Hariad Mountains

The Hariads are the most southwestern mountain range of Lialin, covering the tail edge of Theolin's coastline, and stretching some three hundred miles in all. The tallest peak in the mountain range, Mt. Kyora, is estimated to reach more than 5,000 feet above sea level. While their placement along the outer coastal edge is not unusual for Lialin's geography, the break between the Hariads and the rest of the Stone Man's Wall is the largest passage to the outer coast - rivaling even the Dawnfall Passage.
The Hariad range is home to an ethnic group known as the Hariadi, who have found ways to successfully adapt the more common Theoli and Orelli practices to their higher altitude homes.

Geography

The peaks of the Hariads rarely extend beyond the range trees can go, but the tallest of its peaks are 'bald' expanses of craggy rock. The rest of the mountains, particularly on the outer side of the range, are prone to sudden drop offs and chains of cliff ridges. Cold winds often bring squalls and storms from the Northwest to batter themselves on the more severe side of the range, while any warmer storms from the inner sea's currents are dissolved on the forest slopes of the gentler side. The combination of the two makes for severe weather near the range's crest, as the mountains are not tall enough to full break the winds.
Several mines have been sunk into a few of the mountains of this range, though it has a few of its own naturally occurring caverns and cave systems that are largely unexplored. Where one of the upper caverns collapsed is now a lake and waterfall, feeding into the river pass near the northern edge of the range.

Resources

Mineral wise, deposits have been found in the Hariads of copper, gold, Hariad clay (kaolin clay), and a variety of building material stones such as quartz, feldspar, and mica. Gemstones can also be found in the mountain region, with documented examples of emeralds, rubies, garnets, aquamarines, sapphires, topaz, amethyst, citrine, smoky quartz, rose quartz, moonstone, and peridot. Mt. Kyora in particular is notable for its unique amethysts and rose quartz varieties.
While timbering is possible on the inner slopes, it's not particularly profitable. Ice can be mined in small quantities near the peaks, with its price reflecting the difficulty in obtaining and storing it.
The most recent resource to be of note is a specific kind of moss and lichen growing on the highest scraggly trees of the mountain range. The moisture coming in from the outer sea makes the far side of the range an ideal growing zone for the pair of plants, known by natives to the region and select few beyond it to be the source of Theoli purple dyes.

Habitation

There are a few notable species native to the mountain range in particular, though most can be found in other places as well. Stone Martens are believed by the Theoli to have slipped through the cracks of the world here, under Mt. Kyora (the Orelli contend it was from Dawnfall). The predominant mammal of the mountains, however, is the Snow Goat. The Hariad mountains are the only location in Theolin where Snow Goats can be found.
Human habitation is certainly possible in the Hariads - as the Hariadi have proven - but it comes with enough additional challenges to keep the mountain population sparse. Harsher winters than the rest of the continent, dangers of cliff drop offs and difficulties farming, as well as more socio-political concerns such as the prevalent belief that the mountains were meant to keep Bitter Anger away from humans are all fairly significant deterrents to the Theoli. However, given the dye and gemstone trade, the Hariadi tend to be the richest in Theolin.

Type

Mountain Range

Included Locations

• Mt. Kyora

Owning Organization

Theolin