Frozen North
The northern portion of the continent of Ayndrinor is covered by a rough, inhospitable tundra that people have for millennia deemed the Frozen North. It is a place where twelve-foot snow drifts persist from early autumn through late spring, only thawing for a few months out of the year before building back up again. There is very little gradation or difference from the southern portion of this tundra, which is bordered by the Northern Forest and parts of the Backbone Spires, to the northern portion which is bordered by a frozen sea of glaciers and ice sheets.
The people and animals of the Frozen North are resilient and hearty, though even they must withdraw from their homes for a good portion of the year, seeking refuge or hibernation in more hospitable climates. The famous settlement of Camp Frostbite is well known for being a town only two or three months out of the year, then buried in snow for the rest. The people who call this town home ritually deconstruct their homes every autumn when first frost comes and package them away for safekeeping on their return. They travel to the forests and mountains to the south of the tundra where they find temporary housing within settlements or make their own hovels in mountain caves for the long winter. When the thaws begin in spring, they pack up these temporary lives and begin the arduou trek back across the tundra to reclaim and reconstitute their homes.
Geography
There are a few scattered hills in this tundra, but most of the land is a vast, desolate plain that stretches as far as the eye can see. The southern portion tends to have more hills, as it borders the mountain range known as the Backbone Spires, and there are a few hilly areas near the forests.
For as much as the vast snow can be isolating or disquieting, travelers who venture up north also mention a sense of calmness and serenity that comes with seeing snow on the ground and deep blue skies overhead. Of course, many of these travelers are on a somewhat spiritual journey to see the Stones of Olmytria, so perhaps they are already relaxed and at peace.
Fauna & Flora
Like the people who call this tundra home, the animals of the Frozen North exist in roving herds, always seeking a source of water or the sparse vegetation and game that can be found. Many animals also migrate or hibernate during the winter, seeking the relative comfort of the forest or a cozy tundra cave. The elk, caribou, and wolves tend to migrate and seek slightly warmer environs, while the rabbits and bears tend to find places within the tundra to hibernate and wait out the snows. Yet some animals stay active all year round, preferring the ice sheets to the far north and venturing into the snow-covered land rarely. These creatures, mostly penguins, puffins, and walruses, are worth the trek for predator animals and the people of the tundra who seek them out for their hides or blubber.
Type
Tundra
Included Locations
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