The White Mountains loom across the northern part of the continent. Their icy peaks stare down at the lowlands where Hailgalad, Valeria, and other kingdoms call home. This frozen tundra is a perilous land where few can thrive. Its inhabitants are generally referred to as the Northfolk who have been discussed in another article.
This entry will further explore the landscape itself, its history, and other creatures that call this barren snowscape home.
Ancient Roots
Contrary to the Vaeloran‘s belief of their being the first civilization, evidence of the first true city can be found here. Garnloban, now a ruin, is found nestled in the Windwail Valley and at the mouth of the Frostfall River. Some say over a hundred thousand lived there in times when this crook of the mountains was warmer and more hospitable to year-round living and farming.
Over time, the climate shifted, and winters became more brutal. This led to a series of avalanches from the mountainsides. These continuous calamities can be seen in the design of the city. Large, broad walls faced the north sides of the settlement, which have clearly been rebuilt a number of times. In the end, it is thought that the people of the city either dispersed throughout the White Mountains finding hollows and valleys where the conditions were still favorable. Others headed south and integrated with the peoples of what is now Hailgalad and Vaelor.
Many people believe Garnloban was not created without help. An ancient being called the first creatures once dwelt in these lands. They are thought to have been created by the divine order as a first attempt to create humanity. They were made entirely of rock and were human-shaped but much larger. Their eyes glowed a pale blue, and the same light flowed through their stone bodies, keeping them together.
It is said that they did not age and could even talk with humans. They used their great strength and cunning craftwork with stone to make incredible works throughout the mountains. Formations and ancient structures long abandoned litter the vast mountain ranges.
In current times, these creatures are not a common sight. Some believe that they are extinct. The story goes that people from the south who ventured north were frightened by them and began to destroy their kind. Over the years and many battles and massacres, they receded far away from human civilization. Others believe they abandoned this land alltogether and joined the divine order in the Narcluplex or land of the gods.
Cold-bitten Creatures
Trolls are not an uncommon sight within the rocky hillsides. They are monstrous grey beasts that are known for raiding settlements. While many are feral and only care about pillaging and eating, there have been few contacted tribes of trolls that live in peaceful and productive societies. Some amount them even practice magic and can write.
Weerwolven are another unique beast that roams the frozen wastes. It is commonly known that these are humans who can shape-shift into large wolf-like creatures. While many are civilized humans, other who have isolated themselves rely more and more not heir beast shape. In time, they lose the ability to turn into humans a roam the mountains as ravenous animals.
Vorstgeest can also be found floated among the falling snows. Their name is translated to Frost Spirits in the Vaeloran dialect. They are floating blue orbs that wander the wastes. Travelers have said that they can be heard late at night wailing that echoes through the valleys. Many believe that these orbs are lost souls of people who froze alone in the White Mountains and are cursed. While they re not usually hostile, one touch from a human will freeze them straight to their heart, leading them to become a Vorstgeest themselves.
Iceshadow Tower
One day, at the mouth of the Maedros River in the White Mountains, a large grey-stone tower was erected overnight. The nearby townsfolk did not know where it came from, but an old wizard appeared in the high window as a few brave souls explored the gourds of the new structure.
The adventurers were taken and twisted by a dark magic. When they returned to their people, they were not humans but bloodthirsty beasts. Their eyes glowed a cold white and turned their swords upon their neighbors. The more people that fell to the corrupted beasts, the more joined the dark wizard’s ranks. A fledgling Vaeloran Empire struggled to contain this spreading disease, and all seemed to be lost. That was until the Divine Lightbringers, a powerful order of Vaeloran mages, waged war against the evil power and defeated it. The tower now stands abandoned along with the nearby towns. The lake it overlooks, that feeds the Maedros, was ever after called the Iceshadow Depths.
From time to time, brave adventurers try to venture to the tower to recover fabled secret treasures that it holds, but none have ever return.
The Royal Mint
At the edge of the White Montanans above Vaelor, the empire’s royal mint lays. It is called Vulwelf and was discovered by the first king of Vaelor, Gideon. He was leading an expedition to scout out new mines for iron when they came upon gold peeking through the ice. Amongst the whipping winds and snow, he demanded they build a camp and begin digging. This spot proved to be the richest vein of gold on the entire continent.
Gideon took this as a sign from their patron god and leader of the divine order, Vaelentros, that he was meant to conquer the world. Within a few years, he leveraged this newfound vast wealth to purchase soldiers and arms. His army became feared across the land and thus began the reign of the Vaeloran Empire.
Vulwelf is now a place of woe for hundreds of souls. Vaelor uses prisoners to keep up with the incredible production demands. Whether they were captured on the battlefield or caught committing petty theft, they are brought from around the kingdom to serve out lengthy sentences of hard labor.
More Hailgalad…
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