# General Where a glacier-fed river cuts down out of the mountains and widens into a valley, Skarholt has grown into the Frostmarch's closest thing to a capital — a fortified hold-town of roughly two hundred souls, built half by human hands and half straight into the dwarven-cut stone of the valley wall. Timber longhouses cluster along the river on the human side; on the mountain side, doorways and windows are carved directly into the rock, marking where the dwarven quarter begins. Neither half considers itself separate from the other — Skarholt has been shared ground for longer than anyone living can say. The town survives on trade and iron: caravans pass through on their way along the one road that stays open most of the year, and the ore hauled down from the dwarven diggings feeds a forge that supplies weapons and tools across the Frostmarch. A low palisade wall and watchtower guard the approach, more against wolves and raiders out of the high passes than any organized threat. Skarholt is ruled, loosely, by Jarl [[2-World/People/Thrynn Ashvale.md|Thrynn Ashvale]] from [[2-World/Places/The Longhall.md|The Longhall]] — though in practice, little of consequence happens without [[2-World/People/Borgrun Ironhand.md|Borgrun Ironhand]]'s say-so at [[2-World/Places/The Ember Forge.md|The Ember Forge]], and both of them know it. #### Layout No map image yet — add a `leaflet` map block here once you have one to drop in (see [[2-World/Hubs/Village of Barovia.md|Village of Barovia]] for the format). - **[[2-World/Places/The Longhall.md|The Longhall]]** — the Jarl's hall, seat of what government Skarholt has. - **[[2-World/Places/The Ember Forge.md|The Ember Forge]]** — the town's ironworks and the dwarven quarter's beating heart. - **[[2-World/Places/The Frostmarket.md|The Frostmarket]]** — the trading square where human and dwarven stalls sit side by side. - **[[2-World/Places/The Last Hearth.md|The Last Hearth]]** — Skarholt's only inn, on the edge of the Frostmarket, and the first stop for every traveller. ![[z_Publish/_assets/Pasted image 20261021203028.png]] # Travel | Destination | Distance / Notes | | --- | --- | | [[2-World/Points of Interest/Kaldrun Hold.md|Kaldrun Hold]] | About two days on foot up into the northern peaks, following an old mining trail. The path is easy to lose under fresh snow. | # Scene Summary ### Approaching Skarholt The road follows the river out of the forest and into open valley, timber roofs and curling smoke visible well before the palisade gate. Beyond the wall, the town spreads along both riverbanks — low longhouses with turf roofs on one side, doorways cut straight into raw stone on the other, joined by a single sturdy bridge. The ring of hammers on iron carries from the dwarven quarter even at a distance. ### Within the Walls Skarholt doesn't stand on ceremony. Traders haggle openly in the market square, dogs and children run between the stalls, and dwarven and human voices mix without much thought given to which is which. Anyone lingering near the Longhall or the Forge draws curious looks — strangers are noticed here, though rarely treated with real suspicion unless they give reason for it.