Varr Keep

An ancient citadel on the southern edge of the Spine, older than Ironmark and far more secretive. Varr Keep controls the mountain passes leading toward the Virelay Coastlands and charges substantial tariffs on all trade moving between regions. The ruins of Old Varr sprawl beneath its foundations, and digging is strictly forbidden. Within the Ashen Spine, this site is part of the long chain of forge-towns, quarries, and iron-vein settlements that work the world's oldest forges from Ironmark down to Old Varr. The smoke is the climate. The Fray here is physical — cracks open in the rock, tunnels appear that were not there the day before — and the Cleaved is the regional consequence. Forge guilds keep their own records, and they keep them close.