The Pride Spires
Electra Falco traveled at the head of her caravan, carefully scanning the limited horizons on either side of her. Rising around her, plateaus and buttes of various sizes rose into the sky, like sentinel soldiers standing in rank and file at attention. Her caravan had traveled the Serpent's Trail many times, yet, for some reason, Electra felt more anxiety about it now than ever before. Dealing with the odd dire scorpion or gnoll band was not uncommon, and even a Roc attack could be deterred, but something different was stalking them this time around. They had heard the flap of wings in the distance, and the sounds of roaring, but the sounds did not mesh in Electra's mind. She was occupied with memories of other caravaners, speaking of similar sounds, and telling of how adventurers had been hired and never returned. Even heroes, chosen of The Reborn Gods, had failed to remove whatever threat lied upon the road to Thetos, City of the Reborn.
Electra heard the sound again then, the flapping of leathery wings. This time, however, it came from somewhere ahead, around the next bend. Electra raised her fist high, calling the caravan to a stop, and then beckoned her other riders and mercenaries forward to join her on the path. Slowly, they inched forward around the bend and spotted the beast. The creature had the body and head of a lion, the wings of a griffin, and a serpentine tail with a head that flicked its tongue in an out, scenting the air. The huge creature tore into what appeared to be a large hyena creature, with a huge gaping mouth, that Electra identified as a Leucrotta. Suddenly, the serpentine tail stopped surveying the scene, its head quickly flicking to look at her. The Jordian Chimera, lifted itself from its hunched feeding posture and turned to look at the small ensemble of soldiers and warriors.
The Chimera roared a scream of hostility towards them and then fell into a crouch, preparing to pounce. Electra turned to her soldiers at either side, screaming out to them, "Spears up!"
The soldiers quickly complied, spears rising before fear could take hold of their actions, training guiding them to respond to the threat before them. Electra nodded her satisfaction and turned to face the Chimera just as it pounced, 3 tonnes of lean muscle, fur, claw, and tooth launching itself to clear the distance between it and the intruders. Chaos ensued.
Electra managed to drive her spear deep into the Chimera's foreleg as it leapt, but it knocked her horse to the side, taking the man from the saddle next to her and mauling him on the ground. The serpent head struck rapidly, biting another man from his saddle and swinging him about wildly before throwing him off the edge of the winding cliff path and screaming to the canyon floor below. Electra got to her feet unsteadily and drew her khopesh, rushing the creature and slashing at its hindleg while the rest of her soldiers rushed in with their spears, some staying back with their bows.
The battle wore on, the monster showing no sign of tiring, though many wounds gouged and bled through the creature's sides. Electra's caravan had been wise enough to follow their training, backing up down the path and out of sight while the soldiers fought. One by one, her men died, either from being mauled, trampled, poisoned, or falling to their deaths. Electra raised her hand over her head, calling for the last ace she had up her sleeves, clapping her hands together as she did so. Her remaining men reached into their satchels and retrieved the Lumite bombs they had commissioned in Seidon, The City of Riches at a hefty price. Here and now, though, they would save their lives. All at once, they hurled the red lumite explosives at the chimera after priming them, and watched with what little hope they had left as the detonations resounded and the beasts screams and roars subsided in the smoke.
Suddenly, the chimera burst through the cloud, bleeding profusely with huge smoking craters in its body where the bombs had struck. The snake tail hung limply, severed halfway up its body, and the creature's wings were torn through. It rushed towards one of the men, taking him in its jaws, before throwing itself from the cliff and flying away shakily on torn wings. They had survived the day, but at a great price.
Electra heard the sound again then, the flapping of leathery wings. This time, however, it came from somewhere ahead, around the next bend. Electra raised her fist high, calling the caravan to a stop, and then beckoned her other riders and mercenaries forward to join her on the path. Slowly, they inched forward around the bend and spotted the beast. The creature had the body and head of a lion, the wings of a griffin, and a serpentine tail with a head that flicked its tongue in an out, scenting the air. The huge creature tore into what appeared to be a large hyena creature, with a huge gaping mouth, that Electra identified as a Leucrotta. Suddenly, the serpentine tail stopped surveying the scene, its head quickly flicking to look at her. The Jordian Chimera, lifted itself from its hunched feeding posture and turned to look at the small ensemble of soldiers and warriors.
The Chimera roared a scream of hostility towards them and then fell into a crouch, preparing to pounce. Electra turned to her soldiers at either side, screaming out to them, "Spears up!"
The soldiers quickly complied, spears rising before fear could take hold of their actions, training guiding them to respond to the threat before them. Electra nodded her satisfaction and turned to face the Chimera just as it pounced, 3 tonnes of lean muscle, fur, claw, and tooth launching itself to clear the distance between it and the intruders. Chaos ensued.
Electra managed to drive her spear deep into the Chimera's foreleg as it leapt, but it knocked her horse to the side, taking the man from the saddle next to her and mauling him on the ground. The serpent head struck rapidly, biting another man from his saddle and swinging him about wildly before throwing him off the edge of the winding cliff path and screaming to the canyon floor below. Electra got to her feet unsteadily and drew her khopesh, rushing the creature and slashing at its hindleg while the rest of her soldiers rushed in with their spears, some staying back with their bows.
The battle wore on, the monster showing no sign of tiring, though many wounds gouged and bled through the creature's sides. Electra's caravan had been wise enough to follow their training, backing up down the path and out of sight while the soldiers fought. One by one, her men died, either from being mauled, trampled, poisoned, or falling to their deaths. Electra raised her hand over her head, calling for the last ace she had up her sleeves, clapping her hands together as she did so. Her remaining men reached into their satchels and retrieved the Lumite bombs they had commissioned in Seidon, The City of Riches at a hefty price. Here and now, though, they would save their lives. All at once, they hurled the red lumite explosives at the chimera after priming them, and watched with what little hope they had left as the detonations resounded and the beasts screams and roars subsided in the smoke.
Suddenly, the chimera burst through the cloud, bleeding profusely with huge smoking craters in its body where the bombs had struck. The snake tail hung limply, severed halfway up its body, and the creature's wings were torn through. It rushed towards one of the men, taking him in its jaws, before throwing itself from the cliff and flying away shakily on torn wings. They had survived the day, but at a great price.
Geography
A cracked land consisting of various buttes and plateaus that form a jigsaw-like land of canyons and badlands. Several large rivers flow through here, such as the Snake River and the Greater Lupus, which can cause flooding during particularly rainy seasons. The land is harsh though, but home to some unique flora and fauna. Chief among these are various dire animals such as snakes, scorpions, spiders, and centipedes, that have grown to huge sizes in the inhospitable environment. The land is also home to some elementals as well as gnolls and their ilk.
Areas of note:
The Crescent: A large natural basin of water located in the Eastern spires, it is infused with blue lumite, giving it healing properties
The Greater Lupus: A huge river that has carved a channel through the center of the spires. Is said to host many of the largest water elementals that have ever been recorded.
The Snake River: A winding, fast flowing river that flows through various tunnels in the rock and eventually merges with the Strait of Aurelia.
Various abandoned forts: The huge plateaus and buttes are home to some of the oldest forts still standing in Korinthos. They watch over the lower valleys and served as scouting points and bastions to warn against any signs of invasion before they landed in Korinthos cities and villages.
The Bone Arch: A narrow, naturally carved stone bridge that spans two of the major plateaus as a source of traversing this landscape. It is called the bone arch because it has claimed the lives of many the careless explorer in the past.
The Pit: A huge gaping hole in the center of a butte on the southern end of the Spires. It is believed that the Pit stretches all the way down to The Black Warrens.
The Webways: A large network of canyons located in the Western Spires that hosts a huge number of dire insects and other creatures. Getting lost here is deadly, as the fauna here is mostly carnivorous and loves soft and juicy humanoids. Home to some unique fauna though, such as Shield Spiders, VileTongue Centipedes, and Emberlight Scorpions.
Areas of note:
Climate
Usually dry, there are moments each year where huge amounts of rain falls upon this land, causing flooding and swelling within the rivers. These climate changes also lead to "blooms," causing previously ugly and dead areas to explode with plant life and other flora.
Natural Resources
Tourism
Most tourists who visit this region are hoping to reach Thetos, City of the Reborn as part of a holy sojourn or pilgrimage that they have been tasked with by their local branch of the Ordinis Potestas. These pilgrims are seeking absolution from their former sins through a meeting with one of the bishops of the Crimson Council or by being touched by one of The Reborn Gods. In recent years, there has been a large number of tourists who wish to visit the various Lumite mines that surround the city, hoping to better study the various colors and types of lumite as here remains one of the few places where all forms of lumite can be found existing in harmony.
Alternative Name(s)
The Reborn Spires
Type
Plateau
Included Locations
Additional Rulers/Owners
Ruling/Owning Rank
Owning Organization
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