Lake Nord

Lake Nord is a large body of water, which lies in contested lands between four of the 8 Nations. The lake is a major source of commerce and sustenance for miles around, and is regularly the central point of conflicts between regional groups. It is also known for being the deepest lake in the Southlands   Geography   Lake Nord is a fluvial lake, fed by a number of rivers. Thousands of years ago, the rivers of the region fed into a natural valley. A meteorite crashing into an outer edge of that valley blocked large amounts of the water flow, leading to the development of the lake.   Political Value   Four of the Eight Nations contest the borders of Lake Nord: Shini-O, Homunan, Dis, and Galumaer. Due to the lake's high value, its shores have been the source of many a conflict in the Cold Game. The most recent major action has been the arrival of Shini-O due to their aggressive takeover of the Crowded Rivers.   Flora and Fauna   The reeds that line up along the shoreline of Lake Nord are known for their sturdiness and tender taste. It has been said that in famines, "the reeds will feed."   There are a large number of fish which live in Lake Nord. The most common variety is known as a Northern Scaler, but the estimated number of unique fish species number in the mid twenties. On the southern side nearby Crowded Rivers, there is a large number of freshwater crabs that migrate from the rivers to the lake during their spawning seasons.   It is most common to see elk, wolves, and ferrets along the shoreline, but local folklore suggests that there is a species of lizard known as a River Drake which can bring good luck if seen or caught.   Resources   There are some small iron and silver mines along the shores of the lake, but Nord Island, at its center, is believed to hide some secret deposits of valiable ore.