The Scarlet Mountains
Nestled at the sun facing side of the Sun Kissed Hills is a crescent shaped mountain range that stretches from the Sea of Clouds the the Gloom Marshes. The Scarlet Mountains are longest and most traveled through mountain range within the Howllands, it is a beautiful place with countless trees dotting the many paths and trails that run through the mountains. These trails dip and climb along the face of the great mountains of red quartz stone and ashen grey slate, the mountains are also home to a range of waterfalls and small ponds that serve at the primary source of water for all things within. The waterfalls of the mountains are called fire spouts due to their coloration from the light of the sun hitting them and the rocks around them all at once.
Geography
The Scarlet Mountains are a small range of beautiful mountains on the sun facing side of the Sun Kissed Hills. The Mountains get their name from the type of rose stone that makes up a large majority of the mountains composition. The Mountain range itself stretches from the shores of the Sea of clouds where it is said that some of the mountains themselves float away every year never to be seen again, to the edge of the stinking Gloom Marshes where the mountains loose an inch every year from the ever delving depths of those swamp lands. Both of these points make the mountain range into a crescent shape successfully separating the Gloom Marshes from the Sun Kissed Hills. The middle most part of the mountain range houses the largest mountain among the chain it is a long dormant volcano which the locals have called Big Red. At the base of this mountain lies a small hidden pond said to be died blood red from the amount of minerals that have soaked into it over the millennia. The mountain range is rather tame compared to that of the Sunless Mountains with large eroded pathways that lazily snake across the mountains. It is especially beautiful at dusk when the sun just barely touches the peaks of the mountains and gives the range a look of smoldering fire wood upon the foreground of a starry sky. The rocks of these mountains mixed with that of the dimly glowing volcanic crevasse of Big Red sheen with the last light of the sun as if catching and storing it within themselves providing a gorgeous light path across the entire mountain range.
Fauna & Flora
The trees, bushes, and flowers of the Scarlet Mountains are truly a sight to behold. The white leaves of the snow maples and the orange leaves of the burnt ashes give the mountains new life and beauty like no other place in all of the Howllands. The glittering pink rose bushes dot the various winding trails of the mountains leaving travelers with a beautiful but dangerous reminder of exactly where they are. The flowers around the hidden pond are said to contain magical properties that is why they appear in a color that befits a roaring hearth fire, which is what has given them the name of Blazing Orchids its said that the hidden pool is surrounded by an ever burning ring of wildfire but in reality it is simply the Blazing Orchids being gently swayed by the light steams of Big Red itself. The mountains are also home to a few species of badgers, mountain lions, goats and even fish. The Crimson Badger is a unique and highly intelligent creature said to be able to comprehend and even communicate with travelers even sometimes trade with them. This Badger gets its name from the color of its pelt which is of a deep maroon with two stripes running from the tops of their eyes to the very tip of their tail. They live along the trails and paths through the mountains in medium sized caves that they dig themselves in the side of the mountains. But do not let their kind and calm outward appearance deceive you if they find you a threat they will cut you to pieces with they rock sharpened claws and razor sharp teeth. But they are not the only ones that travelers must be on the watch for the Ashen Cougar is a species of Mountain Lion that dwells on the very face of the mountains and in the trees along their paths. They are fierce creatures powerful in both their ability to scale the mountain faces but also in their ability to catch and kill prey without them even noticing they were there. With the lions pelt having the resemblance of white freshly fallen ash they blend in perfectly with the leaves of the snow maples where they hide and wait for an unlucky traveler, badger or goat to saunter by. With their powerful paws and knife like claws that can cut into flesh like a hot knife through butter to there lightning fast jaws and saw blade teeth that gnaw and render muscle and bone. They are the apex predator of the Scarlet Mountains and a foe that should be cautiously avoided. The goats of the mountains are as simple as they come they are a simple minded but also caring beast with sturdy hooves and powerful legs for jumping from rock to rock, they are the bottom of the food chain in the mountains and are preyed upon by traveler, badgers, and cougar alike. They are white an pink in color which matches well with the higher rocks of the mountains and the snow of their peaks. They eat only of the Blazing Orchids and the leaves from the stems of the pink rose bushes along the many trails of the mountains. Lastly in this land there are the rare and beautiful fish of the hidden pond at the base of Big Red, their scale gleam and shine in the warm water of an almost molten rock color so as they move it appears as if there is a magma stream underneath the hidden pond. For those who are lucky enough to catch these fish their scales have been said to have a powerful magical property that when turned into a paste can heal any burn no matter how severe. This is why these rare and glorious fish have been called the Phoenix Bass.
Natural Resources
The rocks and stones from the mountains can be used to create gorgeous statues and idles for both god and men alike. While the leaves from the snow maples are said to be the cure to any winter related illness be it frost bite or a common cold, the leaves of the burnt ash are said to make a self heating tea that is very useful for long distance and colder weather traveling. The wood from both of these trees can be used to make an almost endless fire anywhere in the Howllands. The peddle from the pink roses are a key ingredient in many common healing and warding potions, while the nectar from the Blazing Orchid can be used to make a blinding potion that is very effective against the undead. The scales of the Phoenix Bass are used to make a healing paste that is said to heal any burn no matter how severe it may be, while the pelt of the Ashen Cougar can be used by some skilled craftsmen to make a piece of clothing that is almost twice as warm as any other. The milk of the mountain goats is said to be alcoholic in nature and can be turned into a very intoxicating form of ale.
Alternative Name(s)
The Smoldering Mountains
Type
Mountain Range
Location under
Included Organizations
Related Ethnicities
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