Gruumsh's Fall

The largest volcano on Menos, Gruumsh's Fall looms over the border city of Hellmouth in the Southern Province. Home to the only known population of the threatened proto-phoenixes. The geothermal activity that spans beyond the peak provides almost all the electricity for the province. Gruumsh's Fall has sacred cultural significance to the orcish and minotaur population as the site of the liberation of the orcish people. The mighty ancient red dragon Tchazzar, destroyer of Dryad's Gold, once laired in Gruumsh's Fall.

Geography

Gruumsh's Fall stands as the 4th tallest peek in the Titan's Spine mountain range. While technically an active volcano, the last eruption was at the end of the Age of Adventuring. The climb to the peek shows a fair deal of wear, though even as the mountain range has been worn down around it Gruumsh's Fall has not lost any height judging by ancient illustrations and written accounts. The geothermal activity of the volcano produces a wide range of geysers and hot springs in the nearby areas of the mountain range. At the foot of Gruumsh's fall is the shattered landscape of Crackskull Gulley.

Fauna & Flora

Being a volcano, there isn't much that can actually survive on Gruumsh's Fall. Drought resistant scrub climbs up until the earth is too warm for it to root successfully, at which point it gives way to extremophile lichens. Dead God's Fingers, a gnarled juniper tree, grows exclusively over 10,000 feet on Gruumsh's Fall and account for the only generational nesting sites of the increasingly rare proto-phoenix, as well as one of many nesting sites for Rocs along Titan's Spine. A heat-loving, smaller subspecies of Bulette nests on Gruumsh's Fall in such a way that mothers can lay their eggs in the warm volcanic soil and leave them during nesting season for rocs and proto-phoenix, at which point the babies would hatch and swim through the loose soils near the nesting sites to snatch up any unlucky young that may tumble from the nest. By the time this species is fledging the immature bulettes have turned to cannibalism during a journey down the mountain to Crackskull Gulley.
Because of the poisonous gasses trapped beneath the volcano, any portion of the Underdark that come close are particularly unfriendly and often deadly to traverse even without seeing a hungry native beast of the environment. Sudden heat spikes from gas burn off, random belches of poison gas, and exposed magma seemingly aren't enough to completely deter certain beasts such as the deadly Umber Hulk.
The ancient red dragon Tchazzar, who destroyed Dryad's Gold, laired in Gruumsh's Fall.

Natural Resources

The geothermal activity of Gruumsh's Fall provides many boons to the people of the Southern Province. Accessible hot springs in the border city of Hellmouth draw a tourism industry. The hot, fine soil provides the basis for many ancient cooking traditions. Geothermal power is the province's main electricity source. Hunting the pest proto-phoenix/roc hybrids born on the volcano is a growing wildlife industry encouraged by the Southern Rule. The volcano's presence also accounts for the fertility of the Lotus Tendrils river basin.

Alternative Name(s)

Old God's Ire, Luthic's Rise

Type

Volcano