The Halls of Frost are an old snow-dwarf stronghold north of the Road of Mertylmane, later occupied by frost giants, hobgoblins and humans who attacked the road from it, and taken by the company of Sogol.
| Type | Place (stronghold) |
| Chronicle | SGL |
| Spanish entry | Los Salones de la Escarcha |
Description
A mountain four hours by sled from the attacked road, with three rock-cut entrances facing a cold lake. The snow dwarves built it to extend their domain to the edges of the outer lands, then abandoned it. Now it showed smoke, light and a broken door.
The watchtower of the six pillars
Between road and Halls stands what the dwarf Azidem calls the watchtower: a six-pillar platform whose warm flagstones keep the water liquid, with old dwarven healing remedies. Pulling the rings on its statues shows the Halls’ gates as through a window. The pool below holds coins, gems, a giant’s skeleton and some twenty snow figures that bury whoever goes down. Lem was hauled out with a whetstone, a jade amulet against poison and hunting bracers: grave goods of the ancient snow kings.
History
Reconnaissance. Following blood in the snow, the company tracked a sled of caribou meat drawn by two frost giants, with six hobgoblins and a human collaborator, and saw a giant come out with a dozen wolves. They judged the Halls a base for hunting, supply and control of the road, from which a lady or sorceress inside directed the attacks, perhaps magically, and withdrew without fighting. At the watchtower a patrol of ten hobgoblins was stopped; the survivor confirmed Uken’s suspicion of an alliance of hobgoblins, humans and forces of the cold. Through the ring, Lucio said: «Allá hay un mal mayor» (“There is a greater evil over there”).
The fifth day. A patrol (a rock-laden sled, two giants, six humans) followed the trail to the watchtower. The company trapped the stairs with a low ice wall and grease and blasted the sled’s own rocks from above: the avalanche. The first explosion killed three; one giant died and the other surrendered. He was Hrolf Cuentapieles (Hrolf Skin-Counter), the cover of Sidqa of Ascalon. He described the warlike shaman and her tiefling companion. The hobgoblin prisoner carried a dwarven-style stone roll reporting the caravan: thirty sleds of obsidian.
Hidden in Sidqa’s sled, the company entered by a low gate; Azidem went separately. Inside were a throne hall where about ten feasting men were overcome, a dark chapel, and a chamber of milky white liquid with guards, wolves, a guardian and an ice-magic giantess holding a dagger and a seed. The company flanked her and interrupted the summoning. The shaman died; her tiefling companion was freed by Dandy. The company took the seed, its evil magic extinguished, a spellbook, a giant-hating short sword and other treasure. Sidqa promised a letter of intent for both ends of the road. The seed ended up with the mercane.
Aftermath. The enclave was lost to the raiders and Sidqa took command, claiming the place; this involves no full survey, deed or royal grant.
Union’s forges
Sidqa plans a branch of Union, restoring the furnaces. The company offered to liaise with Karlstorf, Nothenvell and later Sogol; the exclusivity requested was not granted. The branch would take about a year and depends on security, supply and permits; the king wants to meet the mercane first.
Open questions
- The mines mentioned by Azidem are not fully described.