THE
TUNDRA OF
CYHALLOI |
The land
mass northeast of Northern Sarvonia, the
Island comtinent of Cyhalloi, is far different than anything further south, and
so is Cyhalloi's vast Tundra. At first glance the Tundra of Cyhalloi seems
barren and desolate. Upon closer inspection, the gentle rolling fields covered
in ice and snow are teeming with local flora and fauna. The forests are a frozen
wonderland; the ice casting the weak sunshine into brilliant glimmers of color
that change when one moves.
Description. As
stated, the Cyhalloi Tundra seems desolate and cold. But to the tribes and races
that live here, the Tundra is the most lively and liveable place on the
continent. The tundra spreads across the interior of the large continent, and is
struggled over by the local tribes and races for the biggest pieces. Sheep,
rodents and goats graze on the sparse grass, and
wolves, bears and other carnivores prey upon these. There are not many
insects or large birds living in the Tundra; it is quite cold and makes it very
difficult.
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In the forested areas of the Tundra, the trees shelter the ground, allowing some
of the more colorful plants to live in shelter from the cold gusts. Paths are
worn all through these forests; giving a sense of great use. However, these
paths are created by the snow that falls from the trees, it lands upon the earth
and wipes away any seedlings that try and take hold.
The towers of the Cyhallrhim elves
stand tall and erect beyond the reaches of the Tundra; as the
Cyhallrhim are not fond of
conflict. Kasumarii carryhomes pepper the
tundra in small abundance.
Location. The Continent
of Cyhalloi is located northeast of Northern
Sarvonia. As the continent is quite surrounded by ocean, the amount of
foreigners who visit is few. The Tundra of which we speak spans the interior of
the main-land mass, reachable from shore by a two-to three-day trek by steed.
People. There are a few
sparse tribes that colonized the Cyhalloi continent. The
Kasumarii are the warrior
human tribe, they have taken up a vendetta
against the Cyhalloian Orcs. The
Cyhallrhim are the ghostly elves of the
continent, quite primitive compared to brethren of other continents.
Climate. The Cyhalloi
Tundra is cold. Very cold. Its inhabitants wear heavy layers of fur and cloth,
and cloaks to wrap about themselves. Ice and snow is ever-present, and few
plants of warmer climates can break through the cold snap. Plants that live here
are only native to Cyhalloi.
Flora. The Plants of the
Tundra are for the most part dull and drab in color, growing low to the ground
to avoid the cold and the wind. While some of the plants use animals to
transport their seeds, others prefer to hide among others and deposit their
seeds themselves. All of the plants of the Tundra are native to Cyhalloi; it has
been proven that if a plant is withdrawn from the Tundra and placed in a warmer
climate; it either dies or grows to amazing size. The
skyweed for example is believed to have
originally been native to Cyhalloi; the plant seems well-contained in the cold
of the tundra.
Fauna. Goats and
sheep can be found at the Cyhalloian Tundra
in abundance, though their numbers are kept down due to the tribes that hunt
them. Bears, wildcats and
wolves, as well as other carnivores also hunt
these animals; though these hunters are not seen so often. Small ground birds
flourish here, though large birds that take to wing are rare. Most animals here
have only a small distinction to their warm-climate relatives; they have thicker
fur and a small layer of fat to keep them warm. Some grow fur on their paws for
traction on the ice.
Resources. Though the
Cyhalloian Tundra seems desolate, the land is rich in resources to those that
know what to use and where to look. Sheep
wool can be woven into thick, heavy cloth and pelts are even better at
insulation. The meat of these animals is rationed; what is not eaten right away
can be packed in ice for a later meal. Sinew makes great string, cord and rope;
much stronger than that of the sheep-wool.
Bones and horns have uses as pins, buttons, beads and other trinkets, as horns
can be ornamental or used in trade. Whales and seals are used in the same
fashion; though their massive amounts of fat serve in candles and seasonings.
Plants can be boiled and combined to make foods and seasonings; some are
medicinally useful. Metals are easy to find in Cyhalloi, though they are impure
and pliable. This makes them near useless for things other than cooking and weak
defense armor.
Myth/Lore. As the
people who live in the Tundra of Cyhalloi are quite serious, there is little
room for myth. The Kasumarii base
their tribes upon the Nightsons; they maintain that it is not myth. The
Cyhallrhim are known to have few or even no
myths, they prefer not to clutter their already-hard lives with something unreal
to fear or wish for.
Some hunters claim there is a huge troll or
beast that roams the Tundra; stealing kills and scaring them unnecessarily; few
try to think about it. Some accounts are included below:
More details on the Tundra Beasts can be found at the Tundra Beast Legend as recounted by Sahndorf."The beast is huge! it has to be at least 3 peds in height - and covered in fur! Or ice... I'm not sure. But it looks like a bear, walking erect with blood red eyes."
-- Estoor, Kar-ii Greendeath
"Had taken down a goat with my bow at 20 peds out, I did indeed. Saw the goat fall and everything... but when I got there, all I could find was a bloody mess. No goat anywhere. The thing took my kill and wasted my time. Next time I see him, he'll be MY meal."
-- Ammos, Kar-ii Korenjaan
"Child and I among bush. Pick of berries near Tower. Beast appear; hair like ice, eye of flame. Roar like cold wind entangled bear. We ran indeed."
-- Yo'inlia, Cyhallrhim
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