Cold Mountainous country in the far NE corner of the main continent. It is hardly worth mentioning to many other than the fact that it is the home of the Circle of the Forge. Most of the people there are considered barely above the barbarians of the north. Most of the economy is based on minings, with fishing and herding, some forestry and farming. Northern and Eastern border is the cold Northern sea and to the West are the Orc Lands. All settlements are well defended, watch posts line the roads, and the army is drilled year round staying ready for orc raiding parties. All citizens (male and female) are required to serve a 2 year term in the military when they turn of age. Because of this the population is generally diciplined and well trained in fighting.
Circle of the Forge built its Hedquarters on an island in the Forge's Eye Lake near Lotroyan in (year?). Lotroyan and the surrounding area are kept at a much more moderate temparture because the Forge's Eye Lake is actually one large hot-springs. A secondary result of that is that Lotroyan and the surrounding areas are usually shrouded in mist as well.
Because of the mountains region and diciplined people, there are more dwarves in the area then in most of the rest of the continent.
Volkrad is ruled by a King or Queen who spends most of his time manageing economic needs and leaves military concerns with each individual city\town\village and the generals in charge of the patrolling armies.