Tovag Baragu

Overview: The Tovag-Baragu is a vast, remote region in the far northern reaches of the known world, outside the direct control of the Kingdom of Chernaya. This arctic cloud forest runs up the slopes of the Alyak mountain range, culminating in Skrellingskaald, the highest peak known to Chernayans. The region is the ancestral homeland of the Tovag, a fearsome type of Feyn whose warriors are nearly indestructible in battle. Nestled amidst the roots of the mountains is also said to reside the fields where the Meliae are said to sprout, and where Feyn are able to take on their form. How exactly this is done is a mystery even to the loremasters of the Imari.   Geography and Terrain: The Tovag-Baragu is an arctic cloud forest, characterized by dense, ancient woods that shroud the land in mist and shadow. The forest is dominated by the towering Arrowood trees, whose massive trunks of iron-hard wood are encircled by thorn-like growths and whose upper branches disappear into the ever-present mists. These trees create a gradient from solid wood to swirling vapor, adding to the ethereal atmosphere of the region. The forest climbs up the slopes of Skrellingskaald, a mountain so tall and treacherous that it has never been scaled by humans.   History and Significance:

• Ancestral Homeland of the Tovag: The Tovag-Baragu has been the sacred home of the Tovag Feyn for millennia. The Tovag are deeply connected to this land, which they believe to be a place where the veil between worlds is thin. The Tovag Oyun teach that the roots of the Fall Tree intertwine with the "world’s cosmic wheel," allowing them to return lost spirits to their true home in the Land of the Dead.
• Isolation and Refuge: The Tovag-Baragu’s remote location and treacherous terrain have kept it isolated from the rest of Chernaya. The Crown, under King Belgarion, has shown interest in conquering and exploiting the region’s resources, particularly its vast forests. However, the Tovag have fiercely defended their homeland, using their intimate knowledge of the land and their formidable strength to repel any incursions.

Cultural and Spiritual Importance: The Tovag-Baragu is not just a physical homeland but a deeply spiritual place for the Tovag Feyn. The Arrowood trees are sacred to the Tovag, and the forest is dotted with hidden shrines and sacred groves. The Tovag believe that the spirits of their ancestors dwell within the land, guiding and protecting them. The largest gathering of Tovag resides in the upper boughs of the Fall Tree, within the House of Bones, where their council sits in judgment upon both this world and the next. It is also said by the Oyun that all mortal spirits, whether they die in this world or any other, must pass through Alterran, and enter the Land of the Dead through a gate that exists within that house from which none ever leave.