Shattered Ice

River of the North

The air chills as the sound of roaring water becomes louder, warm breath releasing from the mouth like a puff of Dragon's smoke. Here the world is frigid and white, the only separation of miles of pristine landscape being the raging rapids of ice and water. The only thing that breaks the silence of the Neither Tundra is the roar of Shattered Ice, a river of ice and snow.
For most of the length of the river, few animals dare approach the banks, the chill in the area freezing and stopping them in their tracks. At some point, the frigid clear blue of the water enters the enticing greenery of the Elven Forest, dipping playfully along the edge of two very different places. Here the raging begins to slow, but the ice rarely melts, continuing its path to the Spine of Kallex and the sea that rests on the far side.
Shattered Ice gains its name from the large ice floes that rage down the rapids from the northern sea, unhindered by the changes in landscape and temperature as it flows towards the Spine and the vast western sea. Considered the longest river of the Veins of the North, this river is a vast, unexplored territory due to its location in the heart of the Kingdom of Giants. Only a small section of the river is mapped, marking another territory left unknown in the vast expanse of Vóreios.

Geography

Shattered Ice is considered the longest river in Vóreios, spanning over a thousand miles. Mostly in the Neither Tundra and under the rule of the Kingdom of Giants, this river is more important to those in the Northern Outposts that use the river to fulfill a variety of needs.
At one point, the river dips out of the Neither Tundra and enters the Elven Forest where it follows the border between the two lands as it wanders its way towards the eastern base of the Spine of Kallex. Shattered Ice divides just east of the city of Yllvalion, where it becomes the Eye of Kallex to the north and True Ice to the south.

Quick Facts: Geography

Location

Neither Tundra, Border between Neither Tundra and Elven Forest

Source

Northern shore of Vóreios

Mouth

Splits near Spine of Kallex into the Eye of Kallex and True Ice

Beginning on the northern shore of the continent, it is believed that the river is somewhat influenced by the mostly unknown magic that often blankets the Neither Tundra. The water of the river is always ice cold no matter where it is and the ice that flows through it never seems to melt even when reaching the Elven Forest. This natural magic could possibly be part of the magic the Giants brought to the northern lands when they claimed them, but no one has been able to study the area enough to know.

Fauna & Flora

Dragon Pines

Photo by Kyle Glenn on Unsplash

Dragon Pines grow in the inhospitable areas of the Spine of Kallex, often making the mountains seem less dangerous as the stands of trees in the area and the thick fog hides the jagged cliffs and deep valleys.

Due to the frigid temperatures of the north and the icy nature of the river, few flora and fauna are able to survive near or in the river. For hundreds of miles from the river's beginning, the landscape around is barren and frozen, rolling hills of snow and ice separated by the ice floes moving through the river. Only the Giants live near the river but even they are leery of getting to close to the frozen rapids.
As the river moves towards the warmer climate of the Elven Forest and has a slight elevation change, it is possible to find small stands of Dragon Pines near the river. Native to the Spine of Kallex, these trees are able to survive in adverse conditions at or near the frost point at higher elevations. While not common, these trees have spread in small instances to parts of the Neither Tundra but the Giants tend to remove them as an invasive species.
Once the river crosses into the Elven Forest, flora and fauna such as the Aelinor Elk and Aelinor Oaks are common near the banks of the river. In the northern portion of the forest, it is common to see Dire Wolves using the river as a source of water even though the water's temperatures are quite low and impossible for other animals to drink in most cases.
The closer Shattered Ice gets to its split, the water warms slightly on the northern shore and the ice prepares to continue following the path of True Ice to the western sea. This change in temperature is often attributed to the Metallic Dragons so that all manner of creatures could thrive in the area. Closer to Yllvalion, the amount of flora and fauna that can be found near the river increases heavily. Smaller animals such as badgers, bears, and other forest life are more prominent here where the water is safe to drink.

History of Name

Was named for the large chunks of ice that often shattered off the larger pieces in the ocean and flowed down the river

Alternative Name(s)

Northern River, Northern Ice

Type

River

Location under

Veins of the North

Natural Resources

Because of the river's icy nature, special precautions must be taken for people and animals to utilize the river as a source of water. While not necessarily used in the Neither Tundra as the Giants seem to not use the river for anything, this is an important source of water for those in the Northern Outposts.
Smaller villages create simple irrigation systems that allow small amounts of water to flow out of the river into holding tanks that allow the water to be heated or to warm naturally once it has left the raging flow. Once the water is at a usable temperature, it can be used for irrigation, bathing, drinking, or anything else.
Another large resource that the river provides is ice to the villages in the Northern Outposts. A person or a group of people in each village is tasked with traveling to the river and cutting large chunks of ice that can be then used in village ice houses and storage buildings to preserve large quantities of food for winter or during other times of harsh conditions.

Neither Tundra