Icereach – War of the Lance Era

Icereach is a desolate living glacier that is continuously expanding north. Two tribes are fighting for survival in this unforgiving terrain, and with the occupation of the White Dragonarmy, it’s ripe for adventure. Buy War of the Lance: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/3164/War-of-the-Lance-35?affiliate_id=50797 

https://youtu.be/SeHLyhsATPc

Transcript

Cold Open

Icereach is the direct result of climate change due to the Cataclysm.

Intro

Welcome to another DragonLance Saga episode. My name is Adam and today we are going to talk about Icereach in the War of the Lance Era. I would like to take a moment and thank the members of this channel, and invite you to consider becoming a member by visiting the link in the description below. You can even pick up Dragonlance gaming materials using my affiliate links. I am referencing the Tales of the Lance boxed set and War of the Lance sourcebook for this information. If I leave anything out or misspeak, please leave a comment below!

Discussion

Once home to an ancient ogre kingdom, Icereach was separate from Ansalon, with the South Sirrion Sea and the Southern Courrain ocean spanning the distance. It was a harsh landscape of frozen winter climates, year round snow, with a brief respite for a summer which lasted a scant few weeks. South of Icereach led to Chorane, and only the Thanoi and ice barbarians dared settle the area after the ogre nations decline. And then the Cataclysm came. It pulled the warmer currents north. The glacier continued, as a slow moving monstrosity with a mind of its own, creeping steadily northward in the absence of the current. It met with the Plains of Dust just south of Zeriak in the north, and it continues to shift. As this is an active glacier, there is no land beneath Icereach until you arrive at its original location further south. 

The ice is nearly a mile thick in places and local tribesmen seek to discover the land beneath the ice sheet during their vision quests. They will journey deep into fissures, descending hundreds of yards into the darkness. Those fortunate enough to return report finding nothing but ice, others are not so fortunate, lost to the great mystery. The climate during the War of the Lance era is an annual blizzard. The sun barely emerged in the winter. This blanket of chill air can twist the minds of some who live there or visit. They report an overwhelming melancholy which washes over them for months at a time until they are drawn out into the wastes for a breath of fresh air, never to return. 

Despite its harsh conditions, it is teeming with life. Of the estimated three thousand, and four hundred residents, just over fifty percent are human, and just under fifty percent are Thanoi, they exist in a constant struggle for resources. These two cultures have been in active war for centuries, with the white bears, ettins, and Rhemoraz trying to eke out a living between them. Takhisis ordered the White Dragonarmy led by the Dragon Highlord Feal-Thas to occupy Icereach and militarize the Thanoi, and sent minotaurs, ogres, and Draconians south to claim the territory. Feal-Thas has claimed Icewall Castle, and sends monthly Draconian patrols to collect tribute. His orders are to prevent any large scale conflicts in the area, watch over supply trains traveling through the Plains of Dust, and reinforce troops for the offensive in Southern Ergoth. This is a pivotal strategic position for the Dark Queen.

Despite this occupation, the Ice folk continue on as they have for centuries,