The Cairn Mountains; also known as the "Skarlahn Mountains" or the "Redstone Mountains," are located on the eastern borders of the Kingdom of Serathyr, in a region called "the Reach."
These nearly impenetrable mountains are sparsely populated by the race of men. Although a few isolated human settlements exist, they have little contact with the outside world.
Humans may be scarce in these mountains, but they are not its only residents. Kharos-Thûngol; a thriving nation of the Red-Dwarves, is also located here, centered around its capital of Skarlahn Feyr.
The Axeway winds through these mountains on its treacherous route between the dwarven city of Skarlahn Feyr and Karameikos; capital of the Freehold of Dorinvar.
Here the road intersects with the Saltcliffe Road, which leads south to the large city of Saltmarsh, while the Axeway continues far to the north to the dwarven city of Darôk.
Local History
In the ancient days of the Third Age, these mountains were populated by several human settlements which were ruled by the city-state of Asgamoth.
The people of Asgamoth considered the mountains sacred, and built several temples and shrines within them, to honor their principle deity; Lehr.
It became a sacred tradition that every King or Queen of Asgamoth was buried high up in these mountains, in a series of elaborate tombs.
Asgamoth was destroyed in the Great Rift, but it's long-forgotten tombs remained. These tombs, or "Cairns," as they were called, gave this mountain range its name.
Legend has it; the Red-Dwarves of Skarlahn Feyr and the men of Asgamoth were close allies and a profitable trade existed between the two cultures.
