The
Prominent Mountains are located in the central region of
Northern Sarvonia, east of the
Shaded Forest. The range reaches all
the way from Eight Winds Bay in the north to the Aelyvian Sea in the south. This
area is primarily populated and controlled by the
Kurakim dwarves, who live in great
caverns beneath the surface of the mountain range.
Orcs and elves also occupy part of this
region, but not in such high proportions. There are no permanent
human colonies in the actual mountain regions,
though many of the nomadic Kuglimz
tribes pass through on hunting or trade expeditions. Most of the
human colonies that settled here during the
time of the Mynian Kingdom have since
fallen to the orcs that now inhabit these
places, such as Vermoth and Tormac.
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Image description.
View on the large and rugged Prominent Mountain range.
Picture drawn by
Arbaon. |
Description.
The Prominent Mountains are well named. They rise almost straight up between the
plains where the Shaded Forest grows
and the rugged Wilshirer Heath. The former capital city of the once famous and
powerful Mynian Kingdom, Vermoth, is
a ruin, inhabited by Losh-Oc orcs. Due
to the large orcish population along the
southern coast, even the Kuglimz
people rarely go south of the Liben River when crossing the mountains. The
mountain range stretches all the way across the continent and provides a
formidable barrier for those who do not know the passes and valleys to travel
through. The main pass follows the banks of the Liben River through the valley
it traverses between the mountains and is known as the Liben Pass. There is a
more northerly trail that follows the Luquador River down out of the mountains
as well, though this one is less easy to travel, especially in the colder
months.
Although many of the mountains that make up this sprawling range are large and
rugged, there are three particularly impressive mountains found almost in the
center of the range, between the two river valleys that cut through it. The
largest, the center one, is commonly called "Samathagar", after the first known
Southern explorer, Arian Samathagar, to climb all the way to the summit, and
return. The orcs of this area have a legend
attached to this tremendous mountain, which has some religious significance to
them, and which they call Mt. Emesz'gob, or "fire
cave" (see Myth/Lore). This impressive mountain thrusts
its jagged peak more than a
league into the sky, which has caused the
Injerín to name it "Ypheró'rain", or
"Skyfighter", in their tongue.
Location.
The narrow ridge of mountains that makes up the Prominent Mountain ranges lies
east of the Celeste Mountains and
Lowlands, and the
Shaded Forest, which extends all the
way to their foothills. On the other side of the mountain range lie the
Wilshirer Heath and the Fá’áv’cál’âr
Marsh. The Liben river flows down through them to the Aelyvian Sea. There are no
permanent human settlements in this area,
although some Kuglimz tribes, with
the permission of the Injerín, do
migrate beyond the mountains during their summer travels.
People. Several
different races inhabit these areas. The
Kurakim dwarves, one of the most significant northern
dwarven tribes, live in caverns throughout
the mountain range. They are the true inhabitants of the mountains, and are a
tribe especially notable for their masonry. Being less agoraphobic than their
southern cousins, Kurakim masons and
architects built many of the great bridges, fortifications, and cities in the
region, sometimes in conjunction with human
effort or elven magecraft. Most of this work
was done during the glory days of the Myninan
Kingdom, before the Burning Night.
The Injerín elves live in the vicinity
of the Prominent Mountains as well, mostly to the west and in the
Shaded Forest, but a few live fairly close to
the mountains and there is quite a bit of trade between
elves, dwarves
and the nomadic humans in those areas. There
are four main Injerín elven cities in
the SShaded Forest; Elin’dor, O’kroi’pard’ael,
Ava’ewelin, and Lyeil’soula, all of whom maintain friendly relations with the
peoples around them, except for the Losh-Oc.
Relations with the Ashz-Oc, though not
harmonious, are currently undergoing negotiations for reason of trade, which
even the orcs are beginning to admit the
benefits of. The current situation between the
Ashz-Oc and all other races in the area
may be described as an uneasy cease-fire.
Climate. In the
Prominent Mountain range, the mountains are always snow-topped, though the
valley climate is more variable. This far north, the winters are long and cold,
but for several months during the spring, summer, and fall - from late in
Singing Bird to
Sleeping Dreameress - the
climate is comfortable for traveling, though the
winds that sweep through the mountain passes can be strong. The northernmost
part of the mountain range is quite cool even during the summer. In the winter,
the easiest way to travel is trekking on the frozen river surface, though this
is not often done.
Flora. The plants that
grow on and around the Prominent Mountains are quite varied due to the extreme
temperature range, from the valleys to the mountain tops. In the valleys and
river areas, one will see plenty of
juk’lan and waterberry, some
goldenbell bushes, and alth’ho grasses
dotted with sunsmile and
cerubell flowers.
Mutliweed grows all over the area
except in the places permanently snow-covered. The
teki tree flourishes in the higher
mountain areas, while further down one sees evergreens such as the
tulmine (ret’tif) tree, which is
quite prolific here, the Arvins cedar,
and the wolf willow. Then there are
arne'pherán (ret’jyrl) trees,
maple,
black,
mithril and
white birch, and
euwen trees.
Kragghi vines and
alth’mon plants are common here as well,
though these tend to grow slightly above the tree line. The rare
ironwood tree is also found here,
on the lower slopes of the great mountain known to most Tharians as Samathagar,
the tallest mountain in the entire Prominent range.
Fauna. A great many
creatures call the Prominent Mountain range their home. Birds such as
corbies (jav’veir, hravn),
nue’mon, eagles,
nightbirds, and kettles of
snobyrr (rouk’meiv) are seen everywhere.
Two species of gynnia (heath gynnia in
the lowlands and snow gynnia in the high ranges) roam this range as well. These
are the most common kinds.
Many other animals are also found here. Three varieties of bear - black,
moss and
blood bears - though rare, are known to
frequent this region, as do mari
and ilaról wolves, wild
wargs, winter
fox (wynshir), uncial cats,
cloaked elk,
hargive deer,
white deer,
capricus goats,
ferrets,
mimsies,
wolverines, bouncers (elg'wuk),
kuatu,
leverets and
tarepi in the lowlands, and various small
species of rats and
mice throughout, except at the vary
highest peaks.
Resources. Most of
the resources of this region are products derived from the plants or animals of
these areas. There are no known quantities of good quality ore,
gemstones, or the like, although the
Kurakim are not very forthcoming
about what lies under the mountains, claiming, with some justification, that
this is Thergerim territory and therefore
Thergerim business. However, the
elven inhabitants and
human travelers of this region have produced
many articles of wood, leather, animal hides, herbal products and supplies, and
food items for trade purposes as well as personal use. The
dwarves trade obsidian and granite for gold
and gems with their southern cousins.
Kuglimz trade dyed and woven
"blockcloth", fresh vegetables, mutton and the occasional wagon of smoked
horsehaunch for dwarven masonry and armoury
skills, cut ashlars of stone, and also fine metalwork.
Elves trade timber rights and herbal medicines
for dwarven spirits, goldwork and smelted
arrowheads.
Under some conditions, it has been even possible to trade with the
Ashz-oc for the leaves, wood and the
nuts of the ironwood tree, though
these attempts are by no means always successful and only the bravest merchants
will try. Typically, a troop of Kuglimz
warriors will be hired to provide protection while extravagant gifts (usually
such things as cloth, which the orcs can not
produce for themselves; southern spices/flavorings, exotic foods, decorative
jewelry for the females, etc.) are sent ahead with some brave persons as peace
offerings. Usually a man from the
Kaaer'dár'shín tribe is hired as interpreter. Obviously this is not a simple
trade mission. Due to the orcen language being largely made up of gesture and
movement, the orcish ability to read body
language is phenomenal and this is of great benefit to them in the negotiations.
Researchers.
Alysse the Likely, the main
researcher for this area, would like to extend her thanks to the
Injerín elves and the
Kurakim dwarves for their invaluable
assistance, protection and hospitality with which they provided her during the
research period. Special thanks are due to Azhira El'rosse, whose ties with the
Kaaer'dár'shín proved highly
useful, and Tharoc Wargrider, for the information he was kind enough to provide
concerning the orcish lore related here.
Myth/Lore. The
tallest of the Prominent Mountains, commonly known as Samathagar, has long held
special significance to the Ashz-oc tribe
of orcs who live in the foothills surrounding
it. To them, it is known as Mt. Emesz'gob, or '"Fire
Cave", and they believe they were created at the foot of the mountain by an
ancient giant to protect the mountain and the
ironwood trees which grow on it.
Researchers have studied this myth and have agreed that the island mentioned in
it is Killyshmagost, second largest of the Quios chain. Mt. Colvin, a large
volcano, still burns there, and numerous, cleanly cut stumps of
ironwood can be seen scattered
around its base. There is also a large plain next to the mountain which Mt.
Samathagar would fit into nicely, if it were to be moved there! How the
Ashz-oc came to know of this island and
its ironwood trees remains a
mystery, however.
In the following we present you said
Ashz-oc creation myth, where the highest peak of the Prominent Mountains,
Samathagar, might have had a role in it:
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The Time of Becoming. Long ago,
before the time which has become known as the time of the Great Sundering,
and before even the time of Ahn'b'rak, there lived on the lands of the
world a tribe of giant beings called the Magosh. Born of the blood of
K’ahn’uck himself, these beings were tasked by him to tend the world and
everything within, in readiness for his triumphant return as true ruler of
this Kingdom.
Each of the Magosh were made responsible for an individual element of
their master’s realm, be it the tending of the beasts which roamed the
lands or swam in the oceans, the creation of new plants to help feed the
vast armies of K’ahn’uck, which would surely accompany his return, or
stoking the fires which burned beneath the mountains throughout the world.
The Magosh known as Haz’ha’akh, who was no less fierce than his tribesmen,
but was possessed of a softer nature than most, was dutied with the care
of the forests which covered vast areas of the land. Each day he would
tend to this duty with great conscience, even though he suffered the
insults and scorn of the other Magosh, who accused him of being so weak
that their master had given him the work of a female to do.
Haz’ha’akh had a brother, Ha’acho Ha’k, the sword-maker. He lived on an
island in the middle of the ocean, where all day he would bang and hammer
at his anvil beneath the mountains of fire which grew from the soil of the
island, and each day he would forge mighty weapons in readiness for the
warriors of K’ahn’uck. The sword-maker's skill lay in creating blades of
the finest quality, strong enough to withstand the mightiest blow, and
sharp enough to slice a leaf in twain edgeways.
One day, Haz’ha’akh’s duties took him to his brother’s island, where a
rare kind of tree grew on the slopes of the mountains which were his
brother’s forge. Haz'ha'akh had given his brother permission to use parts
of these trees in his sword-making, for they were very strong and suitable
for weaponry. He only asked that his brother promised not to harm them in
any way, and to tend to them in his absence, to which his brother agreed.
When he saw that nearly all his trees had been chopped down, cut cleanly
at their base by Ha’acho Ha’k, he was enraged and sought out his brother
to demand an explanation
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“Brother,” he asked, “why have you seen fit to destroy the trees which our
Lord tasked me to protect?” The sword-maker was scornful in his reply.
“They were but worthless weeds which did nothing to make my life easier.
And did I not need a way to test the sharpness of my blades? Your trees
were as nothing compared to my weapons, which will be used by the finest
warriors of our Lord’s armies. What use would they have been to soldiers
in need of a sharp sword?”
On hearing his brother’s harsh words, Haz’ha’akh’s rage at the loss of his
beloved trees erupted and, seizing up one of his brother's swords, he cut
off his hand, so that he might never again forge the blades for which he
was so well known. As Ha’acho Ha’k fled, howling in pain and anger,
Haz’ha’akh snatched up his brother's hand from the ground and ran from the
dark cavern deep under the mountain, away from the stench of brimstone and
out into the clean air and sunlight to which he was far more suited.
Looking around at the stumps which were once mighty trees, and lamenting
the loss of his charges, he resolved to make certain that his brother
would never again be able to use the mountain-forge to make blades to cut
down his trees. Using all of his enormous strength, he lifted the mountain
onto his back and carried it across the sea to the mainland, using the
surrounding islands as stepping-stones.
Once he was back on the mainland, he walked for many days, determinedly
heading north, to where Tulak’Cha, the Rain-Maker, whom he knew to have a
fair heart, lived in the frozen wastes. As he reached the point on his
journey where the soil began to turn into ice, he hid his burden within a
long range of snow-topped mountains, so that it would be unseen by his
brother, who he knew would walk to the edges of the Void in search of his
beloved forge.
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Image description. The
topmost peak of the Prominent Mountains, Mount Samathagar, probably Mt.
Emesz'gob according to orcish myth.
Picture drawn by
Arbaon. |
Then, he called upon
Tulak’Cha, and told her the tale of his brother's selfishness. Knowing
that Haz’ha’akh was a good and honest person, she promised to help him in
his efforts to extinguish the forge, and to hide it forever from his
brother. Raising her arms to the sky, she spoke a secret incantation and
made a tremendous storm of snow to fall across the mountains where he had
hidden his brother’s forge. For many days and nights the snow fell
relentlessly, burying everything in a deep blanket of white, until no
matter which direction Haz’ha’akh looked, each mountain appeared exactly
the same as the next. Content that the fire deep within his brothers
mountain was extinguished, he thanked Tulak’Cha for her help, and sat down
to rest, for carrying the mountain so far had made him weary.
As he sat at the foot of the mountain, he noticed a small, green shoot
growing from a patch of bare soil beneath a rock at his feet. Recognizing
it as one of the trees from his brothers island, he was overjoyed, and
began to dance a jig around the shoot. Presently, the sound of his joyful
dancing attracted the attentions of a pair of black wargs, who had come
together in the mountains to mate. As they approached him, Haz’ha’akh
greeted them and bade them come nearer, such was his pleasure at his
discovery.
When they stood in front of him, he removed his brother's bleeding hand
from his shirt, where it had lay hidden since he had chopped it off in the
dark cavern beneath the mountain. Holding it above their heads, first one
and then the other, he drew a symbol of a flame burning within a mountain
upon the crown of each of the Wargs. “Soon I must take my leave of these
frozen lands and return to my duties, but I shall leave you here in my
stead as noble guardians of the hidden flame, and to serve as a warning to
anyone who thinks to re-ignite the forge. You shall be known as Ashz-oc,
and your name will be known throughout the land. As reward for your
loyalty, I shall give you two gifts. The first is this small seedling,
which will soon grow into a mighty tree, and will itself, in time, provide
you with many gifts. The second is the secret of my cursed brother’s
blade-making. Use these gifts wisely, and they will provide you with the
means of becoming a force amongst all peoples, respected and feared in
equal measure.”
With these words echoing around the stone walls of the surrounding
mountains, Haz’ha’akh turned and strode away, back to his duties as
caregiver of the forests for his Lord K’ahn’uck. As he left the valley in
which he had addressed the wargs, there was a mighty clap of thunder,
followed by a blinding flash as a bolt of lightening pierced the grey
clouds above, striking the ground at the feet of the wargs and setting
fire to the very earth itself.
Just as suddenly a great rainstorm began, and almost instantly engulfed
the flames, turning them into a huge plume of hissing steam. As the steam
melted away, there stood in place of the wargs, two fierce-looking
figures, with hair as black as night and skin which seemed to change from
the darkest green to black with each movement they made. Looking out from
their noble faces were piercing eyes which sparkled red with the ancient
knowledge of wild animals. As one, the male and female raised their arms
to the skies, threw back their heads, and roared a roar so loud that it
was heard across the world. This was their time of becoming.
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History. There is very
little human history for this area, as
humans did not live in the mountains
themselves. But there were many of them in the nearby
Mynian Kingdom and these were the
humans with which the
dwarves and
elves interacted. After the time of Burning Night, in 1649 b.S., a time in
which the Mynians were driven out and their
cities destroyed by the orcs, no permanent
human settlements remained in these areas. The
Mynian descendants of today, the proud
Kuglimz people, do not live in these
areas anymore, though they have passage rights granted by the
Injerín and trade privileges with the
Kurakim. Most of the recorded
history we have from this time comes to us from
Injerín and
Kurakim sources.
