Low Peaks of Zhatar
The largest and highest currently inhabited geographic features in all of the known world, the Low Peaks are both a center of culture and of conflict. The ancient Drow civilization has spent the last millennia migrating down, struggling to gain a foothold as they attempt to push out or integrate the native Human Geitour Hei. A deadly place, populated by civilization with rich traditions and long histories.
Geography
The Low Peaks of Zhattar are a tall and wide mountain range, encompassing the land that acts as foothills to the High Peaks of Zhattar. They include mountains that border the High Peaks, and while being small in comparison to their older siblings, they still tower up to 10000 meters in height. The foothills to the Low Peaks are technically part of the geographic feature, but most know them separately as the Shinboeng. The mountains act as continuations for the paths of rivers, waterfalls, and other natural waterways of the High Peaks while spawning more of their own. Cities, both abandoned and inhabited, though near all ancient, populate the surface and the Sotteran of the Low Peaks.
Ecosystem
The ecosystem of the Low Peaks is a traditional food chain, with vegetation feeding herbivorous creatures, who in turn feed animals higher in the food chain. The top is dominated by creatures such as Snow Leopards, Eagles, Falcons, and Bears, with their population being moderated by their food sources, which in turn is moderated by the frequency of vegetation. Some parts of the Low Peaks, found only in the Sotteran, resemble a lush jungle, while the mountain surface is sparse in plant life and even sparser regarding the presence of animals.
Ecosystem Cycles
The presence of both flora and fauna waxes and wanes with the seasons. As winters come the plants die and most of the fauna hibernates. A few hardier creatures such as the foxes, oxen, and leopards continue to operate year-round, but every creature that lives on the slopes and in the caves of the Low Peaks is used to going days or weeks without food. The further away from the surface, however, and the less the flora is affected by winter and its effect on life. The life in the Sotteran has no knowledge noir reliance on the sun or the warmth it provides, and so is unaffected by the Sun and moon's tampering with life.
Localized Phenomena
Much of the Sotteran of the Low Peaks are plagued by lightning storms. A mux of the religious practices of sapient creatures and the unique properties of the stone at specific elevations can create lighting storms that kill anything in the caves that they traverse. this produces tunnels systems that resemble blasted wastelands, as the conductivity of the stone allows lighting to travel through and kill anything it comes into contact with. The old Drow proverb Lightning never strikes twice has proven dangerously false, sending many a Drow to their death. Those that manage to explore the tunnels without triggering a storm have told tales of some hardy plants and animals that have developed immunities to the lightning, a notable example being the Oun Dan. The Lightning Hare's pelt has become a luxury item in many Drow societies, with the anti-conductive properties valued by the Arkonaut Corporation. The Geitour Hei value the Oun Dan pelts as they have become part of their religious traditions.
The cause of the Lightning Storms is debated, as they were certainly caused by Sapient activity, due to their activation by blaspheming certain belief systems. Yet much of the flora and fauna have adapted unnaturally fast to these conditions. The Geitour Hei point to this phenomenon as proof of the Drow's trespass against their sacred lands, and prophesize of their eventual consumption of the entire Sotteran should the Drow not leave. Many Drow point to these environmental challenges as proof that their old gods still live, and that their lightning god, Wasikhamswi has destined them to take these lands for their own.
The cause of the Lightning Storms is debated, as they were certainly caused by Sapient activity, due to their activation by blaspheming certain belief systems. Yet much of the flora and fauna have adapted unnaturally fast to these conditions. The Geitour Hei point to this phenomenon as proof of the Drow's trespass against their sacred lands, and prophesize of their eventual consumption of the entire Sotteran should the Drow not leave. Many Drow point to these environmental challenges as proof that their old gods still live, and that their lightning god, Wasikhamswi has destined them to take these lands for their own.
Natural Resources
Stones, rocks, and ores of every different type are found in these wide stretching mountains, as well as variations of the same type. Unique properties such as conductivity are common depending on the elevation. Due to the plant life, many different types of flora can be harvested and cultivated for human use. Fruits and vegetables are common in the Sotteran, and they only add to the many resources gained from the Fauna. Hides, furs, and meats a plenty.
History
The Low Peaks have been inhabited by sapient beings since before recorded history, being populated near completely by Humans, specifically the two ethnicities known collectively as the Geitour Hei. The Geitour Hei formed two distinct cultures, one which made a living on the surface of the mountains and a second which developed underneath, in the Sotteran. The cities of the surface-dwelling Geitour Hei are notable for all looking like temples and monasteries, with the colours red, orange, and yellow being common motifs. The monastery aesthetic is appropriate, as due to scarce resources, food had to be rationed to survive properly, and as such the inhabitants adapted both to the high elevations and to the scarcity of things to sustain themselves with.
The Geitour Hei of the Sotteran are divided instead into tribes, in contrast with the city-states and kingdoms of their overland brethren. Each tribe is led by a chieftain who is consulted by a council of Druids. The Druids are an esoteric group, shrouding their practices in mystery. The only concrete details about them are that they guide the tribes, and protect nature. Not in the sense of keeping the flora safe from the influence of their tribesmen, but keeping their tribesmen safe from nature. Speaking of the Geitour Hei to the average educated person will evoke images of intricate patterns worked into iron trinkets, rustic wild living, long and "savagely styled hair", and earthy colours.
After Zamain did his thing, the Drow exodus disrupted life for the inhabitants. The Geitour Hei entered a near millennia-long struggle to keep their land against the seemingly never-ending Drow advance. The Sotteran Humans came into much more conflict than their overland brethren, as the Drow were far more adapted to living below than above ground. The Drow that did try to make a living in the sun's gaze quickly found that they had to rely on the Geitour Hei, as their collective societal knowledge of how to survive was invaluable, as such the two are still in a largely mutualistic relationship. Their societies are still separate, however, with a few joint cities.
The Geitour Hei of the Sotteran attempted peaceful negotiation to keep their sacred lands, but the Drow insisted on pushing them out. They claimed it was ordained by their gods that in lieu of the High Peaks, they should inhabit the next best thing, ignoring the people already living there. Any Drow who ventures outside of their walled cities is vulnerable to attacks from the Geitour Hei, being enslaved or outright slaughtered. The Geitour Hei have even managed to seige and topple many Drow cities, prompting them to burn the Humans sacred lands in retaliation.
The Geitour Hei of the Sotteran are divided instead into tribes, in contrast with the city-states and kingdoms of their overland brethren. Each tribe is led by a chieftain who is consulted by a council of Druids. The Druids are an esoteric group, shrouding their practices in mystery. The only concrete details about them are that they guide the tribes, and protect nature. Not in the sense of keeping the flora safe from the influence of their tribesmen, but keeping their tribesmen safe from nature. Speaking of the Geitour Hei to the average educated person will evoke images of intricate patterns worked into iron trinkets, rustic wild living, long and "savagely styled hair", and earthy colours.
After Zamain did his thing, the Drow exodus disrupted life for the inhabitants. The Geitour Hei entered a near millennia-long struggle to keep their land against the seemingly never-ending Drow advance. The Sotteran Humans came into much more conflict than their overland brethren, as the Drow were far more adapted to living below than above ground. The Drow that did try to make a living in the sun's gaze quickly found that they had to rely on the Geitour Hei, as their collective societal knowledge of how to survive was invaluable, as such the two are still in a largely mutualistic relationship. Their societies are still separate, however, with a few joint cities.
The Geitour Hei of the Sotteran attempted peaceful negotiation to keep their sacred lands, but the Drow insisted on pushing them out. They claimed it was ordained by their gods that in lieu of the High Peaks, they should inhabit the next best thing, ignoring the people already living there. Any Drow who ventures outside of their walled cities is vulnerable to attacks from the Geitour Hei, being enslaved or outright slaughtered. The Geitour Hei have even managed to seige and topple many Drow cities, prompting them to burn the Humans sacred lands in retaliation.
Alternative Name(s)
Low Peaks ; New Home ; Marvel of the Gods ;
Type
Mountain Range
Related Ethnicities
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