The Northern Territory

Edge of civilization, the white north.

It didn’t always used to be this way. I remember the stories past down through the blood lines, tales of when this barren wasteland had life, had beauty. Now nothing but snow and ice lie outside my window. The sun hardly rises and when it does what just begins to melt just becomes another sheet of ice when the sunsets and the darkness overtakes these lands. Day doesn’t truly exist here, its just a temptation and an empty promise from above that gives us hope and gives way to our sorrow in the end. ^{- Unknown Journal Entry}

Day length varies with the time of year and the latitude at which you are situated. Because of the earth's tilt, areas above the Arctic Circle receive 24 hours of sunlight each summer, but 24 hours of darkness each winter. Don't let the long cold winters that most people associate with the arctic fool you. Some places in the Reaches are very sunny. Though the air is dry coming off the ocean and sea along with the blinding light coming off of the snow itself can sometimes be more treacherous than the night.

Geography

Frigid winds and ice covered mountains, this is a godforsaken place. For what could the Emperor want with this wasteland? _{- Imperial Surveyor, Blair Chumble. Galen Empire 0084}

The Northern Reaches are divided into three main geographic regions: Western, Central and Easter, each corresponding to very different geological realities. In additions two small regions are not part of the three main regions. The first, to the northwest of the Central region in the Ikil Sea is the Jokull Archipelago. The second, to the northeast of the Central region in the Ikil Sea is the Gicel Archipelago. Though not often visited or explored due to their location in the treacherous ice sea many forget of their existence.
Mountains and valleys are a constant in this landscape.

Fauna & Flora

Northern Reaches life is characterized by adaptation to short growing seasons with long periods of sunlight, and to cold, dark, snow-covered winter conditions.

Plants

Northern vegetation is composed of plants such as dwarf shrubs, herbs, lichens, and mosses, which all grow relatively close to the ground, forming tundra. An example of a dwarf shrub is the Bearberry. As one moves northward, the amount of warmth available for plant growth decreases considerably. In the northernmost areas, plants are at their metabolic limits, and small differences in the total amount of summer warmth make large differences in the amount of energy available for maintenance, growth and reproduction. Colder summer temperatures cause the size, abundance, productivity and variety of plants to decrease. Trees cannot grow in the Reaches, but in its warmest parts, shrubs are common and; sedges, mosses and lichens can form thick layers. In the coldest parts of the Reaches, much of the ground is bare; non-vascular plants such as lichens and mosses predominate, along with a few scattered grasses and forbs (like the Northern poppy).

Animals

Herbivores in the Reaches include the Northern hare, lemming, muskox, and deer. They are preyed on by the snowy owl, Northern fox, brown bear, and dire wolf. The great white bear is also a predator, though it prefers to hunt for marine life from the ice. There are also many birds and marine species endemic to the colder regions. Other animals include dire ferrets, moose, wholly sheep, and northern ground squirrels. Marine mammals include seals, walrus, sea beavers, and several species of cetacean—baleen whales and also narwhals, killer whales, and belugas.

Natural Resources

While gold is a scarce resource in the Reaches silver has been found to be in abundance along with various gems further north.

Maps

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  The Northern Reaches

Alternative Name(s)

Northern Reaches

Type

Territory

Location under

Continent of Beurn

Included Locations

• Central Region
• Eastern Region
• Western Region