In the frostbitten realm of Jormunmere, the land lies entombed in eternal snow and silence, cradled within a ring of jagged, ice-rimed mountains — the petrified coils of Jörmungandr, the World Serpent, turned to stone in ages past. Legends say his slumber keeps the end of days at bay. But his awakening will herald Ragnarök, the final doom foretold in the ancient sagas.
Scattered across this bleak and beautiful land are isolated villages, hardy enclaves of Norse descendants who cling to their ways and whisper old prayers to the gods. Between them loom the crystalline ruins of ancient palaces, relics from a forgotten time when the gods still walked the earth. These frozen citadels now lie abandoned — or worse, inhabited by nightmarish monsters twisted by primal frost and the Cult of the Serpent, a fanatical order determined to bring about the world’s end.
The cult believes that five mythic artifacts, lost across Jormunmere, are the keys to breaking Jörmungandr’s stone slumber. Each relic holds immense power, tied to the old gods — and each step closer to their reunion draws the world nearer to its final breath.
As the cult scours the land, prophecies stir, and heroes must rise — or Jormunmere may soon awaken to fire, flood, and the serpent’s roar.
1. Frostvik
A hardy hunting village perched at the lake’s northern edge, Frostvik is known for its bone-laden longhouses and the howls of wolves echoing from the nearby forest. Hunters here trap snow elk and lake bears, living by the bow and ice axe.
2. Skarnheim
An aging mining town, Skarnheim sits against the frozen cliffs where iron and deepstone are dug from the cold earth. Though weary and soot-darkened, it supplies weapons and tools to many smaller settlements.
3. Brynstead
Built beside a thick pinewood grove, Brynstead thrives on woodcutting and fur trading. Its people are superstitious and rarely stray beyond the tree line, whispering of spirits and shadows that follow those who wander too deep.
4. Thorlund
A major trading hub, Thorlund boasts carved stone piers where merchant ships dock when the lake thaws. Its markets buzz with barter, and its longhall hosts emissaries from all corners of the land. It is heavily guarded—word is the cult has tried to infiltrate.
5. Huldrahol
Named for the mythical forest spirits, Huldrahol is a reclusive settlement hidden within a frost-covered woodland. Homes are built in the trees or into the roots. It is a place of druids, herbalists, and wary hospitality.
6. Grimsfjord
Clinging to a glacial inlet, Grimsfjord is a fishing village where men cut holes through the ice and sail in shallow-bottomed skiffs during thaw. The fish here glow faintly at night—believed to be touched by the gods or something far older.
7. Norrvath
A snow-field outpost, Norrvath sits in a flat, howling expanse of white. Supplies arrive rarely, so the villagers have become expert foragers and scavengers. They worship a frost idol said to guard them from madness.
8. Eldrun
A once-great crystal palace turned town, Eldrun is now partly inhabited. Traders and mystics have reclaimed parts of it, but deep within, strange lights move, and old ice never melts. Locals avoid the inner halls.
9. Vargfell
A major port town where trade slowly trickles out to the surrounding towns. Easiest place to cross Midgarlake to the other side as the waters are rough and dotted with ice and storms.
10. Kjellmark
Built on stilts over the shallows of the lake, Kjellmark is a marshy village with floating markets. It trades in smoked fish, swamp herbs, and secrets. Locals often wear masks, and outsiders feel unwelcome after dark. This is the easiest way to access the shores of Vargfell and the other side of the lake.
11. Runndal
This trading hamlet lies between Kjellmark and Ostvik, acting as a rest stop for caravans. It is small but wealthy, its inn renowned for warm mead and strong song. Bandits linger nearby, drawn by its traffic.
12. Ostvik
A cold, stoic fishing town, Ostvik is known for its long stretches of silence and harsh winters. Its people are few but fierce, and they claim to have seen Jörmungandr’s eye beneath the lake’s ice on still nights.
13. Drangir
Hidden in icy ravines, Drangir is a hermit town where seers and cult exiles dwell. Few venture there, but some return with glimpses of fate—or not at all.
14. Fenndal
Nestled between frozen hills, Fenndal is a trader’s haven, protected by its geography and its diplomacy. Merchants from far-off lands risk the frozen path to bring spices, metal, and runestones to this glittering lakeside port.
15. Hjemra
A pastoral village with snowy grazing lands for frost sheep and shaggy oxen. Its people are simple, devoted to the old gods, and fiercely insular. Outsiders are met with polite nods—and closed doors.
16. Ulvik
A crafting village known for bone carving and ice glassware. Ulvik’s artisans work by starlight and store their wares in frost vaults. It is said their chimes keep evil spirits at bay.
17. Svarthold
A fortified settlement carved into a sheer lakeside cliff. Svarthold once held a guardian cult before they vanished. Now it guards its secrets and houses quiet watchmen who never leave their posts.
18. Morrvik
Near the lake’s foggiest shores, Morrvik is a mournful village where ghost stories swirl with the mist. Some say the dead do not rest here. The cult is rumored to pass through often, though no proof remains.
19. Isenholt
A grand, ancient city, now partially ruined, resting where the lake meets the mountains. Its towers of ice crystal reach skyward, catching the light of the moon. Some say it was once a city of gods—now it is half-empty, half-haunted, and wholly magnificent.