The southernmost province in High Soria is Drakenvold. Its natural borders are mountain ranges which separate the province from its neighbors. The province lies higher than the others, making it covered in snow for most of the year. Cold weather and harsh conditions make it only thinly populated. Cities are built around key locations in the province only, smaller towns and villages are rare.
One of those key locations is the capital city High Gate. It is built just behind the southern mountain range that forms the south border of High Soria. This city is the main entry point to the country. It is built behind a monumental stone door, built to keep out unwanted visitors or foreign forces. While there are other passes through the mountains, High Gate is the easiest to cross because of the rather flat and wide planes. Other mountain passes are guarded by outposts manned by High Sorian troops.
Drakenvold is the key provider of gemstones and ore to High Soria. The mountains in this area are called Glittering Veins by the local population because of their rich rare earths and gemstone deposits. Most of the smaller towns in Drakenvold formed in these mountains, near local mines and near trade routes, to deliver the wares back to High Gate.
Another key destination in Drakenvold is the High Sorian University, located in the southwest of the province. It is the main institute for magical research in the North and everyone wanting to become a mage has to pass the exams in this academy. The university itself is rather independant from the ruling house, they are usually treated as their own, self-sustaining province rather than being a part of Drakenhold. Also, there are already some contracts in place that give the university some independence.
House Dornstahl “The Mountain Yields”
House Dornstahl has a down-to-earth reputation as they believe in hard work. Each member of the family has to participate in some form in the work of lower-class people to stay connected to the everyday troubles of their citizens.