The Frozen Wastes

"The land is completely frozen and bears no ground for stable life - it is unfit for any besides beast. If any Risen were meant to live here, we wouldn't have put 'Wastes' right there in the name." - Jean Montagne, La Patrian Explorer

The Frozen Wastes are, if anything, aptly named. The whole of the continent is submerged under a thick ice cap which prevents all but the most fervent attempts at reaching the soil. The arctic winds blow frequently and harshly, blocking sight with snow flurries on a regular basis. No natural vegetation can grow here due to the lack of any ground to dig its roots into. The terrain itself varies little until it reaches the mountains. Besides the occasional hill or large rock where snow flurries will get caught and fluff up the ground nearby, it is almost entirely one flat, solid frozen sheet all the way.
Only one group is widely known to have settled here in the Wastes - the Jotun. While not a Risen race, little is known about their origin. Some theorize that much like the beliefs on the giants of Mak'Nanda that Orloch made them in secret, a large and terrifying race of sentient warriors that easily fit his tastes and desires. The original explorers named their city Mak'Gora in reverence to their believed cousins and said little else of their civilization. The Jotun had a tendency for extreme violence and showed no welcoming hand to their visitors.
The animals that reside here are thick with fat and fur, having adapted to the freezing temperatures. Several species of penguins and seals make up the majority, while the occasional orca hunts just offshore. Offshore or in lakes sealed under the ice dwell a variety of fatty fish. Outside of the standard animals there lies a large number of Magickal Beasts that inhabit the landscape. Most prominent of these is the Skate Drakes and the Frost Wurms, both competing for the title of apex predator atop the ice.
The mountains on the south side of the continent are unexplored and unmapped due to the inability to reach and explore them safely by any team due to the harsh conditions and the nature of the Magickal Beasts surrounding them. Estimates by explorer teams have placed this range as taller than the Worldspine, while would be a great feat in itself. Many theorize what wealth of resources is hidden in or beyond the mountains - and if braving the terrain could be worth the difficulty it would take to reach it.
Risen settlements are almost nonexistent across the Frozen Wastes. The closest known location would be Winter's Heart, an Ehrlen community found on an island just northwest of the mainland. Townsfolk here have grown accustomed to the permanent snowfall and gained proficiency in ice fishing to maintain their livelihood. Despite what should be considered a success in establishing a settlement here, they are still disregarded by their cousins in the jungle for choosing such a life. No other Risen have publicly attempted to create a lasting life down in the Wastes.

The Frozen Wastes

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The Frozen Wastes are called exactly what they are. The entire continent is entirely comprised of land that is covered with thick snow or sheets of solid ice. Uninhabitable by all but the hardiest of species, this has led to an overabundance of powerful magickal beasts that prowl the land, hunting each other along with the few foolish enough to brave the landscape.

A Lack of Information

The largest hurdle to mapping the Frozen Wastes is simply the lack of information available. Time and time again the land here has proven to be too treacherous for even seasoned exploration crews. Similar to ventures in The Worldspine, the harsh terrain combined with an abundance of powerful magickal beasts is nigh impossible to traverse for the average Risen. The frozen ground, icy winds, and lack of any natural vegetation only compound the issue further. Some believe that there are hidden cities and civilizations beyond the ice. If Nechestivy could be conquered, than this land could as well. Others simply believe that it is too inhospitable to even consider such things.

Type

Continent