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Not to be confused with the Grey Vaults.

River of Echoes v2

The Vaults' locations

The Vaults are an area consisting of deep, ice-cut valleys, frozen glaciers and towering peaks that form the junction between the Black Mountains and the Grey Mountains. Its immense mountains geographically divide the lands of Tilea, Bretonnia, the Empire, and the Border Princes.[1a]

There are rich lodes of iron, copper, tin and other metals here, and consequently some of the biggest and deepest mine workings outside of the Worlds Edge Mountains. Many Dwarf Clans came here after the fall of their strongholds in the east, including many of the Dragonback Dwarfs. The valleys offered them seclusion from the outside world where they could work, remember the past and plan their ultimate return. The valleys and chasms are so difficult to reach that few evil creatures bother the Dwarfs of these highland areas. The most important stronghold in this area is Karak Izor, which is known to Men as "Copper Mountain".[1a]

The Vaults are the focus of the fragmented Border Princes. Each time the incursions of Chaos have overrun the area, the surviving Princes and their armies have gathered in the shadows of the mountain to draw strength and launch their counter-attack. Each time they have succeeded, despite the complete lack of assistance from their neighbours. The Vaults' verdant hanging valleys provide excellent pasture for cattle and nutritious, if modest, harvests. The rugged terrain is also ideal guerrilla country, and all kinds of brigands and rogue adventurers have bases here.[2a] These fierce mountain clans guard the few passes and extort a heavy toll from merchants travelling between Tilea and the Empire. But sometimes they hire their services as mercenaries in the Emperor's armies, especially in Reikland.[5a]

Though the mountains are sparsely populated, they hide several vital trade routes between Bretonnia and its southern and western neighbours, and many Tilean mercenaries earn their coin by selling their swords in protection of the caravans that regularly risk the high passes in pursuit of wealth.[9a]

Amidst the Black and Grey Mountains, there are peaks that exceeded fifteen thousand feet, but even the tallest of these are a mere hill compared to the peaks of the Vaults. They loom above the converging ranges like giants, the smallest of their number near the twenty thousand foot mark. The tallest are nearly five thousand feet higher still. Only the World’s Edge range could boast loftier heights in all the Old World.[4]

The peaks of the Vaults are perpetually shrouded in snow. Even in the most sweltering Tilean summer, the ice hold its grip upon the uppermost slopes. The mountains are steep, jagged and twisted like the fangs of some gargantuan rock daemon. Deep crevices worm their way amongst them, their depths unknown and unknowable. Even the most reckless of mountain explorers had not dared the inner reaches of the Vaults, for they understood that the giant formations of stone and earth did not offer adventure and discovery, only the promise of a lonely death.[4]

The vaults are also home of at last two different Goblin Tribes: the Black Fangs and the Sharp Nose clans, both of which have nests in the fallen Dwarf Fortress of Karag-Dar.[4]

Notable Locations[]

Brenheim Pass[]

The Vaults are a meeting-point of four mountain ranges (Black, Grey, Irrana and Apuccini), and the pressure of their collision has raised a land so rugged that only one overland route cuts through it from the Empire to Tilea, the Brenheim Pass, which is often sealed by snow from fall to spring. Several monasteries line its way, so that travellers have shelter in need. There is also one inn near the summit of the pass, the Brandy Home. It is a fortified structure of stone, built centuries ago and held by the same Human family since. It is here that, between the spring melt and the autumn frosts, Dwarfs from the Vaults and the western Black Mountains come to trade with Imperials and Tileans, and to sample the inn's famous brandy.[3a]

Crystal Gap[]

The Vaults Map Nagash pp

The Vaults during the End Times.

The Crystal Gap is located to the south of Karak Bhufdar. It was the place of a battle during the End Times.[28a]

River of Echoes[]

The great wonder of the Vaults, however, is the River of Echoes, which is the source of both the River Sol and the Cristallo River in Tilea. Over three hundred miles long and with an underground town in the middle, the River of Echoes is a direct trade route between northern Tilea and Wissenland.[3b]

Winter's Teeth Pass[]

Although the Vaults are higher mountains than the Irranas and are much more perilous, especially in winter, there is a little used Dwarf road which skirts the highest peaks and cuts through the aptly named 'Winter's Teeth Pass'. This joins Tilea to the Dwarf Kingdom, and leads the way to the Empire, either via the Dwarf tunnels beneath the mountains or via Blackfire Pass.[7a]

The dangers of the Valley of Yetzin have discouraged trade through the Winter's Teeth route, though efforts to cleanse the valley of monsters continue. Trade with Tilea is reasonably stable, but there are menacing rumors of another war between the northern city-states, and reports of Skaven sightings have been heard in the tunnels near Alimento. This and other factors have confirmed that, despite its strategic position, Kreutzhofen remains a fairly small community.[8a]

Despite the efforts made by the Steinkuhlers to dominate the area around the Winter's Teeth Pass, the journey from Kreutzhofen to Mortensholm is still dangerous. In addition to the inexplicable appearance of Chaos creatures after the orc invasion, the forests and slopes of Yetzin Valley are home to bandits, wolves, Goblins, and many other dangers. Only a large, well-armed caravan can travel this route with true confidence.[8a]

Other Locations[]

  • River Yetzin

Trivia[]

The Vaults are the fantasy equivalent of the Alps, the highest and most extensive mountain range system that lies entirely in Europe, stretching approximately 1,200 km (750 mi) across eight Alpine countries (from west to east): France, Switzerland, Monaco, Italy, Liechtenstein, Austria, Germany, and Slovenia.

Sources[]

  • 1: Warhammer Armies: Dwarfs (7th Edition)
    • 1a: pg. 23
  • 2: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 1st Edition: Core Rules (RPG)
    • 2a: pg. 274
  • 3: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 2nd Edition: Sigmar's Heirs (RPG)
  • 4: Brunner the Bounty Hunter - Omnibus C. L. Werner (Novel)
  • 5: White Dwarf (AUS), 250
    • 5a: pg. 26
  • 6: The End Times Vol. I: Nagash
    • 6a: pg. 69 (Map)
  • 7: Warhammer Armies: Dogs of War (5th Edition)
    • 7a: pp. 87-89
  • 8: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 1st Edition: Death's Dark Shadow (RPG)
    • 8a: pp. 8-11
  • 9: Warhammer The Old World: Arcane Journal (The Old World)
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