Highlands of Ethpa
The Highlands of Ethpa are the region directly east of Taebur. Most scholars consider the White River to mark the border between Taebur and Ethpa. However, most people consider the lowland river basin 50 to 100 km east of the White River to still be part of Taebur and the Highlands to not begin until the local elevation is actually high.
The Highlands are aptly named. Except in the narrow valleys where the Blue River cuts through the mountains, the elevation rarely falls below 1500 m. The summits reach heights in excess of 4000 m. The terrain is rugged and unlike the Western Mountains, contains landforms more typically thought of as mountains. The Highlands cover a vast area, eventually reaching the seas to the east of the continent.
There are no known permanent settlements in the Highlands, and accurate maps of the area simply do not exist. It's also not known exactly what kind of wildlife lives there, though there are certainly many kinds, and many of those are undoubtedly extremely dangerous.
However, there are many stories of settlements and vaults to be found there. Stories say that the Highlands were populated in the Old World, and that many of those ancient settlements are still waiting to be found, filled with the secrets of the Old World. This has led many explorers and adventurers to venture into the Highlands in search of various treasures. Very few of these travellers ever come back, and of those that do, most return empty-handed.
The source of the Blue River lies somewhere in the Highlands, and finding this source is another thing that has drawn explorers to the region. The river winds through the mountains, changing directions frequently and full of rapids. If anyone has ever successfully found the source, they have never returned to tell the tale. Stories, of course, say that a great treasure, possibly one of the greatest vaults ever can be found there.
Ecosystem
The high elevation gives the Highlands of Ethpa a much more temperate climate than Taebur and other regions of the continent. This can be quite an adjustment to travellers used to having to survive the desert and hot grasslands of Taebur. The Highlands also see substantial rainfall, far in excess of what Taebur sees. This becomes another problem for unprepared travellers. Even the hardiest, most seasoned travellers capable of surviving months in the desert can find themselves dead of exposure if not properly prepared for the change in climate.
The Highlands are home to a diverse range of flora very different from other areas of the continent. The full extent of just what kinds of plants live there is not known, and only a very small number have been catalogued. There are stories (some even reasonably reliable) of mutant plants capable of moving, some even intelligent. Most of the stories claim that the mutant plants are carnivorous. While they survive on the local wildlife, they find human travellers a delicacy. Many dismiss these as just stories, but they are not beyond the realms of believability.
As mentioned above, it is not known what kinds of animal life reside here. Only a few have ever been catalogued. These include various kinds of birds and a substantial number of ibex, including at least one species of mutated giant ibex. Other known animals include baboons, mountain nyala, and caracals.
Natural Resources
The Highlands are rumoured to have extensive reserves of precious metals like gold, platinum, and copper. Like so much in the region, no one actually knows how true this is. Certainly, no one has ever successfully operated a mine in the region.
However, there are many stories. One tells of a man who came to Rabbit with a pack full of gold. He said he'd found gold in the mountains and successfully recruited a dozen people to go back with him to collect the rest. Nothing was heard of them for several months. Then, one survivor returned saying their digging had unearthed a giant snake 50 feet in diameter and hundreds of feet long. The snake had eaten all the other prospective miners.
Alternative Name(s)
The Highlands
Included Locations
