The
Urskan Crevasse is the name of a ruined settlement located in the
Ivory Glacier of
Mösön Uul. It is in the southern
Drackhan Tundra of
Tarteria.
It is believed to have been originally made by the fabled
urskans of hobgoblin folklore, though any name the settlement may have had from its founding has been lost to time. It was later occupied by a clan of Frost Giants before a collapse of the Ivory Glacier in 5A 023 destroyed the remains of the settlement.
Description
The crevasse was a deep, steep, and thin chasm in the ice of the
Ivory Glacier. According to old myths and legends, this opening was first formed when the glacier was struck by an incredibly massive axe.
At its widest, it was sixty feet across, and it reached over one hundred feet deep. The ice along the sides of the chasm was rough and jagged, posing a serious danger for mountaineers. Much of the chasm was filled with ice, snow, and debris after explosives collapsed the chasm in 5A 023.
Before it was filled, there was an array of scaffolding and ladders spanning the entirety of the chasm, from the base up to the surface ridge. Originally, these were sparse and made of urskan metal. After the chasm was occupied by giants and trolls, this was gradually supplimented by scavanged wood, chains, and rope seemingly taken from many different shipwrecks.
Much of the chasm interior was filled with platforms, ladders, and bridges from one side of the chasm to the other. Pulleys were found near the surface of the glacier, which were used to transport supplies into the chasm.
Many side chasms and tunnels were carved into the glacier. These created the many rooms and structures of the settlement. The largest of these openings was located at the base of the chasm.
Hagillr's Throneroom
At the bottom of the chasm was a giant-sized entrance, leading to a chamber carved into the heart of the glacier. This entrance was flanked by statues of snarling bears formed out of urskan metal. Wooden planks from sailing vessels of all types had been stacked on the inside walls.
The interior chamber was nearly 150 feet long. The ceiling was filled with large icicles, which were prone to dropping due to the damage of the many fires and torches over many years. Along either side of the chamber were raised platforms of ice. Each had an urskan metal ballista, whiche had been destroyed and buried by boulders of glacial ice at some point.
There were urskan metal tables found throughout the chamber and decorative sets of bladed metal armor hanging on the frozen walls. The chamber is believed to have once been a dining hall or meeting chamber of some kind, though this area was converted to a camp and scavenging area by the occupying trolls.
The area carried a stench of smoke, trolls, and dead bodies. Several bonfires were found around the tables, with piles of old meals and carcasses nearby.
On the far side was a massive giant-sized throne carved from the glacier ice at the back of the chamber. There were stains of old blood on the throne.
Society
It is believed the original occupants of the chasm were the fabled
urskans. Elements of their culture were found here, including much urskan metal. This was used to construct scaffolding, ice sleds, tables, and decorative elements. Additionally, metalwork defenses were found here, such as the large metal ballistae in the primary chamber at the chasm's base.
At some point, these urskans were repelled and removed from the chasm by an occupying force of giants and trolls. While many of the urskan elements remained, they were covered or supplimented by haphazard construction over them. Other elements were added, such as the throne of ice and the wooden scaffolding. Many scavenged supplies from all sorts of shipwrecks along the coast were gathered here, including rare materials like
Dwarven Blasting Powder.
The chambers carved into the ice appeared to originally be created in a planned and sustainable manner. However, these appeared to be prone to damage from repeated torch and fire usage. It is unknown how the urskans maintained or repaired these, however some rooms did display signs of ice-based magic. Any such repairs or precautions were not taken by the occupying trolls and giants, which began to degrade the structure of the ice and chambers.
History
The Third Age: The Age of Zenethia
At some point, a settlement of
urskans occupied the
Urskan Crevasse of the Ivory Glacier. During this time, they mined the metal ores of
Mösön Uul.
At some unknown point, the Crevasse was attacked and occupied by frost giants, which either killed or drove out the uskans of the area.
Based on supplies found within the Crevasse, it is believe that ships have been crashing on the coast of the
South Sea and scavenged for supplies, materials, and bodies by the giants and trolls of the mountain since at least as early as around the
Great War.
The Fourth Age: The Age of Shadow
At some point in the late Fourth Age,
Hagillr, the Lone Hailstone, became the frost giant in charge of the Urskan Crevasse. It is unknown if Hagillr was originally from the area or came to occupy it later. Hagillr is believed to have been the last of his clan.
The Fifth Age: The Age of Beginnings
During the early Fifth Age, the society of trolls under Hagillr continued to scavenge shipwrecks on the southern Tarterian coast.
On 12 Naerui 5A 023, Hagillr used the
Horn of Storms to sink and shipwreck
Grand Khan Drack's fleet. Trolls attacked the wreck of the
Vikramadi, taking suppies, survivors, and bodies back to Mösön Uul.
After,
Kholvek Vundruk,
Braavak,
Ganbaatar, and
Chotgorrin followed the trail of the trolls to the mountain. They infiltrated the Urskan Crevasse and rescued Grand Khan Drack before collapsing the glacier and killing Hagillr.
During the years after this, expeditions would begin digging into the Crevasse. One such expedition would recover Hagillr's Horn of Storms, which would eventually be incorporated into the Vikramadi at
Frozen Fleet Post.
