The Craglands are a roughly defined area on the northern marches of the Great Kingdom. Though the Great Kingdom has long claimed this vast wilderness it has never been more than if a man claimed the stars in the night sky such is its remoteness and danger. None lived in these haunted, rocky barrens other than foul orcs, wretched goblinoids of every stripe, and worse yet. These savage humanoids and monsters fought and scrabbled over these blasted wastes far removed from more fertile and welcoming lands.
All thought this would be forever more until Lord Helmaur the War Rider claimed them. Helmaur was a fell handed warrior of the Great Kingdom. Not of noble birth there are many conflicting legends of his background and pedigree. What is known is that he was a brutal and brilliant warrior both with sword and shield and when commanding men at arms. Helmaur lead lightning assaults, grinding sieges, and vicious decapitation strikes. Helmaur shattered the Golden Legion at Ekthon's Reach, razed Rivenstone Citadel to the ground, and slew Archon Idukash with his bare hands after his sword and mace both shattered during the duel. Helmaur earned many titles; War Rider, Storm Browed, and perhaps most importantly Dwarf Friend after leading his cavalry squadron on a seeming suicide charge to rescue a group of mercenary dwarven sappers that had been unable to keep up with a retreat from an overwhelming counter attack.
Due to his legendary service, or perhaps because the king feared Helmaur as a threat, the Great King offered Helmaur a barony of his choice. It was not uncommon for the constant wars with the Empire to leave lands lordless requiring their bestowing to some landless minor noble or hero. Helmaur had his choice of many rich and desirable lands throughout the kingdom. He shocked all when he chose the Craglands. Much of the king's court did not even recognize the name due to its obscurity, those that did considered the lands part of the Great Kingdom purely because it made the nation look larger on a map and that it required no defense from other states because it was essentially untamable. Helmaur was adamant however that this should be his land. Thus Helmaur became Free Baron Helmaur War Rider of the Craglands.
Soon after Helmaur set off north with his retainers, settlers desperate to escape war and serfdom and get land to call their own even if it was rocky, unforgiving, treacherous land. Also setting off with him was a large band of Blackstone dwarves lead by the captain of the sappers he had saved years before, Ukhan Blackstone. Helmaur and Ukhan had a plan long in the making. Ukhan had told Helmaur of his clan's lost mines deep in the mountains, mines that contained untold wealth. Helmaur was uniquely positioned now to control the only trade roads that could lead south across the steppes between the Craglands and the Great Kingdom.
Quickly, though not easily, Ukhan and Helmaur carved a path through the monsters and marauders of the north. They tamed the Longshadow Lowlands and built a fortress from which to launch their campaigns. The pair lead their forces to cut a swath through the Red Hills and Tamaka Highlands, creating fortified supply posts in a chain to the hidden pass of Ukhan's ancestors. Finally in an eight day bloody battle they shattered the orc horde that blocked the ancient entrance into the secret dwarven delve. On that Day Helmaur and Ukhan made a pact. Forever until the mountains turned to dust and ash Ukhan's clan alone would have rights to the wealth of the mountains while Helmaur and his heirs would be their sole trading partner, having a monopoly on the mineral wealth and fine dwarven craft flowing to the rich southlands.
Now 50 years have passed and the Craglands are both a changed land and as they have always been. What were once forts and defenses have become towns and trading posts. Helmaur's fortress has become a thriving city protected by the mightiest defenses outside of the southern heartlands. Settlers continue to flow north to escape the brutal oppression of the Empire and hopeless serfdom of the Great Kingdom. Helmaur is now ancient by human standards, his body crooked and withered though his mind and eyes are still cold and sharp. The time is now for the brave and foolhardy to tame this wilderness and build a free land where a strong arm and strong heart can become rich beyond wildest imaginings.
