Gelid Barrens

North of the main continent of Duvrin lies a plain of ice, a inhabited frozen desert. Surrounded by glaciers and frozen water, the Gelid Barrens are hard to access, even for seasoned explorers. A recent discovery made by cartographers, the Barrens are still unknown and unspoiled. Some powers are, as we speak, plotting its exploration, but, for now, it still remains uncharted territory. Topographically speaking, the region is expanding, with each year bringing new maps of charted land.

Geography

The Barrens are, for the most part, a flat region of permafrost plateaus. Here and there, ice-cored hills cut through the horizon, as well as some frozen craters. Curiously enough these craters, up to 150 meters long in diameter, are polished and perfectly circular.

History

Few historical records mention the existence of land North of the main continent. But then again, neither did they mention the existence of Lautia for centuries. Believed to have been visited by nomads and lost explorers in the past, it was only in 315 AM that the Gelid Barrens were officialy discovered by an Menestian explorer named Syagria Viari and her crew. The announcement of its discovery sent a shockwave throughout Duvrin. Nations that had long abandonned their aspirations of grandeur now see an opportunity in this new land.
Menestia, once a great nation of conquests and expansion, has been seeking to revitalize its image and reassert its military superiority. Tamynia, on the other hand, has been seeking more resources and more space to conduct experiments and inventions. With their already existing transportation technologies, the voyage to the Gelid Barrens is less perilous than it would be for simple ships. Once again, history seems to repeat itself, as the two rivaling nations start building research bases on the southernmost parts of the expanse.

Alternative Name(s)

The Pale Tundra

Type

Desert, Ice