Neither Tundra

Frozen North

The expanse of ice and snow is little different than the desolation of the Deadzones, both places where nothing lives or moves unless the wind moves it. Freezing temperatures and drifts that could easily swallow a man whole keep even the most ambitious away, but there are still small pockets in the desolation that might hide dens of wayward Ursakin or the greater holes of Storm Giants and others that have wandered beyond the Giant Steps Three. The tundra is forgiving to no one and nothing, easily erasing whatever mark that is made upon it, but even so, it is hard not to notice the majesty of a place mostly untouched.

There is something to be said about miles of unblemished snow, pushed by the wind into intricate swirls, but even that bit of beauty does not hide the deadly nature of the weather that blankets the tundra.

— Unknown Wanderer

The Neither Tundra is both desolate and beautiful, a land of nothing and yet a land of things unknown and yet to be discovered. Covering the northernmost reaches of the Northern Continent, most of the tundra is uninhabitable even by well-adapted races such as the Giants and some Ursakin, but the land that borders the Elven Forest and Cradle of Clay is teeming with life. Dens and caves are full of creatures from the smallest Winter Stoat to the largest Dire Bear and ancient creatures that can be found nowhere else in the world. It is believed that if the weather does not get you, the animals will, leaving little more than footprints in the snow that erase with the next gust of wind.
Considered the most unexplored area of Vóreios outside of the Giant Steps Three, little is known about the people and places of the Neither Tundra other than both the land and people are inhospitable to outsiders. Most who enter the tundra of their free will never return, either caught in the blizzard or found by animals or Giants. Because of this, the Neither Tundra has become little more than an extension of the Kingdom of Giants in the Giant Steps Three and a foothold on the continent that the Giants have fiercely held and tried to extend on numerous occasions.

Geography

The Neither Tundra covers thousands of miles along the northern-most points of the Northern Continent. It is bordered to the south by the Elven Forest and the Cradle of Clay and is also considered to be where the Spine of Kallex originates on the continent. The rivers known as True Ice, Shattered Ice, and Snowrun all also originate in the Neither Tundra.
Hills, valleys, caves, and dens are common throughout the tundra but the pristine blanket of snow often hides these sights until one is on top of them. Only on the northern shores does the white snow give way to cliffs of blue ice that are jagged and possibly more dangerous than the landscape one must cross to reach them.
No matter the time of year, the climate of the tundra is often below freezing with whipping winds and sharp snows that can cut through warm clothing straight to the skin. Even during the warmest periods, the temperatures reach barely above freezing, only enough to melt the top layer of snow into sheets of ice that are quickly covered with another layer of snow. Even for adapted creatures, this makes travel extremely dangerous.

Neither Tundra

Neither Tundra by Landscape via Artbreeder, created by RiverFang

The northern edge of Vóreios is known as the Neither Tundra, an area covered in ice and snow. Few call this area home, but the Kingdom of Giants thrives here, hoping to expand their lands.

Localized Phenomena

Great blizzards are extremely common across the Neither Tundra, no matter the time of year. While the blizzards tend to be stronger and produce more snow during the winter months, even the lightest blizzard in the tundra would be considered a natural disaster anywhere else in the world. The average snowfall on the lower portions of the tundra often reaches 120 inches a year while the northern reaches can see nearly double that if the storms are strong enough.
The Neither Tundra is also the location of a number of low-magnitude earthquakes throughout the year as well. While most of these earthquakes aren't noticed, they are prone to causing avalanches in some of the deeper valleys or the destruction of the glaciers or ice cliffs on the northern shores. Overall, these earthquakes are not nearly as dangerous as the snow that can fall quickly and heavily across an area.

Fauna & Flora

Faelund Bears

Ursus americanus kermodei by Maximilian Helm on Wikimedia Commons

Faelund Bears are extremely recognizable due to their distictive white color that sets them apart from their Coaldust Bear brethren. Only color separates these two species and it is possible for two Faelund Bears to produce a cub that would be considered a Coaldust Bear.

The Neither Tundra is home to many fauna that are giant and dangerous. Creatures such as Dire Wolves, Dire Bears, Mammoths, and Sabre-Tooth Tigers are common throughout the tundra, although less common in the colder northern reaches. These creatures stay closer to the southern border and near the ice cliffs of the north where people such as Ursakin and Orcs make their homes. Only the largest creatures such as Mammoths and Dire Bears venture into Giant territory as this usually means a swift death for any of the smaller creatures.
Flora in the tundra is sparse. Near the Spine of Kallex, it is possible to find Dragon Pines, but elsewhere, the vegetation is limited to underbrush that can survive the harsh temperatures and constantly being covered with snow and ice. The most common plant found in the Neither Tundra is called Mammoth Hair as it is a stringy plant that is commonly thought to be a dead or dying plant but thrives in these conditions.
Other than giant fauna, creatures such as Faelund Bears and Winter Stoats make their homes in small dens and caves that are created by the ever-moving snow. These creatures are found commonly closer to the middle and southern areas of the tundra where the giant creatures and Giants are sparser, allowing them to survive away from the largest predators. Both Faelund Bears and Winter Stoats are known for their camouflage fur that allows them to hide in the snow-covered landscape away from any prying eyes.
Because of the temperatures, any aquatic life in the True Ice, Shattered Ice, and Snowrun are limited, but some fish and other creatures do begin appearing as the rivers move towards the southern border of the Neither Tundra and away from the more extreme temperatures of the north.

Alternative Name(s)

Northern Tundra

Type

Tundra

Location under

Vóreios

Included Locations

• Igloos of Clay

Owning Organization

Kingdom of Giants

Inhabiting Species

• Dire Wolves
• Faelund Bears
• Winter Stoats

Related Materials

• Frost Steel
• Zap Steel

Related Historical Events

• 4000 IM to 3500 IM
  Giant Wars
• 5000 IM
  Line of the Tundra
• 202,000 IM
  First Appearance of the Giant Language
• 775,000 IM
  Evolution of the Giants
• 800,000 IM
  Birth of the First Fey Descendants

Points of Interest

Landmarks are not commonly seen in the Neither Tundra due to the snow and blizzards often obscuring anything within a few moments. Even so, there are a few landmarks that are very well-known to even those who have never traveled the tundra.

Mammoth Glacier

The Mammoth Glacier is thought to be the largest glacier in the Neither Tundra and is in the area where the Mammoth herds often roam. This glacier is in the northwestern portion of the tundra near the northern coast.

Crater Lake

Crater Lake is the second largest lake on the Northern Continent. Located somewhat centrally in the Neither Tundra, the lake was carved out by a large glacier before the Giants came to the tundra and filled with fresh, clear water that rarely, if ever, freezes.

Igloos of Clay

The Igloos of Clay are small ice huts that are scattered across the southern border of the Neither Tundra. These huts were built by the Clay Giants after the Challenge of the Lake determined the Giant hierarchy and the Clay Giants left to find their own place.

Myths of the Neither Tundra

Many myths surround the Neither Tundra, especially relating to the weather, but some of these myths have more truth to them than others.

Crystal Blizzard

It is believed that the Neither Tundra is covered with a magical blizzard that predates the appearance of the Elder Races in the world. Even the most gifted spellcasters in the Divine Races have no explanation for this phenomenon.