The Lakes of Striror

Stafgrave Lake

General Information

Type- Lake (Haunted and Sacred)
Region- Central Striror
Environment- Frozen lake surrounded by burial mounds and ancient runestones   Stafgrave Lake is a hauntingly beautiful expanse of ice and shadowed depths, lying still amid the snows of central Striror. Encircled by ancient barrows and weathered runestones, the lake is steeped in myth and spiritual reverence. Its ice is unnaturally clear, revealing strange shapes beneath the surface—some say the frozen dead, others say memories. The water is unnaturally still, and when it does stir, it does so with eerie silence. Locals speak of voices echoing across the surface during the full moon and faint ghost-lights that flicker beneath the ice.  

Historical and Spiritual Significance

Stafgrave is said to be the resting place of ancient heroes, kings, and seers—those who chose to be buried in the ice so that their spirits could guard the realm forever. Many Strirorians treat it as a sacred place, leaving offerings on the shore or whispering prayers before setting off on long journeys. Rituals of passage, mourning, and scrying are often held here. Some seers claim they can speak with the dead by gazing into the ice, though most do not do so lightly.  

Notable Features

The Circle of Thorns- A ring of ice-cracked barrows that rise like white fangs near the shore, each marked with a different clan’s runes.
The Drowned Mirror- A still patch of lake ice said to reflect not your face, but your fate.  

Legends & Threats

The Spirit Watchers- Ethereal figures said to walk the lake at night, watching for intruders and communing with the dead.
The Wailing Current- Some believe the lake whispers warnings—or madness—to those who break its ice.
The Restless Oathbound- A legend speaks of warriors who swore to protect Striror even in death. When the realm is in danger, their icy forms may rise from beneath the surface.  

Gaulnan Lake

General Information

Type- Lake (Sacred Glacial Waters)
Region- Southern Striror
Environment- Fed by melting glaciers and hidden mountain springs, dotted with glowing ice floes   Gaulnan Lake is a serene and ethereal body of water nestled at the base of Striror’s southern glacial ridges. Unlike the haunting stillness of Stafgrave, Gaulnan teems with life and movement. Floating chunks of magically glowing ice drift lazily across the surface, casting shimmering light across the lakebed. The waters are surprisingly clear and slightly warmer than surrounding bodies due to natural geothermal springs beneath the surface. During aurora storms, the entire lake glows with color, and many describe it as witnessing the sky bleed into the earth.  

Cultural Significance

Gaulnan is considered a sacred site for rites of renewal and healing. Locals believe that the lake was blessed by a spirit of life during the First Frost, and its waters hold restorative power. Young warriors and shamans come here to meditate and seek vision-quests, often fasting for days beside the lake. During the spring thaw, the Ceremony of the Deep Light is held—participants offer gifts to the lake and wade into the shallows to receive spiritual blessings.  

Notable Features

The Singing Stones- Smooth pillars of stone that ring part of the shoreline. When the wind passes through them, they produce harmonious, bell-like tones.
The Mirror Patch- A section of lake that reflects the stars even during the day, used for meditation and prophecy.  

Legends & Mysteries

The Bottomless Well- Gaulnan is said to be infinitely deep, connected to a primordial reservoir of elemental water. Some believe it’s a gate to another realm.
The Keeper of the Deep- A gentle guardian spirit is said to dwell beneath the glowing floes—appearing only when the lake is threatened.