The Northern Ice Wastes
The North of Eregost is a frozen wasteland where death is common and life is short. It has been left relatively untouched by both the Venatorian Empire and the Authenian Republic. The chilling winds of the Ice Wastes are enough to cause death in a matter of minutes, and the animals that have adapted to survive in the horrific temperatures are deadly. While it is believed that the Ice Wastes are an area of untapped resources, they are more likely to kill treasure hunters than make them rich.
Many explorers have tried to adventure far into the Ice Wastes, and only a handful over hundreds of years have come back out alive. Some froze to death, others were eaten by winter wolves or white dragons, though most simply go missing and are never found.
Geography
The Ice Wastes are a large piece of land in the north of Eregost, completely blanketed in snow and frost. It matters not what time of the year you enter, the snow is always at very least a foot deep, and incredibly compact.
There are lakes scattered across the Ice Wastes, though most of them have been frozen for thousands of years. It is unknown if the frozen lakes ever supported life, but considering that they are now solid ice, it is extremely unlikely that anything living remains in the lakes.
Within the icy mountains of the Northern Ice Wastes, there are many caverns of solid ice that are said to act as the lairs for white dragons. These ice caves are incredibly long and can go deep underground. Sometimes these caves cross paths and create an underground network of frozen tunnels.
"Sometimes I wonder if our occasional trips to Tartarus are less dangerous than when we go up north." ~Levoith Silverscribe, Head Researcher of the Authenian Archives.
Climate
The freezing cold temperatures of the Ice Wastes lasts all year long. It is almost impossible to notice the changing of the seasons within the far north. Snow is constantly falling even on the warmest days, and hailstorms are common. The winds are violent and chilling, and are capable of knocking small animals over.
Large blizzards happen at least once per month, and are often accompanied by white dragons, who seem to enjoy spreading their wings at particularly cold moments.
"In case the freezing blizzards weren't enough, trying to get around in one will often lead to a dragon attack. Isn't that just typical?" ~Church Paratir, Grand Archivist of the Authenian Archives.
Fauna & Flora
White dragons are the apex predator of the Ice Wastes. Thanks to their colossal size, ability to fly and their strength, no other being native to the north has a chance at harming them. They are the only creature capable of flight in the Ice Wastes, as birds cannot control their flight in the violent and chilling winds. They feast on buffalo, mammoths and bears. They are the most savage type of dragon, and do not tend to have any ambitions beyond their continued survival.
Mammoths are the largest herbivores in the Ice Wastes. They feed on ebony trees and arctic rose bushes. Their thick fur ensures that they cannot be affected by the blistering winds and horrific cold. Their tusks help them fend off smaller carnivores, with only white dragons posing an insurmountable threat to them.
Winter wolves are large, pure white canines with striking blue eyes and a breath capable of freezing flesh solid. They are incredibly strong and fast. They are supernaturally intelligent, having as much intellect as the average mortal. They travel in groups and are willing to hunt almost anything. They ambush mammoths, bears, buffalos and arctic rabbits. It is believed that seeing a single winter wolf is a sign of good luck, but this may just be because seeing a pack often means that you are about to die viciously.
Dire seals are massive beasts that live at the beaches at the northern tip of Eregost. They feed on fish and penguins. They have thick layers of blubber and fur which make them incredibly resistant to the cold. Dire seals are ruled by the strongest male in the herd, these males are called beachmasters. Dire seals only have one natural predator, and those are killer whales.
Natural Resources
Many believe that there are vast deposits of gold at the bottom of many of the frozen lakes in the Ice Wastes, though this may just be a rumour made by those who wonder what could be found in the horrific colds of the inaccessible frozen wastelands that practically ensure death to all who step foot there.
Ebony trees are very common in the Ice Wastes, and are one of the only trees that can survive in the freezing cold of the north. Their long roots ensure that they can find water underground that has not frozen solid. Ebony trees are the one form of life in Eregost that can be found in both deserts and the Ice Wastes.
Deep underground there are large pools of oil, formed from the compressed and decomposed bones of ancient dragons. This oil could make an excellent fuel source to power advanced ships, forges and oil lamps.
Seeing as mammoths can only be found in the Ice Wastes, any remaining body parts of one can be sold for an incredibly exuberant sum of money. The ivory from their tusks in particular are extremely valuable, though their wooly pelts can also be sold for vast profits. Even the meat of these behemoths is worth a fair amount.
History
The Ice Wastes were formed during the Titanomachy, when Iapetus and and Poseidon fought in the north. Poseidon tried to summon a wave to knock Iapetus prone, but it did nothing to stop the god of Destruction. The mixture of chilling water and divine, destructive power from Iapetus left its mark on the North, and ever since that moment, it has been a frozen wasteland.
"The Northern Ice Wastes are proof that the gods bring more destruction than goodness to this world. They left a massive chunk of land inhospitable in a petty conflict fuelled by their own narcissism and desire to rule." ~Church Paratir, Grand Archivist of the Authenian Archives.
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