The Spines of Arcta

It is no mystery that the Feywild is an altered reflection of the Prime Material Plane, same as the Shadowfell. Therefore, there are equivalents of certain aspects of each world in each plane. In the Feywild, there exists a mountain range in the place of the well known Spine of the World in the Prime Material. Its Feywild counterpart is called the Spines of Arcta for, not so obvious reasons.

Geography

The mountains are treacherous and freezing, seeming to generate their own cold and send horrid blizzards upon those that would dare to scale the peaks. Surrounding the mountain range, forests of pine spread for miles in every direction, yet not on the range itself. In fact, not a single tree can be found on the mountain. However, creeping lichen and mosses, as well as very small shrubs can be found on the lowest points of the range. The entire mountain is also perpetually covered in snow and ice, which is considered a side effect of the repetitive blizzards that occur whenever someone attempts to scale it. In fact, for this reason, no one has successfully climbed to the mountain's tallest peak. Not even the jotuns of frost or dragons of white have successfully accomplished this task.

There is also notably no pass between the mountains, meaning all travel must go around them or be flown over. Flying over doesn't seem to trigger the blizzard, oddly, just climbing.

Ecosystem

The forests around the mountains teem with life, but the mountain range itself seems to have a noticeable lack of life, save the odd Frost Salamander or particularly brave reindeer or elk. The range is also devoid of most flora with the exceptions of some species of creeping lichen and moss, as well as small shrubs near the mountain's base. Any other plant that is planted higher appears to gain a condition of frostbite in a matter of minutes. These are the only living things that have successfully survived in the area, as anything else that even attempts to make a den (or village in the case of more civilized folk) is either sent back to where they came from swiftly, or are never found again.

Ecosystem Cycles

The area seems to be trapped in a stasis of constant Winter, similarly to the lands in the far North of the Prime Material. The difference, however, is the fact that the surrounding area experiences the change in seasons, while the mountain range does not. In fact, elders of the elven race who pay attention to such things have noticed that the cold only seems to increase during the warmer months of Spring and Summer.

Localized Phenomena

(This information can only be found with a DC 28 Arcana Check, or more dangerously, by going to the Western peak of the mountain and poking around.) The Spines of Arcta are actually an extremely large Ancient Primordial of Elemental Ice, who goes by the name Arcta. Specifically, this primordial lays here in the form of a dragon of unquantifiable size, her spines and wings making the peaks and slopes of the mountain range. Being almost entirely made of snow and ice, Arcta's entire existence is responsible for the consistent Winter climate of the area, and the reason why only Frost Salamanders and other beings made of Elemental Ice are capable of residing there. Arcta has been in a state of deep slumber for a very long time, preventing the gods of the Feywild from taking any action against her, deeming her to not be a threat so long as she stayed asleep. However, if she ever awoke, it is said that the entirety of the Feywild's Northern Hemisphere would enter into a state of eternal Winter more fearsome and desolate than any seen before. If this occured, many sages suspect a similar eternal Winter would occur in the Prime Material, jeopradizing the residents of both planes.

History

Only the most ancient of beings or the most learned of scholars and sages know when or how Arcta entered the Feywild. It is undetermined whether she came immediately after the war between the Primordials and the gods, or many centuries afterward. Either way, Arcta wandered the Feywild for Millenia before making her resting place in the land's Northern regions. The eldest of gods and elves who are able to recall the ancient days describe Arcta as assuming the form of a pale eladrin woman, dressed in robes of shimmering ice. However, she also more commonly assumed the form of a young white dragon, reveling in the joy of flight in the cold of the upper atmosphere. It is said that wherever she went, Winter followed, earning her the name Helkatári by the Elves, the Frost Queen.

When she chose her resting place, she shifted her form into that of her white dragon form, but only in shape. In this form she grew as the dragons did, continuing until she reached the size of the Mountain Range. She no longer grows, being there is no longer space for her to do so, but it is thought that if she wished, she could expand to even greater size, covering the horizon in a mountain of ice and snow.

She has slumbered in the region for many eons, and ancient beings and writings recount of her being there over ages long forgotten. As the forest grew around her and those who didn't remember she existed attempted to ascend her spines, however, there is more and more fear among the ancients that she will awaken once more and bring a frozen and severely painful death upon those who attempted it.

Tourism

There have been quite a few foolish adventurers and would be record-holders who have attempted to scale the Spines of Arcta. However, they either come back telling of unforgiving and intense blizzards, or don't come back at all. More recent attempters to scale the peaks have made claims of finding folk and animals, frozen into gruesome statues dedicated as warnings to the foolishness of scaling the heights of Arcta Helkatári.

Alternative Names

The Primordial Arcta

Type

Mountain Range