Tân Peak
In the west of the Eira-Gwyn Mountains, the jagged warped top of the volcano Tân Peak can be seen for miles around. Tân Peak is said to have come into being in Mishtoonian legend when the Ancient Red Dragon, Vrexal, was challenged into proving the strength of his flames by the Dwarf trickster god Jôc. Jôc challenged Vrexal to try to melt the snow from the top of Tân Peak, to prove how much mightier he was than nature itself. For days, Vrexal engulfed Tân Peak in flames, little knowing that Jôc had charmed the mountain top to resist the heat. Finally, after nearly a week of effort, Jôc finally let slip his prank to the Dragon, before promptly disappearing to avoid Vrexal’s wrath. Enraged beyond all reason, Vrexal tore the top of Tân Peak away with this teeth and claws, and melted the rock with his flames. Eventually his trail of destruction brought him to the heart of the mountain, where he collapsed and died from exhaustion, and from that day on Tân Peak became a volcano. The Dwarves of Mishtoon still believe that Vrexal’s malign spirit resides in the heart of Tân Peak, and the lava that erupts from the volcano is his dragon fire, exploding forth to try and catch Jôc in its path.
Geography
The east and north sides of the volcano are almost completely denuded of trees, and the abnormally deep valley that extends out from these slopes to the sea is testament to the regular lava flows that still spill from Tân Peak. On average, the volcano erupts once every two months or so, giving little breathing space for anything to grow or exist in the lava fields it has created. The southern and western slopes of Tân Peak do retain a fair amount of pine forest on their slopes, but the trees look decidedly sickly after centuries of exposure to the noxious gases exuded by the volcano. The creatures that dwell in and around the mountain are also said to be strange and warped, affected by the volcano, and the evil spirit of Vrexal said to dwell within. Small communities of Mishtoonians do live near the lava-flows, where they collect and mine the obsidian that forms there. None, however, dare to make a permanent home on Tân Peak itself.
Type
Volcano
Location under
Owner/Ruler
Owning Organization
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