Northern Terrinoth
In Northern Terrinoth, fertile lands give way to cold earth and long autumns, towns with thick, ice-frosted walls and forests with a hint of darkness. The North conjures up these visions as much as it does of the Mistlands invaders and the stalwart Dunwarr clans. The former remains one of Humanity’s greatest enemies, while the latter still one of its greatest allies. The Dwarven holds lie beyond the ken of most Human settlements, though a reflection of their homes can be seen in the Free City of Forge. That city, once conquered by Dragonkin, is now populated by resilient Dwarves and the descendants of Human slaves who were brought to forge the weapons of the draconic hordes.
The North is also a place of stories, and the oral tradition is alive and well here, more so than in any other part of Terrinoth. It is not simply stories and poems that are sung, but practical knowledge as well, ways to survive in the cold, or the best times to sally forth on an expedition and so forth. Dwarves recount the heroics of their ancestors in verses and sagas, while Humans sing refrains praising the bandit heroes of the Hanging Woods and all the greedy lords they once turned into pincushions for arrows after refusing to pay the Robber’s Tax. Whether it’s the scenery or the weather, grim humor has always had a foothold in northern culture.
The fortress of Caer Loec marks the commonly accepted boundary between norther and souther Terrinoth, along with Exile Peak, a location that has played a part in the stories of many heroes. Wise men have come to the peak to dispense their wisdom to those heroes willing to complete their challenge. Further north lies the Free City of Greyhaven and its famed university, where the secrets of the runebound shards are kept hidden away deep behind magically sealed vaults.
Not far from Greyhaven lies the Pilgrim’s Trail through the Shadow Peaks mountain range. The natural magic here is potent enough that the challenge for each pilgrim is different, and those who succeed are allowed to pluck a single fruit from the branches of Shika’s Tree, said to bring fortune or glory to those who eat of its flesh. Those who survive the trail often travel onward to Frostgate, to find the inviting warmth of billowing chimneys, the scent of wild tundra boar roasting, and the welcome sound of pouring Dwarven ale.
Comments