Post by sandcastles on Apr 1, 2011 23:23:22 GMT -5
The Star Mounts
These soaring mountains at the heart of the High Forest have been landmarks and mysterious places of legend to humans of the North for centuries. They rise high above the trees, their heights usually cloaked in clouds, and minstrels and woods folk have been spinning wild tales about the mountains for as long as humans have stared at their distant slopes and wondered who - or what - lives there.
The Star Mounts were named for stars in the northern heavens by the elves of fallen Eaerlann. The names Y'tellarien, or "Far Peak" to humans; Y'landrotheil, or "Mount Journey"; and N'landorshien, or "Shadowpeak," survive today, accompanied by later human names for the other outer peaks: Bard's Hill, Hunterhorn, and Mount Vision. These names hint at some lost and forgotten elven understanding of the peaks.
The thickly forested lands north of the Star Mounts are flat and smooth, whereas the land to the south are gnarled, broken by ridges and gullies. The Unicorn Run and the Hartblood River both spring from these peaks, and high valleys hide in the heart of the Star Mounts. The fierce winds prevent all creatures less powerful than dragons from flying to the peaks, except that aarakocras seem to do so with ease.
In recent years, the ancient green wyrm Elaacrimalicros awakened in his lair among the highest Star Mounts and devoured most of the aarakocras. He also delights in raking intruding adventurers off mountainsides, protecting his privacy as if great treasure lies at the heart of the Star Mounts.
It well may. Elven adventurers report that huge crystals (some the size of human cottages) sprout on Star Mount slopes. These could be dwellings or fortresses, though none look inhabited. All of these crystals create a web works of reflected light when moonlight strikes them. When the moon is full, a certain small central peak (hidden from observers outside the Star Mounts) is covered by patterns of light. These full-moon radiances are said to either open a portal to another plane, or to have the power to resurrect any creature laid within the spire-shaped ring of standing stones at the top of this hidden peak.
~ FRCS; pg 166
Located in the heart of the High Forest, this steep-sloped cluster of mountains ascends higher than even the tallest peaks in the Spine of the World. It is possible to see the snow capped mountain tops, and the slopes which sparkle like cut diamonds, from as far away as the Stone Bridge, or the mountains north of Loudwater.
The elves of Eaerlann first named the mountains, giving them the same names as stars in the northern heavens. Most of the original names are forgotten, only their rough translations survive: Bard's Hill, Mount Vision, and Hunterhorn. Yet a few are remembered: Y'tellarien (The Far Star), called Far Peak, Y'landrothiel (Traveler's Star), called Mount Journey, and N'landroshien (Darkness in Light) called Shadowpeak.
The forest south of the mountains hides a gnarled surface that might be called a badland were it not so densely thicketed. To the north, the land is unusually smooth, as if leveled with a woodworker's plane.
The mountains are also known to be rich in metals, including remarkably pure iron and nickle. But since the end of Eaerlann, no one mines there. The Star Mounts are an unapproachable curiosity. The ancient elves names hint at some unfathomable mystery (though most suspect the elves know the truth of it). As far as anyone knows, no flying thing less powerful than a dragon can land there due to constant and usually fierce winds.
The mountains cannot be approached by flying, other than upon an ancient or larger dragon. Strong gusts of wind (possibly huge air elementals) will dash weaker beings against the cliffs. Still, aarakocra, the bird-like winged race, seem to have no difficulty in flying to and from the mountains.
Huge crystals dot the surface of the mountains, many as large as small houses. There are several uncharged ruins in the mountains with walls made of fractured crystal shards.
~ The Savage North; pg 50-51 (AD&D)
These soaring mountains at the heart of the High Forest have been landmarks and mysterious places of legend to humans of the North for centuries. They rise high above the trees, their heights usually cloaked in clouds, and minstrels and woods folk have been spinning wild tales about the mountains for as long as humans have stared at their distant slopes and wondered who - or what - lives there.
The Star Mounts were named for stars in the northern heavens by the elves of fallen Eaerlann. The names Y'tellarien, or "Far Peak" to humans; Y'landrotheil, or "Mount Journey"; and N'landorshien, or "Shadowpeak," survive today, accompanied by later human names for the other outer peaks: Bard's Hill, Hunterhorn, and Mount Vision. These names hint at some lost and forgotten elven understanding of the peaks.
The thickly forested lands north of the Star Mounts are flat and smooth, whereas the land to the south are gnarled, broken by ridges and gullies. The Unicorn Run and the Hartblood River both spring from these peaks, and high valleys hide in the heart of the Star Mounts. The fierce winds prevent all creatures less powerful than dragons from flying to the peaks, except that aarakocras seem to do so with ease.
In recent years, the ancient green wyrm Elaacrimalicros awakened in his lair among the highest Star Mounts and devoured most of the aarakocras. He also delights in raking intruding adventurers off mountainsides, protecting his privacy as if great treasure lies at the heart of the Star Mounts.
It well may. Elven adventurers report that huge crystals (some the size of human cottages) sprout on Star Mount slopes. These could be dwellings or fortresses, though none look inhabited. All of these crystals create a web works of reflected light when moonlight strikes them. When the moon is full, a certain small central peak (hidden from observers outside the Star Mounts) is covered by patterns of light. These full-moon radiances are said to either open a portal to another plane, or to have the power to resurrect any creature laid within the spire-shaped ring of standing stones at the top of this hidden peak.
~ FRCS; pg 166
__________
Located in the heart of the High Forest, this steep-sloped cluster of mountains ascends higher than even the tallest peaks in the Spine of the World. It is possible to see the snow capped mountain tops, and the slopes which sparkle like cut diamonds, from as far away as the Stone Bridge, or the mountains north of Loudwater.
The elves of Eaerlann first named the mountains, giving them the same names as stars in the northern heavens. Most of the original names are forgotten, only their rough translations survive: Bard's Hill, Mount Vision, and Hunterhorn. Yet a few are remembered: Y'tellarien (The Far Star), called Far Peak, Y'landrothiel (Traveler's Star), called Mount Journey, and N'landroshien (Darkness in Light) called Shadowpeak.
The forest south of the mountains hides a gnarled surface that might be called a badland were it not so densely thicketed. To the north, the land is unusually smooth, as if leveled with a woodworker's plane.
The mountains are also known to be rich in metals, including remarkably pure iron and nickle. But since the end of Eaerlann, no one mines there. The Star Mounts are an unapproachable curiosity. The ancient elves names hint at some unfathomable mystery (though most suspect the elves know the truth of it). As far as anyone knows, no flying thing less powerful than a dragon can land there due to constant and usually fierce winds.
The mountains cannot be approached by flying, other than upon an ancient or larger dragon. Strong gusts of wind (possibly huge air elementals) will dash weaker beings against the cliffs. Still, aarakocra, the bird-like winged race, seem to have no difficulty in flying to and from the mountains.
Huge crystals dot the surface of the mountains, many as large as small houses. There are several uncharged ruins in the mountains with walls made of fractured crystal shards.
~ The Savage North; pg 50-51 (AD&D)
