Crystalmist Mountains
Towering along the western reaches of the Flanaess, the Crystalmist Mountains form one of the largest and most formidable mountain ranges in the region. Spanning the borders of Geoff, Sterich, and the Sea of Dust, these jagged peaks serve as both a natural boundary and a wellspring of danger. For centuries, the Crystalmists have been synonymous with desolation, mystery, and monstrous threat.
The Crystalmist Mountains are a domain of cold stone and colder hearts, where monstrous might rules and mortal armies falter. They are both cradle and fortress for the creatures that menace the western Flanaess, and their secrets—ancient, arcane, and terrible—remain buried beneath snow and shadow.
Only the boldest dare climb into the giants’ domain. Fewer still return to tell of it.
Geography
The Crystalmists rise to staggering heights, with snowcapped peaks visible for leagues. The lower slopes are clothed in rugged pine forests, while the middle and upper elevations are dominated by glaciers, sheer cliffs, and treacherous alpine passes.
- Perpetual snow blankets the higher elevations, feeding icy rivers that descend into the lowlands of Geoff and Sterich.
- Winds howl through deep valleys and rock-strewn ridges, carrying the chilling roar of unseen predators.
- Earthquakes, avalanches, and rockfalls are frequent, reshaping the land and burying old paths.
Fauna & Flora
The Crystalmists are home to a terrifying array of monstrous inhabitants, many of which frequently descend upon the bordering nations to raid and pillage.
- Giants, especially frost, stone, and fire giants, are the most feared denizens. These creatures often organize in loose clans, fortifying high crags or deep caverns from which they launch devastating raids into Geoff and Sterich.
- White dragons and other cold-dwelling draconic beasts nest amid the icy summits, preying upon anything bold or foolish enough to cross their territory.
- The mountains also shelter trolls, ogres, gargoyles, manticores, and tribes of orcs and ogres aligned with darker powers.
- Some whispers tell of remnants of ancient civilizations buried beneath the glaciers—entire cities lost in ice and stone.
History
Long ago, dwarves carved mighty halls and mines into the roots of the Crystalmists, seeking precious metals and gemstones. Most of these holds have fallen to time, monsters, or internal strife. Some are now overrun by giants or worse.
One of the most enduring legends is of a primeval evil, perhaps a slumbering elemental power or forgotten god, buried deep in the range's heart. Arcane echoes and strange magical anomalies in certain valleys seem to lend this tale credence.
In recent history, Geoff and Sterich have suffered full-scale invasions by giants and their monstrous allies. Entire towns were razed, and the nobility of both realms were displaced or slain. Though some lands have been reclaimed, the threat remains constant, and fortified garrisons now dot the frontier in desperate attempts to repel further incursions.
These monstrous forces appear more organized than ever, hinting at an unseen power coordinating the raids from deep within the range.
Tourism
The Crystalmists remain largely unexplored, due not only to the physical hazards, but also the supernatural forces at work. Certain high valleys are whispered to be cursed or haunted by ancient magics, and some areas defy divination and teleportation, as if the mountains themselves resist intrusion.
Scholars, treasure-seekers, and spellcasters often vanish in search of forgotten temples, giant strongholds, or lost dwarven forges, never to be seen again.
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