Northern Wastes

Geography

The name Northern Wastes is used to describe a frozen desert stretching from the coast of the continent Ijsa to a mountain range around four hundred kilometers inwards. By some wonder of nature, the area between coast and mountains is almost entirely flat, save for some snow dunes.
If there ever was a river or a lake, it is long gone, either frozen completely or covered by thick layers of snow and ice. It is still possible to reach small water deposits if one digs deep enough. However, it is entirely possible that the water found is an extension of the sea, which is covered by miles of ice before reaching the Wastes themselves.
Despite the terrible temperature, the cutting wind, the everlasting storms, and spontaneous chasms when close to the sea, many visiting have described the Wastes as a place of serene beauty. The absence of life and the dominance of the raw power of nature makes it to many a nice change of pace when compared to the more civilized areas of the world. It should be noted, that this sentiment is mostly shared by explorers and archeologists coming from the heart of civilization. Many who come from the rougher edges just described the Northern Wastes as a horrible hellhole they would like to leave as quickly as possible.

Fauna & Flora

The extreme cold, combined with the absence of any water sources would make the existence of any flora and fauna very unlikely. Even more so because of the icy wind which ravages every inch of ground, ensuring that everything is either frozen or covered with snow.
The only exception to this desolation are the cave systems below ground or those accessible in the through the northern mountain ranges. These are filled with a variety of mushrooms and moss, who have adapted to the slightly less desolate cold of the caves. However, even there no fauna can be found.

Natural Resources

Due to its hazardous nature and inaccessible nature, there haven't been many expeditions to find what riches hide below the ice. One of the exceptions is the coal mine accessed by the Richardian colony of Iderwig. However, this was only found because the Richardians were desperately searching for a heat source, so they could stop importing wood. The coal mine found is estimated to be one of the largest in the entire world, its content being enough to satisfy the needs of Iderwig for millennia.
One sign of hope for the potential riches hidden beneath the ice were the tombs found close to the northern mountains. They were filled with gold and ceremonial jewelry, so much that some theorize that the gems and metals were mined and refined directly in the Northern Wastes, as transport would have been inefficient. As such, quite a few merchants of the Richardian Republic and Uphratus hope for advances in technology to send geological expeditions to find these riches.

Alternative Name(s)

Frozen Hellhole, White Dream

Type

Desert, Ice

Included Locations

• Lone Fortress

Contested By

• Richardian Republic
• Uphratus