The Spiritgraves

Far to the south, beyond the settlements of the sapient races, there is a hidden network of caves called the Spiritgraves (Or the god graves by some local tribes). This network of caves goes deep into the earth, even touching the underdark in a few places, making it a dangerous and foreboding location, avoided by all who know it's fearsome reputation.

Geography

Just south of the timber line, this network of caves can be accessed through  the hills directly south of the Gravekeepers Hamlet.

With no trees growing this far south, and small rocky outcroppings jutting from the earth, this place is foreboding and aggressive in appearance. This air of danger is lessened only slightly by the soft white snow and occasional sighting of the Aurora in the night sky above.

Ecosystem

Within the caves themselves many underdark creatures stalk in the inky blackness. However nearer the surface their are more common threats, such as Cave Bears, Dire wolves and even Giant Spiders. These creatures all seem to live in relative harmony, avoiding eachother as much as possible and feeding upon the smaller fauna of the area.


In the caves, a small selection of mosses and lichens grow, feeding the small insects and rodents that sit at the bottom of the food chain here. larger creatures may also feed upon the sparse plant life, but after a certain point most of the creatures here are carnivores.

Localized Phenomena

Localized wind and snowstorms wrack this region year round, even when the neighboring areas are clear and relatively warm, this place is a constant and unrelenting blizzard. Nestled in the windward face of the hills, these caverns constantly whistle, cry and howl with the wind passing into them.

Fauna & Flora

Flora in the region is limited, but includes:

•  Tundra grasses
•  Flowering Ferns
•  Lichens
•  Moss

Fauna is more varried, but almost everything larger than a hare is dangerous:

• Cave-dwelling insects and crustaceans
• Mice and Voles
• Snowshoe Hares
• Snow Grouse
• Wolves
• Cave Bears
• Polar Bears
• Mammoths
• White Dragons

Natural Resources

While no mining excavations currently exist here, it could be a rich source of quarried store or possibly iron.

History

This place is spoken of only in myths and hushed whispers by the local tribes, and the only people to visit it are either adventurers or the people of the nearby hamlet.


If the old stories are to be believed, there was once a city of powerful, though strange and alien wizards or sorcerors that dwelt here. It is said that they fed upon the knowledge and power of the Ellef and Uldoth, but never openly went to war with them, and as such were left mostly alone. However when the Ellef and Uldoth dissapeared, so did the terrifying sorceror-lords of this city.


While little to no evidence exists here to show a city once stood on these hills, some believe that the city itself may have left with the beings that dwelt here, or perhapse the city itself was underground and sunk deeped into the world to hide.

Tourism

While no one visits this place as a tourist, it does occasionally see travelers in the form of wizards and scholars trying to ascertain it's nature, or by adventuring parties who wish to prove their mettle against this dangerous locale.

Alternative Name(s)

God Graves, The Howling Graves

Type

Cave System

Location under

The Grand - West