Celestia Peaks

Celestia Peaks is an enormous mountain range near the western coast of Varzzen, spanning from the northern wastes of the Amber Fallow to the southern shores of the Salt Coast. Since time immemorial, the Peaks have divided Western Varzzen, both geographically and politically. The Celestia Peaks have much variety in their climate. The range is broadly divided into the wetter southern region and the more varied northern reaches.

In the south, the Peaks taper into a narrow ridge known as Aurius's Stinger. Since the dawn of civilization, the Stinger has marked the border of Auroma and the Detrinian Empire. However, after the end of the Tunnel War, this border shifted, now dividing Aciaroma and Auroma

The eastern side, ending in Zenith Valley, blocks the movement of rain clouds. This results in the Valley being under frequent rainfall, creating lush forests and thriving farmlands. The steep mountainsides ensure that no water stays there for long, preventing the area from turning into a jungle or a swamp. In stark contrast, the western side is both arid and hot, making the base a desert that transitions into dry savannahs further west. This is the primary reason why the Salt Coast is so inhospitable.

Heading north from Aurius' Stinger, one enters the Protector's Vale. Although the Vale shares the aridity of the Salt Coast, the surrounding mountains provide shade, and glacial melt forms rivers, which keep the area habitable. This combination of shade and water has encouraged the locals to set up many settlements in the Protector's Vale, particularly after the refugee crisis following The Tunnel War.

Continuing north, the Peaks, while still formidable, become less of a barrier for rain clouds due to their decreasing altitude. This, combined with a cooler climate, allows both sides of the Peaks to receive rain. This area also contains a curious feature: a lake shaped like a perfect hexagon. This is the Lake of Order, where the gods of the Order Pantheon first revealed themselves to the mortals and chose their champions. It is considered the holiest site of the entire Order Pantheon.

Midway through the range is the Amber Pass. The Pass offers an easy and comfortable way to move between Amber Fallow and Auroma, far from the scorching heat of the Salt Coast or the bitter coldness of northern Amber Fallow. Trade caravans move constantly in both directions through the Amber Pass. Due to its financial and military significance, Auroman soldiers maintain constant vigilance through the Pass, patrolling both the land and the air.

The northern half of Celestia Peaks begins like a mirror of the southern half - too low to stop the rainclouds, it is merely the border of Amber Fallow and Auroma.As the range stretches northward, the peaks rise again, some even surpassing their southern counterparts. At the same time, the colder air turns the warm forests into taiga.

At the highest point, where Celestia Peaks rise above the clouds, stands the university of Cor Quae'thum. The city-state's powerful magicians have transformed the normally cold mountainsides into farms, which feed the people of the university. The air might be thin, but the ever-clear skies give the scholars the perfect view to observe the night sky.

Unlike Cavana's mountain range, Onyx Veil, Celestia Peaks are mostly untouched by miners. Some tunnels exist, but out of all races living near the mountain range, only necrites like to live underground for an extended period of time, and the necrites have focused on Sweetwood until very recently. There are only a few tunnels, mainly some mines and small secret passes dug by smugglers. But Celestia Peaks does have quite a few uncharted natural caverns, and nobody knows what might hide in them.