Crystal Mountains
The Crystal Mountains are a circular mountain range that has been artifically created by the Archmage in the time shortly after the fall of the Lumenian Empire.
The most astounding thing about the Crystal Mountains though is the fact that they make an almost perfectly circular shaped mountain range. Something that isn't seen in nature.
The mountain range encloses a large lake, about 606 miles across, in its center a small island serving as a foundation for a hundreds of feet high tower. This tower is the Crystal Spire and its what has given the mountains their name.
Surrounding the outside of the mountain range is a thick jungle where even experienced guides have trouble finding their way through. Most of the plants here aren't too different from the ones generally found in the jungles of Avara. The most common difference is that the plants here are offten slightly larger and seem almost sentient.
Similarly the animal life outside is quite similar to normal jungle life. Some animals have developed different coat colours, though most seem just like their relatives showing up in other parts of the world.
Many of the animals living around or inside Lake Asaszlin are much less beasts, and more monstrosities and magically created or enhanced creatures. Some of them are in service of the Archmage, guarding and protecting the shore of the lake from unwanted intruders. Others simply live out their lives, hunting whatever gets lost in their jungles.
The tower itself is made of a slick, black stone and serves as a home and work space to the Archmage.
The Crystal Mountains themselves as well as Lake Asaszlin and the Crystal Spire are well known to house hundreds if not thousands of secrets of magical and non-magical nature. At some point through the ages the Archmage has been known to reveal some of these secrets to the general public, but he choses those selectively and only rarely reveals them fully.
Many people have tried to enter the mountains in hopes of finding a way on to the island and into the Crystal Spire. Rarely do those people ever return though. No one quite knows if it is just the animal life or if there is something even more dangerous hiding within the mountsins. The only thing that is known is that the Archmage has warned people several times about entering his mountains, as he cannot guarantee anyone's safety once they approach.
Several rumours persist though.
Other rumours say that he harnessed the powers of the Ley Lines directly, formed them into crystals and is using these crystals as a power source. Those that accept this rumour as truth say that is after all where the tower got its name from.
Truthfully though there has not yet been any proof shown for any of these theories.
According to these rumours the Archmage is using the portal to build up and hide an army of monstrosities and the like to eventually take complete control over the Material Plane. Despite there being no proof for this rumour in particular, quite a few people have claimed to have seen demons wandering the grounds.
It is unlikely though that these suspicions would hold up against closer inspection, as so far no one ever returned to be able to report these things.
This fog, also called the Veil, seems to be of magical nature. Once inside magic items and spellcasting have a tendency to malfunction or misfire. Despite it only being a thin veil it seems to heavily restrict vision and other senses such as smell, hearing and even touch.
The Veil makes navigation through the mountain jungles almost impossible and serves as a clear sign that you've wandered too far.
Most of these creatures also seem to be far more intelligent, as some reports have mentioned them to be telepathically communicating with their victims.
Other than that little is known about these monsters, as they are most likely what assures no creature ever returns from the Crystal Mountains. They are though most certainly part of stories with which parents try to keep their children away from the mountains.
Of those that headed into the Crystal Mountains, only few returned. And even less remained sane enough to talk about what happened.
Description
Geography
The Crystal Mountains lie on the continent of Avara and are widely visible even from far away. At its highest point the peaks reach 4.000 meters, standing surprisingly tall above the otherwise flat continent.The most astounding thing about the Crystal Mountains though is the fact that they make an almost perfectly circular shaped mountain range. Something that isn't seen in nature.
The mountain range encloses a large lake, about 606 miles across, in its center a small island serving as a foundation for a hundreds of feet high tower. This tower is the Crystal Spire and its what has given the mountains their name.
Flora & Fauna
The plant and animal life within the Crystal Mountains themselves and in the surrounding area can be described simply with one wird - magical.Surrounding the outside of the mountain range is a thick jungle where even experienced guides have trouble finding their way through. Most of the plants here aren't too different from the ones generally found in the jungles of Avara. The most common difference is that the plants here are offten slightly larger and seem almost sentient.
Similarly the animal life outside is quite similar to normal jungle life. Some animals have developed different coat colours, though most seem just like their relatives showing up in other parts of the world.
Lake Asaszlin
Lake Asaszlin is the massive, 606 miles spanning, lake that lies within the Crystal Mountains. It is surrounded by thick jungle growth, most of the plants that grow here never being seen anywhere else in the world.Many of the animals living around or inside Lake Asaszlin are much less beasts, and more monstrosities and magically created or enhanced creatures. Some of them are in service of the Archmage, guarding and protecting the shore of the lake from unwanted intruders. Others simply live out their lives, hunting whatever gets lost in their jungles.
The Crystal Spire
The Crystal Spire is a tower that reaches far into the sky, approximately several hundred feet tall, and has no visible entrances from the outside. It is situated on the unnamed island in the middle of Lake Asaszlin in an area only slightly overgrown with grass but showing none of the usual jungle growth.The tower itself is made of a slick, black stone and serves as a home and work space to the Archmage.
A secret remains only a secret when no one but yourself knows about it.
Home of Magical Secrets
The Crystal Mountains themselves as well as Lake Asaszlin and the Crystal Spire are well known to house hundreds if not thousands of secrets of magical and non-magical nature. At some point through the ages the Archmage has been known to reveal some of these secrets to the general public, but he choses those selectively and only rarely reveals them fully.
Many people have tried to enter the mountains in hopes of finding a way on to the island and into the Crystal Spire. Rarely do those people ever return though. No one quite knows if it is just the animal life or if there is something even more dangerous hiding within the mountsins. The only thing that is known is that the Archmage has warned people several times about entering his mountains, as he cannot guarantee anyone's safety once they approach.
Several rumours persist though.
An endless Power Source
Ever since the Crystal Spire first appeared people have been arguing that such a large building requires a matching power source. Most rumours follow along the lines of the Archmage having imprisoned some sort of powerful creature to use its magic to power his tower. Dragons, Major Elementals, Spirits and even Demons have been argued for.Other rumours say that he harnessed the powers of the Ley Lines directly, formed them into crystals and is using these crystals as a power source. Those that accept this rumour as truth say that is after all where the tower got its name from.
Truthfully though there has not yet been any proof shown for any of these theories.
Major Planar Portal
Another rumour that has stayed persistend through the ages is that of there being a Major Planar Portal somewhere within the Crystal Spire. Supposedly this portal leads to several other planes, as well as giving direct access to the Abyss.According to these rumours the Archmage is using the portal to build up and hide an army of monstrosities and the like to eventually take complete control over the Material Plane. Despite there being no proof for this rumour in particular, quite a few people have claimed to have seen demons wandering the grounds.
It is unlikely though that these suspicions would hold up against closer inspection, as so far no one ever returned to be able to report these things.
Security
Even though the Crystal Mountains are a wide area filled with jungle life, there seem to be several security measures in place to guard this area from people's eyes.The Veil
Filling the area surrounding the Crystal Mountains starting at about 800 meters and creating a 1.200 miles diameter sphere around it, is a thin fog that constantly hangs in the air. No one still alive has ever seen this area not covered in this fog.This fog, also called the Veil, seems to be of magical nature. Once inside magic items and spellcasting have a tendency to malfunction or misfire. Despite it only being a thin veil it seems to heavily restrict vision and other senses such as smell, hearing and even touch.
The Veil makes navigation through the mountain jungles almost impossible and serves as a clear sign that you've wandered too far.
Strange Creatures
Those that steer off the path - one that most will probably never even notice to begin with - are often caught by one of the strange creatures living within the jungles. Their general appearance seems to be that of normal beasts, though they are often twice or even three times as large as their more normal relatives.Most of these creatures also seem to be far more intelligent, as some reports have mentioned them to be telepathically communicating with their victims.
Other than that little is known about these monsters, as they are most likely what assures no creature ever returns from the Crystal Mountains. They are though most certainly part of stories with which parents try to keep their children away from the mountains.
Current State of the World:
Latest Article: Crystal MountainsWiP: Taking Part in the History Chaolenge
Crystal Mountains
Alternative Name(s)
Crystal Spire Mountains
Mountains of Secrets
Mountains of Secrets
Type
Mountain Range
Owner/Ruler
The Archmage
The Archmage
He was the first of the icons of the Lumenian Empire to become a deity and the one to find a save method of doing so. His seat of power is the Crystal Spire of Arcadia.
Domains: Magic, Moon
Alignment: Lawful Neutral
Alignment: Lawful Neutral
God of Protection
The Crystal Spire is both home as well as work place of the Archmage, Deity of the Magic and the Moon domains. For thousands of years no known soul has entered or left the building.
The tower itself is made of black obsidion stone, seeming to be made out if one peace despite its height. There are no doors or windows visible anywhere, and as such people could easily be mistaken to think that this is nothing more than a strange mountain peak.
The tower itself is made of black obsidion stone, seeming to be made out if one peace despite its height. There are no doors or windows visible anywhere, and as such people could easily be mistaken to think that this is nothing more than a strange mountain peak.
I love your map in particular! This is a neat idea. What a great place for RPG players to visit! I have two minor critiques. The first is that it isn't entirely clear why this place is considered "secret" knowledge. Is it hard to get to? If so, why do people know about the creatures inside? Second, you have a typo in your Major Planar Portal heading. No biggie, you just accidentally hit an s instead of an a. Love your use of columns too! This article is pretty as well as interesting. Good work!
Hey! Thanks for the comment! The typo has been given banned from living in this article. Thanks, probably slipped on the keyboard. For the secret knowledge I was kind of thinking of how the area is off limits and anyone who tries to enter usually doesn’t return. The view bits and peaces that are “known” about the creatures inside are half rumours and half the stories of a few people who did return.