Vela-Nova
Understand true divinity
There are many places considered sacred on Aohiri. The first many may think of would be Glinmire, the home of fallen soldiers, or the Meadow of Sorrow, a place of mourning and solitude. However, none can compare to the beauty and divinity that is Vela-Nova, the tallest mountain in all of Aohiri.
Vela-Nova is a single mountain shrouded in magic and mystery. From its ever-changing location to the eternal, starry skies that surround it, Vela-Nova eludes logic and common sense. The only way to understand Vela-Nova is to let one’s own faith guide them, but not all answers are as clear as they could be.
One thing is for certain: Aevinu is here at its peak, and he waits for you, patiently.
Geography
Vela-Nova is a mountain of ever-changing shape but also of ever-present beauty. Its environment is lush and teeming with magical energy wherever an eye may wander. The water glistens under the lights of the blessed sun and moon. The view from Vela-Nova is completely removed from Aohiri, as one sees merely the vast expanse of space rather than the surrounding world. There are greener parts of the mountain—albeit very few—that plateau and provide respite from the trial. Rivers run with cool waters throughout each season, freezing over completely during the winter.
Though each new appearance of Vela-Nova shares features with the last, it is never quite the same.
Ecosystem
Vela-Nova is where Aevinu’s influence over Aohiri is at its strongest. The mountain itself is not merely enchanted by outside forces; it is innately magical, a trait that imbues its ecosystems with the goodwill of the Creator. The soil is blessed, and trace amounts of rhupite can be found in the plants that sprout from it. Most of the earth is naturally tough to break through, so trees are scarce. Those that manage to take root grow rapidly and often—if not always—bear fruit seasonally. The water is not much different from the soil in terms of quality, always remaining clear throughout the seasons.
Ecosystem Cycles
Though Vela-Nova is beautiful and nurturing to those who come to understand its cycles, it is brutal to those who haphazardly attempt to build settlements. Though autumn and spring are tranquil and peaceful, the dead of winter and the heat of summer is unforgiving for the unprepared.
Traversing the mountain as winter sweeps over its peak risks frostbite, as the harsh winds and cold can simply eat through most furs. Because of the circumstances surrounding winter, most animals hibernate. Those enduring the climb often call off their trek for the season, resuming in spring when the weather is warmer. But if one chooses to brave the cold and proves hardy in the face of winter, their next dangers are the beasts who are just as strong. The creatures powerful enough to roam Vela-Nova during winter are potentially the most dangerous, as the innate magic of Vela-Nova grants them the ability to cast magic.
Those who have survived Vela-Nova’s trial tell of unrelenting heatwaves during the middle of summer coming and going without warning. Whereas winter is dangerous for the strength of its hazards but can be understood with experience, summer is unpredictable. Though portions of the mountain remain safe during the summer, those that are unprotected are prone to all-engulfing wildfires. During the summer, animals that can bear the heat often have some capacity to manipulate fire. Those that cannot stand the temperature become nocturnal until the season passes to autumn.
Localized Phenomena
Once the perils of winter and summer pass, the Winds of Change help to heal the land and restore its balance. For winter, a warm wind from the east melts through the frigid ice and cold; for summer, a cool breeze from the west extinguishes the flames and tempers the heat.
The Winds of Change strengthens those who feel them, restoring vitality and sealing wounds. These winds blow for a week at the beginning of autumn and spring, representing a period without peril or paranoia. These two weeks are when Vela-Nova is at its most benevolent.
Alternative Name(s)
The Mountain of Faith; Mount Cosmos
Type
Mountain / Hill
Related Tradition (Primary)
Comments