Mt. Halitos

The highest peak in the Silverstone Mountains, and even in the entire world, Mt. Halitos is shrouded in almost as much myth and mystery as it is in clouds. Several religions in both the local regions and in the southern territories of the Torithian Federation revere the icy, fang-like peak as sacred, as a conduit to higher powers and an anchor point connecting the four Realms; meanwhile many thrill-seeking, fame-seeking hikers have set their sights on the highest reaches of its sheer face, hoping to either be the first to reach the top or die trying.

Geography

As the tallest mountain in the already harsh Silverstone Mountains, Mt. Halitos is an imposing monument of stone. Its lower slopes, where not connected to neighboring peaks, aren’t as steep as its upper faces thanks to ages of erosion and rockslides. Also thanks to said rockslides, much of these lower slopes are completely covered in loose rubble and boulders, making traversing these slopes just as treacherous as the rest of the mountain. There are, however, series of ancient steps carved into certain parts of the lower to middle slopes—archaeological evidence of ancient, long-standing rituals and pilgrimages. Meanwhile many of the higher slopes are nearly vertical, with eras of wind and storms carving the stone until there are almost no viable handholds and paths upwards. The very top of the mountain, when visible through the clouds, seems to ever so slightly curve inwards, like a fang or a thorn.

Localized Phenomena

The very tip of Mt. Halitos is perpetually covered in clouds and fog, almost as if its peak is perpetually generating condensation; it’s also commonly said in myths that this constant phenomena is actually a puncture through The Realms that lets some of The In-Between and The Beyond through into The Real. And sometimes, particularly when the Spirit-star is either in close alignment with the sun or directly opposite to it, brilliant aurora reach all the way to the peak, rumored to be the puncture through the Realms letting The Unreal through. These myths have yet to be proven, however, since no one has credibly managed to reach the peak.

Tourism

Mt. Halitos is a common aspiration for the bravest of hikers and adventurers. Its isolation, its history, and its status as the highest mountain in the world yet to be scaled, make it a prime target for those who wish to ascend into history themselves as the first human to reach the “top of the world.” No one has managed that yet, however; many who have tried have perished on the treacherous slopes.

Alternative Name(s)

Realm-Thorn, Skypiercer Peak

Type

Mountain / Hill

Location under

Silverstone Mountains