The Seleht Mountains

Seleht Mountains

 

Geography

The Seleht Mountains are three individual mountains that gradually fade into multiple hills that act as a natural barrier to the south eastern part of the continent and its surroundings. Each of the mountains are riddled with cave networks that connect between each other, and are speculated to go deep underground, though exploration attempts have often been met with little success. The extent of the cave systems will ultimately remain unknown until such a time as they can be properly and safely surveyed by multiple groups. The mountains have provided little to nothing in the way of mining opportunities due to a seeming lack of precious metals and minerals in the earth.

Extraneous Details

Each individual mountain seems to be a host to strange properties occurring near the peaks, visible from several miles away. These include but are not limited to localized weather storms and unnatural weather patterns as a whole, the cries of creatures that are speculated to be some type of large bird but even that is a grasp at straws. Creatures that live near the base of the mountains seem to have powerful magical properties associated with their very life force, having it present in their physical appearance and likely a part of their very physiology. Mountain goats with horns of ice and flame, rodents and small mammals leaving trails of frost on sunny days months into the spring, and ravens with unique patterns and sigils that seem to have naturally developed onto their feathers and wings are some examples of the abnormalities that occur at the Seleht Mountains.

Associated Myths

There are multiple myths associated with the Seleht Mountains, everything from simple superstition to being the point of ascent or descent by higher beings depending on the local beliefs from towns and tribes who live nearest to the mountains.

One myth tells of Svel, the God of Mists and Illusion who grew weary of different species coming to ask questions of him and his magics, for apprenticeship or boons or even retribution. To give himself a reprieve from their incessant seeking and questioning, he conjured the most magnificent illusion of the ages: three peaks, each swirling with different and powerful magic shrouded in mist. He told all who bore witness to the illusion’s construction that the mountains were to act as his home, and that any seeking him must prove their dedication by ascending to the peak of each mountain, only then would they gain an audience with him. It is said he floated towards the peaks and turned to mist, awaiting the true seekers of his knowledge, but it is also said that his mist permeated the soil and that he retreated underground, beneath his new creation.
There is another explanation for the formation of the Seleht mountains, one that has no written history and spotty oral history. There is no traceable origin for when the tale began to be spread, and all that remains are the accounts of the same towns and tribes near the mountains who claim that from the hill covered landscape, a great spire rose from the earth overnight. Two went to the spire to discover how it came to be, and the day after, there were two more spires, seemingly willed into being by a god who none spoke to or saw but certainly did hear. A voice echoed on the wind, claiming that the bargain was made in good faith and acceptable, and that the mountains were to be called Seleht, the Southern Spires. Whatever bargain was made has remained unknown to time, and rarely are the mountains called the Southern Spires. Strange tales such as these resonate in the minds of many, for throughout the world similar stories can be found without looking too far, and even in the memories of travelers, they might be reminded of a place from home.