mountains into exotic distant lands. Merchant traffic is consistent on the road for as long as the mountain passes are open, but it peaks during the summer and fall seasons, when rivers are down and the first snow has not yet fallen. Even after the merchant trade across the mountains has fallen off for the season, local hunters, trappers, farmers, craftsmen, and adventurers still travel to the Grey Citadel with regularity, so the trade road is never without encounters. Some of the regions that frame the trade road are desolate and uninhabited, but most of the Realon vale region is alive with animal life and dotted with small settlements. Wandering off the road is not advised by anyone who knows the area — bandits, highwaymen, and humanoid tribes are always nearby. Outrider patrols from Dun Realon travel the tradeways and police the villages and hamlets, but even they do not wander far from the road.

The bustling town of Pembrose is a settlement known far across the continent of Lucarcia - much further than a town of its size would demand. The reason is this is the location of the famous Pembrose Red winery; probably the most sought after wine in the region.

Located high in the mist-shrouded mountain crags of the Stoneheart Mountains, this is a city like no other. Locally known as the Grey Citadel, Dun Eamon is an important trading city and a key crossing point on the turbulent river. Thanks to its economy, Dun Eamon is highly successful, but its remote location also ensures that it will never be terribly sophisticated.

The River Eamon has only one viable crossing in the Stoneheart Mountains — a broad ford at the base of a plunging waterfall. Just below the ford, the river tumbles several hundred feet over a second waterfall before continuing down the rocky gorge. Midway across the ford, a huge slab of bedrock divides the river into two channels. On this island, many generations ago, Eamon Angus staked a claim and founded a tiny trading post. Now, centuries later, expansion of trade between the north and south have caused the tiny trading center and way station to grow into a heavily fortified citadel, with the charter and lordship still in the hands of the Angus family.

Three brothers rule the city. Arb Angus is the eldest; he inherited the land and title from his father. Bron is the middle brother and the Captain of the Mist Watch. Cael is the youngest brother and Master of the Temple of Fortitude. More than 5,000 citizens dwell within the city walls and pay homage to the brothers. This makes Dun Realon about a third of the size of its nearest neighbour, Dun Laren to the south.

The Grey Citadel is renowned as the location of the finest forges in the land. Nearly any tool, weapon, or other metal item can be crafted here, and the quality of their alloys and the strength of their castings are unsurpassed. The quality and availability of tools and the location on the trade road have resulted in Dun Eamon becoming a city of artisans and craftsmen.

Many hunters and trappers pass through the gates every season to sell their pelts and to re-supply for another trip into the wild mountains. It is a hiring point for caravan laborers.

The people of Dun Eamon are hardy and self-sufficient; hardships are taken in stride, and respect is reserved for those who have earned it. Two dominant social groups exist in the city, and they are usually at odds with each other. The woodsmen who occupy the forested slopes around the citadel regard the merchant class as arrogant foreigners from pampered lowland cities; the merchants regard the woodsmen as savages whose uncouth lifestyle they tolerate only in the interests of profit.

In appearance, the Grey Citadel of Dun Eamon is imposing yet dreary. Its stone buildings are quarried from the same grey basalt as the bedrock on which they sit, as are the city walls and the keep. The rest of the buildings are half-timbered two- and three-story structures, with roofs of thatch or shingle. The cobblestone streets and alleys are always shiny and damp, and everything in the city hosts at least a thin sheen of green moss; many buildings even have thick clumps of ferns growing on the roof. Amid the green-forested slopes and drifting grey rain clouds, the grey-green edifices of the city blend right in.

The bustling town of Pembrose is a settlement known far across the continent of Lucarcia - much further than a town of its size would demand. The reason is this is the location of the famous Pembrose Red winery; probably the most sought after wine in the region.

The Stoneheart range of mountains dominate the whole of Manabas from east to west and north to south. At their center lies the capital and home of the Ice King, the city of Stoneheart. These mountains really define the geography and, by extension, the culture of the whole island. The mountains are high, craggy and ice-covered most of the year around. There are few passes through the inhospitable peaks, and many of those passes are generally only open in the warmer months of the year. In the really cold winter months it is not at all unusual for all the high passes to close, thus virtually cutting Stoneheart city off completely.

The lowlands of the mountain range feed down to the coast. In places these resolve into pastures which are arable and where farmers make a good living growing most of the edible food for the island. In some places the mountains virtually lead all the way to the sea and northern Manabas in particular has many sheer and rugged clifftops.

The mountains are home to a hardy and swarthy folk. Living off small patches of arable lands in the mountain tops, and herding goats and a few sheep, these hill-folk are resourceful, independent and fierce. They are a proud bunch, taking great pride in their ability to thrive where others would struggle to survive. They have little time for the "soft" folk of the lowlands. These hill-folk value hard work, perseverance and no-nonsense attitudes. They work hard, fight hard and drink hard.

The hill-folk have a dangerous reputation. Quick to anger and very over-protective of their lands, they are often honing their battle prowess with the humanoids of the west - the men of Harrowland. In fact it is in their coming of age ceremonies to send a boy to prove his worth by surviving a raid into the west lands. The lowlanders around Dun Laren and Dun Realon know not to travel up into the mountains unless they stick closely to the passes - for the hill folk will tend to attack first and ask questions later. It is not unheard of for these men to raid down into the farmlands of the soft lowlanders when times are hard in the peaks.