The Vrok Mountain Range
There are very few records dating back this far but the ones that exist suggest that the Vrok mountain range was discovered many many many millennia ago by a band of adventurers, intent on discovering a new place to settle their own city after being exiled from their former residence for some questionable actions. These adventurers trekked for months on end before coming across a majestic mountain range which spanned the entire horizon.
Upon seeing the range they mutually decided to set up a settlement at the base of the mountain near a river they could see in the distance. After settling there for a few weeks the adventurers started to explore the range, most expeditions were unsuccessful until one day they came across one of the many lush valleys in the mountains. The party were in awe of it's beauty and started to carelessly wander down into it. Soon after they were snuck up on by some powerful wildlife, stronger than they had ever encountered before. Overpowered, the party fled, the cleric noticing as she was healing her party members that magic was acting oddly in the mountains, seemingly adding additional unknown effects to her spells. At this point though the party were lost in a very hostile environment, over the next few days they fought, ran and fought again against the hostile wildlife of the area. They soon became overwhelmed and started falling, the cleric first, then the ranger, then the bard until just the Paladin, a half-orc named Vrok stood alone.
Vrok hid and ran through the twisting passages of the mountains for days and days, getting weaker and running low on supplies until he finally found his way out. The half-orc feeling defeated made his way back to civilisation in order to try and get vengeance for his friends. Upon reaching the city again the paladin was swiftly imprisoned where he told his stories of the deadly mountain range to inmates and guards, word of this majestic but deadly place spreading swiftly along with the name of the adventurer to survive it's horrors. Vrok . And thus when the range was discovered again by city forces many many years later after the half-orc's death it was named after that said lone adventurer who brought the warning of what the area held.
Magic in the Mountains
Magic around the mountain range acts wildly and erratically, spells being cast sometimes being amplified or changed, the magic of the area seemingly overflowing and seeping into the beings inhabiting it. As a result the beings living there are greatly amplified in strength, absorbing the raw power of the area. This however does come at a cost, as they absorb more and more magic they become more crazed, only wanting more and more power, absorbing all that they can. The stone giants of the mountains, the Shí Tribe, practice a ritual bi-annually to reduce this buildup of magic in it's members, ensuring they do not let their minds fall into madness. Meanwhile the Huǒ Tribe does the opposite, performing a very dangerous ritual to initiate it's members, those who have fallen into insanity from the Shí Tribe, tapping into the magic of the land and channeling it into them. The ill designed ritual often results in at least one death and scars the area around for weeks, causing wild weather patterns and magical effects to damage the land. The dragons that inhabit the mountains however happily absorb the magic to no ill effects. They store this magic within them and use it to empower their spells and other magical abilities whenever they awaken. These dragons are generally avoided by everything in the mountain range, even the Huǒ Tribe. The only beings that dare attack the dragons of Vrok are the ones whose minds have fallen so much that all they can think of is collecting more magic and therefore power.The Pool of Gonglu
Rumours float around about the mountains, that deep within one of the caves is the source of the mountains magic, a pool of crystal clear water that bestows great power into whoever drinks from it. Adventurers who have been rescued by the stone giants of the mountains often say they hear whispers about a pool along with the words Gonglu and Power from the giants returning from scouting missions and patrols. Whenever questioned, the Shí Tribe denies knowing about anything about a pool while the Huǒ Tribe, if they have not murdered you first, will often say they can lead you to it if you join their ranks. Nobody but the giants know whether the pool actually exists but still many go about finding it, and fail.Geography
The range spans a very large area, thousands of kilometers long and wide, the entire area it occupies being larger than some countries. The snow tipped peaks of the mountains pierce the clouds and the sheer cliffs provide deadly drops onto sharp rocks for those not keeping an eye of their footing. The many millennia of rivers flowing from the tops of the mountains carved wide sweeping valleys in the stone between the sharp spires and formed dark deep caves within, making homes for the majority of the ecosystem of the range.
The valleys are lush and green, many plants and animals calling them their home as the rest of the range is inhabitable for most. The unique shapes of the rocks on the range form shelters for most whilst the rivers flowing from the melting snow at the peaks of the mountains provide a clean water source.
Well worn tracks can be noticed all over the range, belonging to beings of all sizes. Experienced trackers can pick out the tracks of Cyclops, Basilisks and even Dragons. A few less beastlike tracks could also be seen amongst the others belonging to the stone giants of The Shí Tribe and The Huǒ Tribe.
Fauna & Flora
The mountains are occupied by a wide variety of beings, most are animalistic and rely of instincts and impulses to survive while the majority of the intelligent creatures have been reduced to their instincts and need to power as a result of the overflowing magic they have absorbed. Most beings in the range are carnivores, feeding on other creatures to survive.
The mountain range is also inhabited by a range of dragons, some of them incredibly old. These dragons are feared by almost everything in the mountains as the nature of the land makes them incredibly powerful opponents. There are a few friendly dragons that like interacting with The Shí Tribe as they are the only other intelligent beings in the mountains that have kept their sanity. The majority though see everything as lesser to them, actively hunting everything they think will make a tasty snack.
The flora of the range is broad and colourful and is in bloom all year round. The magic seeping into them makes them grow larger than anywhere else in the world, trees often seen to be immeasurably tall and round, while flowers bloom with large vibrantly colourful petals. The roots of all the plants spreading deeply and wide across the range. Sometimes after absorbing so much magic the plant life becomes sentient, creating massive treants, or monsters made from twisting vines. Often these beings will lie in wait for a victim to interact with them before striking themselves, trapping them and often feeding off them.
Natural Resources
As a result of the mountains being uninhabitable by most, the abundance of rare precious metals remains deep within the mountains. Dwarven scouts have sometimes visited the mountains, and the ones who were not killed, returned with news of a site for a mine that they could only dream of. Whenever the many times people have returned to set up a mining operation, if they don't heed the warnings often given by The Shí Tribe, they are swiftly killed by the rabid and powerful wildlife that quickly become bothered by the loud mining operations.
The larger than life trees also attract a lot of attention from logging companies and elves. They all however seem to suffer the same fate of the miners as the wildlife doesn't take too kindly to their habitat being destroyed.
Any wood or minerals that have been taken out of the mountains though have shown various special qualities. Blacksmiths and Carpenters that have been lucky enough to get their hands on these materials have found them incredibly easy to work and shape as well as any weapons crafted with said materials seem to be inherently magical, having enhancement bonuses and powerful special enchantments straight from the forge. As a result of this many people desire materials from the mountains, often hiring adventurers to brave the hostile wilderness and retrieve some, most of which of course meet a violent end.
Alternative Name(s)
Vrok's Hills, Mountains of Death
Type
Mountain Range
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