Mount Nirka: Difference between revisions
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Mount Nirka and its sister [[Mount Nyid]] were extinct volcanos that used to lie within the land of [[Arak]], Mount Nyid at its centre and Mount Nirka on its northern frontier with [[Darkon]]. They and their land were subsumed by Darkon as part of the [[Great Upheaval]] in 740 BC. The mountains rumbled back to life in 750 BC at the moment of the [[Requiem]] - the destruction of Il-Aluk, the decapitation of Darkon, and the 'birth' of [[Necropolis]] - whether in celebration or sympathy. The peaks used to stand | Mount Nirka and its sister [[Mount Nyid]] were extinct volcanos that used to lie within the land of [[Arak]], Mount Nyid at its centre and Mount Nirka on its northern frontier with [[Darkon]]. They and their land were subsumed by Darkon as part of the [[Great Upheaval]] in 740 BC. The mountains rumbled back to life in 750 BC at the moment of the [[Requiem]] - the destruction of Il-Aluk, the decapitation of Darkon, and the 'birth' of [[Necropolis]] - whether in celebration or sympathy. The peaks used to stand side by side, but they appear to have grown apart on the most recent map, with Mount Nyid anchoring the southeastern [[Mountains of Misery]] and [[Mount Nirka]] anchoring the northwestern [[Mountains of Misery]]. Mount Nirka soars to a breathtaking height of 7960 ft, easily surpassing [[Mount Baratak]]. It is the source of the [[Amnis Lacrimarum]] ("River of Tears"), which traverses [[Keening]] before joining the [[Corvus River]] well to the west, back in Darkon. It is also the source of infamous [[Lake Temporus]], from which springs the innocuous [[Tempe River]]. The northeastern foothills of Mount Nirka are described (wrongly it would appear) as the source of the [[Khourx River]] (unless they are also the source of the [[Foaming River]]). | ||
All life on Mount Nirka, save its northern flank, and indeed all life across the face of Arak was eradicated in 588 BC by a sandstorm without precedent that scoured the land clean in an event recorded as the [[Scourge of Arak]]. As of 735 BC, the only trees to be found on Mount Nirka were on its northern flank. At suitable elevations hardy grasses, spike plants, and low | All life on Mount Nirka, save for its northern flank, and indeed all life across the face of Arak was eradicated in 588 BC by a sandstorm without precedent that scoured the land clean in an event recorded as the [[Scourge of Arak]]. As of 735 BC, the only trees to be found on Mount Nirka were on its northern flank. At suitable elevations hardy grasses, spike plants, and low scrubs were making some inroad. The landscape remained a century and a half after the storm one of windswept desolation. As for fauna, it consisted of spiders and prodigious insects. | ||
The best proof that the surface Mount Nirka and its | The best proof that the surface of Mount Nirka and its environs were inhabited by intelligent races are the mine tunnels and shafts that may still be found there. Dwarves in Tempe Falls and gnomes in Mayvin can also be found whose fathers left to work those mines over a century and a half ago. Those that returned to Darkon brought stories of strange temporal fugues in the depths. A miner might spend a week underground only to return to the surface and discover that a month had passed. From the dwarves and gnomes come also tales of the native inhabitants of Arak. These Arakians were humans who herded sheep and goats but were also themselves miners. They warned the dwarves and gnomes not to dig too deep. Equally, they tried to impress upon their guests from the north their abject fear of the hours of the night when the ''sneeuane feallagh'' ("gossamer folk") would swarm up from the kingdom of ''[[Niurin Scaa]]'' ("Shadow Nether") to devour the souls of mortal men. The dwarves began to believe in the existence of these beings whom they understood to be a race of Dark Elves. ''[[Niurin Scaa]]'' was unharmed by scouring of the surface, but the races with whom the ''sneeuane feallagh'' entertained themselves were gone. Kin came to investigate however, as did looters and treasure seekers. Few who tarried in the land for more than a few hours were ever heard from again. Accepted wisdom became that anyone who dared spend the night within the frontiers of Arak would be carried off before dawn by the Dark Elves. Mount Nirka and its environs became shunned and remained so until well after the end of Arak. | ||
Revision as of 01:27, 17 January 2010
Mount Nirka and its sister Mount Nyid were extinct volcanos that used to lie within the land of Arak, Mount Nyid at its centre and Mount Nirka on its northern frontier with Darkon. They and their land were subsumed by Darkon as part of the Great Upheaval in 740 BC. The mountains rumbled back to life in 750 BC at the moment of the Requiem - the destruction of Il-Aluk, the decapitation of Darkon, and the 'birth' of Necropolis - whether in celebration or sympathy. The peaks used to stand side by side, but they appear to have grown apart on the most recent map, with Mount Nyid anchoring the southeastern Mountains of Misery and Mount Nirka anchoring the northwestern Mountains of Misery. Mount Nirka soars to a breathtaking height of 7960 ft, easily surpassing Mount Baratak. It is the source of the Amnis Lacrimarum ("River of Tears"), which traverses Keening before joining the Corvus River well to the west, back in Darkon. It is also the source of infamous Lake Temporus, from which springs the innocuous Tempe River. The northeastern foothills of Mount Nirka are described (wrongly it would appear) as the source of the Khourx River (unless they are also the source of the Foaming River).
All life on Mount Nirka, save for its northern flank, and indeed all life across the face of Arak was eradicated in 588 BC by a sandstorm without precedent that scoured the land clean in an event recorded as the Scourge of Arak. As of 735 BC, the only trees to be found on Mount Nirka were on its northern flank. At suitable elevations hardy grasses, spike plants, and low scrubs were making some inroad. The landscape remained a century and a half after the storm one of windswept desolation. As for fauna, it consisted of spiders and prodigious insects.
The best proof that the surface of Mount Nirka and its environs were inhabited by intelligent races are the mine tunnels and shafts that may still be found there. Dwarves in Tempe Falls and gnomes in Mayvin can also be found whose fathers left to work those mines over a century and a half ago. Those that returned to Darkon brought stories of strange temporal fugues in the depths. A miner might spend a week underground only to return to the surface and discover that a month had passed. From the dwarves and gnomes come also tales of the native inhabitants of Arak. These Arakians were humans who herded sheep and goats but were also themselves miners. They warned the dwarves and gnomes not to dig too deep. Equally, they tried to impress upon their guests from the north their abject fear of the hours of the night when the sneeuane feallagh ("gossamer folk") would swarm up from the kingdom of Niurin Scaa ("Shadow Nether") to devour the souls of mortal men. The dwarves began to believe in the existence of these beings whom they understood to be a race of Dark Elves. Niurin Scaa was unharmed by scouring of the surface, but the races with whom the sneeuane feallagh entertained themselves were gone. Kin came to investigate however, as did looters and treasure seekers. Few who tarried in the land for more than a few hours were ever heard from again. Accepted wisdom became that anyone who dared spend the night within the frontiers of Arak would be carried off before dawn by the Dark Elves. Mount Nirka and its environs became shunned and remained so until well after the end of Arak.
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Ravenloft Third Edition - p116 | |
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Realm of Terror - poster map |
