Everglacier

Everglacier is a massive, expanding mountain of ice that slowly encroaches on other lands. It is cold, desolate, and unforgiving. Ice forged from the glacier’s core never melts and is a precious commodity used in weaponry. The glacier itself is pure ice.
However, persistent flora have grown over centuries in the center of the Everglacier, slowly creating a thin layer of soil to create a hardy tundra. This barely fertile tundra has yet to reach the region’s barriers. Hardy trees can grow here, which produce thermally sound lumber frequently used in houses. As a result, the homes in the Everglacier can be quite warm.
There’s no running water in this frigid desert landscape. Peaks of pure ice make a pseudo-mountain range in the center of the region, but there are no springs or naturally flowing streams here. All freshwater is heated from the surface’s ice. As a result, most homes have ice picks, with finer picks being highly prized. Plants that grow here have dense, powerful roots that can absorb water from the ice. Some fiery creatures have formed symbiotic relationships here with other beasts, creating a unique ecosystem and balance.
The everlasting ice comes from the center of the glacier, the Everheart. It’s a slowly regrowing core of ice that perpetuates the cold magic in the Everglacier. The route to get there is always changing, however, and is a closely guarded secret by the local elders and craftsmen.

Everglacier

The Growl

When the Everglacier expands against ships, islands, or land, it creates earthquakes. These massive events reverberate over the entire ice-shelf. The sound caused by these earthquakes resembles a low growl, like that of a prowling cat.

Dagger Ice

Much of the ancient ice on the Everglacier has turned solid until its hardness is similar to that of jagged iron. Known as Dagger Ice, this dense material is immune to cold and resistant to fire. Through magic and patience, a blacksmith can reforge the material into weapons and armor.

Weather and Fire

Due to the lack of large quantities of liquid water and the constant winds of the Everglacier, fires represent a major hazard. Wildfires, fed by the arid winds, burn out of control. For this reason, many of the settlements that call the Everglacier their home have forbidden fires. Instead, they rely on magic for warmth. Precipitation is surprisingly rare on the Everglacier; the glacier sees no more than 2 inches of snowfall each year and blizzards are few and far between. However, the wind can be severe.

Everglacier Exploration

The Everglacier is a difficult place to call home, but not impossible. Solid dagger-ice makes for strong building materials—if one can mold it, of course. Holes and caverns in the ice are also common, especially for the non-intelligent residents of the glacier. Everglacial lumberers and tanners have developed techniques to build wigwams capable of withstanding the glacier’s cruel winds and crueler temperatures. Of course, igloos are a popular shelter, too.

Bysaes Tyl

The rustic elven city of Bysaes Tyl is tucked away at the southern edge of the Stonecage Peaks where Breland and Everglacier meet. Built synergistically within the tangled boreal forests, this hidden settlement of tall wooden arches, dagger ice homes, and warm magical hearths sits below a massive network of treehouses and bridges that form the canopy and upper levels of the city. Streets are made of smooth stones set in packed earth, gently enchanted to warm the pathways to counter the cold harsh weather of Everglacier.

Icehaven 

Along the southern coast of Everglacier, near the Breland border stands the only permanent port in Everglacier. Icehaven is home to the dozen or so ships in the region outfitted to wander the ice flows of Kalten Bay and is the central trade post for anything west of Sharn along the southern coast of Noyatu.

Capital: None
Government: None
Hallmarks: Dagger Ice, The Growl

Interesting Things about Everglacier

• Sounds in Everglacier range from deathly silent to maddeningly noisy. The Growl itself can drown out all sound as can the howling winds through the ice canyons. Meanwhile, the icy plains are drenched in near silence.
• Plantlife grows in Everglacier, but it isn’t normal plant life. The flora of Everglacier has learned to survive in the harsh, rocky, cold soil that dusts its top layers. These plants are strong and well-protected.
• It’s not uncommon to come across a fallen traveler while walking through Everglacier, frozen solid. In some areas, especially near the Glass Mountains, these corpses act as landmarks for other travelers. The infamous Road of Claws is littered with the dead. It’s said among the howling gales, one can hear the weeping of those who passed.
• Glacier fog is common. Drawing its power from the innate magic of the glacier, the fog that permeates the Everglacier operates similar to the fog cloud spell.
• Gruesome standards and warnings are everywhere in Everglacier. Most are created by the frost giant tribes who call Everglacier their home, but the orcs have just as many planted throughout. These standards are often made of the frozen heads of their fallen enemies. Some are even lit with magical blue fire.

Type

Geopolitical, Country

Controlled Territories

• Bysaes Tyl
• Icehaven