The Woodswatch Mountains

"The jagged wardens of the Grandgleam, where the stone itself seems to judge who may pass and who must perish."

A broken spine of mist-laden peaks and sheer, impassable cliffs, the Woodswatch Mountains loom like a silent sentinel along the northern expanse of the Grandgleam, standing guard over its ancient and untamed frontier. Though the smallest of Everwealth’s mountain ranges, their presence is an undeniable force, cutting across over 400 miles of territory, from the coastal reaches of Wardsea in the west to the bustling timber town of Woodsend in the east. Unlike the Cloudrend or the Amber Hills, these mountains do not simply exist, they obstruct, they hinder, they refuse passage. For over a century, Everwealthy settlers have attempted to carve paths through them, seeking a way into the lush, untapped wilderness beyond. But the Woodswatch does not yield easily. Its paths are treacherous, its cliffs sheer, and the roads carved by human hands are few and far between. The single traversable pass through the range, known as The Verdant Wound, is a road of necessity, clinging to the mountainside like a scar, a reminder that no other route through these peaks has ever been tamed. Unlike other mountain ranges, the Woodswatch does not grant civilization a foothold. No town has ever been founded within its domain, no fort built, no mine dug deep enough to claim its riches. It is an occupation, not a place, a barrier that keeps the reckless from claiming what they do not understand. It is said that the mountains watch the woods, and those who have tried to defy them, merchants lost to crumbling paths, settlers swallowed by unseen ravines, would say the mountains do not watch kindly.

Geography

The Woodswatch Mountains stretch like a jagged scar across Everwealth’s northern frontier, pressing against the Grandgleam’s vast expanse while denying access to the western frontier. Their peaks are not as high as the Cloudrend, nor as sprawling as the Amber Hills, but they are sheer, brutal, and unrelenting. The land beneath them is a maze of steep ravines, hidden sinkholes, and sudden cliffs, making passage through them all but impossible without great effort and sacrifice. The eastern ridges near Woodsend slope gently enough to allow logging operations to exist near their base, though few ever try to go beyond. The western cliffs near Wardsea, however, are merciless, massive walls of mist-covered stone rising from the earth like shattered blades. In the heart of the range, valleys filled with dense fog and towering rock formations create an eerie, labyrinthine terrain, where the difference between solid ground and a sheer drop is often indistinguishable until it's too late. Only The Verdant Wound, a narrow, winding road carved along the mountain’s lower ridges, allows safe passage through. It is a treacherous route, filled with switchbacks and sheer drops, but it remains the only lifeline between Wardsea’s western reaches and the inland territories beyond.

Ecosystem

Despite its harshness, life does persist in the Woodswatch, though it does so in the shadows, clinging to the edges of existence. Gnarled pines and twisted oaks grow along the lower slopes, their roots carving through the stone in search of sustenance. Hardy grasses and shrubs, some found nowhere else in Everwealth, thrive on the mist-drenched cliffs. The creatures of the Woodswatch are stealthy, patient, and vicious. Mountain lions prowl the valleys, their pale coats blending into the mist, while massive vultures circle the peaks, their presence a grim omen for those who stray from the Verdant Wound. Rock serpents, long and scaled like the stones they coil against, lurk in the crags, their venom strong enough to kill a full-grown ox. Above all, the mountains are eerily silent. No birdsong, no buzzing insects, just the wind, the shifting of stone, and the distant, echoing calls of unseen predators.

Ecosystem Cycles

The Woodswatch Mountains do not change as drastically as the lower lands, but the seasons shape their dangers. Winter is the range’s true master, swallowing the peaks in thick snow, turning its few roads into impassable ice-laden corridors. Landslides become common, and travelers risk not only freezing temperatures but the ever-present threat of falling rocks and crumbling ledges. Spring and summer offer only slight reprieve, ice melts into treacherous mud, the fog grows thicker, and the Verdant Wound becomes even more precarious as rushing meltwater weakens the already unstable paths. It is only in autumn, when the mist thins and the land is at its driest, that the range becomes even slightly safer to traverse.

Localized Phenomena

• The Mists of Mourning – Thick fog rolls through the valleys each morning and evening, swallowing entire portions of the mountain range. Some claim it is not mist at all, but the restless spirits of those who tried, and failed, to cross the range.

• The Shattered Falls – A hidden waterfall deep within the range, said to be impossibly high, falling in multiple broken cascades, feeding an unseen river that vanishes beneath the stone.

• The Whispering Ravines – Deep, narrow cuts in the mountains where the wind moves in unnatural ways, creating eerie, human-like murmurs that follow travelers along the Verdant Wound.

Climate

Cold, damp, and ever unpredictable, the Woodswatch Mountains experience constant mist and rain, even in seasons where the rest of Everwealth basks in warmth. Summers are brief and storm-laden, with lightning flashing over the peaks and landslides breaking away the road. Autumn brings some stability, though the winds howl through the valleys like distant voices in the night. Winter, again, is the true ruler. Snow blankets the higher reaches, ice clings to every surface, and the Verdant Wound becomes all but impassable. Only the most determined, or desperate, travelers attempt the journey once the first snows fall.

Fauna & Flora

• Stonebark Pines – Trees with rock-hard bark, adapted to the mountain’s constant wind and erosion.

• Peak Preachers – Vultures with razor-sharp talons, often seen circling above the pass, waiting for travelers to misstep.

• Rock Serpents – Massive, slow-moving snakes with camouflaged scales, blending seamlessly with the stones they coil upon.

• Wraith Lynxes – Pale-coated lynxes that move without sound, known for stalking travelers but rarely attacking—unless one lingers too long.

Natural Resources

• Mire-Iron Veins – Pockets of deep black iron found within the cliffs, said to be incredibly durable but notoriously difficult to extract.

• Storm Quartz – A rare mineral that glows faintly when exposed to lightning, used in certain alchemical and arcane crafts.

• Verdant Moss – Found only in the ravines, this rare moss is known to soothe wounds but carries a strong, mind-altering scent.

History

The Woodswatch Mountains have never been tamed. Since the earliest days of Everwealth’s history, they have stood as a natural wall, preventing direct expansion westward into the Grandgleam’s wilder reaches. Many have tried to carve paths, to break through the peaks and settle the lands beyond, but the mountains do not yield. The Verdant Wound, the only known path through the range, was carved nearly 200 years ago, a desperate effort by Everwealth’s forebears to create a trade route between Wardsea and the inland territory of Middleglade. It was a costly endeavor, and even now, it is constantly in need of repairs as landslides, crumbling stone, and the ever-present mist attempt to erase it from existence.

Tourism

No one comes to the Woodswatch for pleasure. Only merchants, couriers, and desperate travelers attempt to cross its treacherous paths. Some scholars visit the lower valleys, hoping to uncover the secrets of its unique minerals and plant life, but few stay long. The mountains are not meant to be admired, they are meant to be feared.

Alternative Name(s)

'The Verdant Wall', 'The Silent Watchers'.

Inhabiting Species

• Bloombeaks
• Skyhorn Rams

Related Materials

• Mire-Iron