At the northeastern edge of the Emberpeak Mountains, the North Mines were an old Dwarven settlement that had long been taken over by Orcish slavers. Known for brutal conditions even by the standards of the Emberpeaks, these mines produced many of the most valuable gems ever found in the region. To unearth them, the slavers took many captives from far-away ranges and made them walk across the Ashen Ring to ply their trade. A trail of constant lava ran from the mines and ended near the Ashwater River, leaving an easily-navigable path for incoming slaves and outgoing gems.
Due to the slaver's lack of expertise in tunnel maintenance, the mines eventually collapsed, and many of the slaves escaped. Some were known to have fled to the paradise of Oregrove.