Meneziou Are
Purportedly the site of a legendary battle between Gradlon Mwar Kernev and Gadeon, King of Dumnonia, this range of bald stone mountains marks the border between the County of Kernev, the County of Dreger and the Viscounty of Léon. The area has a reputation for being inhospitable and treacherous. It is one of the most heavily Faerie influenced regions in all of Breizh and the Sidhe Courts hold sway over the entire area. Cromlechs, menhirs, dolmens and tumuli are scattered throughout the landscape, their significance and meaning forgotten in the fog of time.
Geography
The Meneziou Are are a mountain range in the interior of the Armorican Peninsula, following an East-West alignment from the Plateau de Leon to the mouth of the Renk River. The mountains lie to the North of the Kastellin Basin which separates them from the Meneziou Du.
The Meneziou Are erupt in jagged spikes of bald granite from the surrounding moors, rising like daggers, silent and still in the windswept and barren hills. The constant wind and Feth Fiada ensure that little grows in the higher elevations of the West aside from patches of scrub. At lower altitudes, the moors become more hospitable as vegetation becomes somewhat more frequent in the form of grass and heather. The slopes descend in the West to the massive and forbidding swamp of Yeun-Elez and the mysterious and dark forest of Huelgoat, the edge of the Brekilien forest in the East.
The isolated region is a stronghold of the Druidic Faith, but it is also of significant interest to the Southern Church, as several major monasteries are built in the region.
Daoulaz - Takes its name (Daou = two, Laz = Murder) from an incident in which the Druidic Lord of Faou (A minor vassal of the Barony of Kernevodez) murdered two perfects of the Faith as a sacrifice to a powerful Wyrm, which ravaged the countryside before it was defeated by St. Guenole, whose show of power converted the lord and his followers. The town around Daoulaz Abbey is known for its linen cloth, which is widespread, but of inconsistent quality. The castle of Faou stands nearby, partially serving as the lord-abbot's residence, as the region was ceded to the Monastery, while the majority of the complex sits largely abandoned. The Abbot enjoys full Seigniorial Rights, and even owns several ships used for coastal trade of Linen.
Relec - The monastery of Relec was built on the death site of Conomor the Cursed, the settlement as become an agricultural powerhouse in the region. The abbey controls large tracts of lands, which it leases out to promote agriculture on the moors.
Points of Interest
: -[h3Settlements An Folled - The village of An Folled marks the highest elevation settlement in the region, bordering a small plateau between the formidable Roc'h Trevezel and the Yeun-Elez swamp. A remote hamlet built from the local granite, the inhabitants, a collection of Bediz and Teuz, eke out a hardscrabble existence in the rocky, arid soil. Nearby, the ruins of the fortified village on Goarem Ar Manec'h lie abandoned, stores of faerie curses still whispered among the locals. The town's primary relevance comes in the form of its location, situated on a mountain pass along an Imperial road from Ker-Ahes to Brest, one of the few built roads that crosses the desolate mountain range. The Urzh Kroashent once had a commandery in the region to assist travelers in the long crossing, but with the Order's downfall, the facility and mission passed along to the Black Order, into tighter control of the Southern Church. A string of noble commanders have led the complex and the surrounding village. Corruption is rampant in the commandery and the commanders live like lords in luxury in a sumptuous mansion while the village struggles with its meager resources. Ker-Ahes - The largest town in the region, located in the viscounty of Poher in Kernev between the Meneziou Are and the Menez Du. An important crossroads, its castle was once the home of Kerneved princess Ahes Dahut.Abbeys of the Meneziou Are
Mountain Peaks
Roc'h Trevezel - One of the highest peaks in the range. Menez Kronan - A rounded, domelike hilltop formed by a long dormant volcano, and the site of the Dragon of Ys's appearance in the Battle of Meneziou Are, emerging from the hill to battle against Mikael of Leon. Once revered as a temple of Lugh , the peak has changed hands between the Southern Church and the Druids several times. Still a site of contention between the two factions, it is known to the Southern Faith as Menez-Mikael de Brasports, Tuchenn-Kador - The second highest point in the mountain range, also known as the Mound of the Thrones (Summerthrone and Winterthrone), where the ruling Sidhe Queen is coronated each season. A great palace can be found atop the hill on moonlit nights. Roc'h Ruz - Red rock, named for its deep red-clay appearance. It is the highest point in the mountain range, erupting during the great battle.Other Locations
[uHeulgoat The "High Forest", the western edge of the Brekelien Forest. Yeun-Elez - East of Menez-Kronan, a massive swampland subsumed by Faerie. Popularly considered to be an entrance to Hell by the Faithful. Fountain of the Three Lords - A natural spring, marked with an ornamental fountain, where the corners of Dreger, Leon, and Kernev meet. In ages past, it was a neutral ground for the three Sovereigns, but it is rarely used today.Fauna & Flora
The Meneziou Are region offers a range of different climes and biomes, from the wind-ravaged and bare peaks of the highest mountains, to the desolate moorlands to lush grasslands and the thick vegetation of the Yeun-Elez swamp and the Huelgoat Forest.
Rabbits, hawks and beavers can be found in this region. Wild Boar also roam the moorlands. Wolves are common in this area and attempts to drive them out has been met with significant pushback from the Sidhe Courts.
The lower altitudes are spotted with ash, elm, hazel and oak trees, gradually becoming grass and scrub, such as heather and gorse, as the mountains climb higher. Very little grows at the highest peaks
In contrast, the Yeun-Elez andHuelgoat are teeming with life. Rare orchids grow in the Yeun-Elez. Alraune can be found here as well.
Natural Resources
The Meneziou Are are rich in valuable ores, such as silver, lead and copper, which are mined in open-faced pits. Peat is harvested for fuel from the Yeun-Elez and other marshes in the area.
The grasslands and moors are frequently used to graze sheep, which have adapted well to the region. The moorlands of Southern Leon are well known for excellent horse breeding, and horses from this area are prized across Lower Breizh.
Alternative Name(s)
Are Mountains, Malgven's Ridge, Spine of Finisterre, Gargantua's Spine
Type
Mountain Range
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