Mount Empyrean

Mount Empyrean is not just any sight to behold. Nor is it just an ever-present guard and watcher, looming over the plains and rolling hills of the middle lands of the Central Continent. What Mount Empyrean really is, is a bridge to the sky. A metaphorical gate to a whole unknown celestial world for a mortal mind to behold. Prof. Winfried von Melye, author of a popular book regarding his successful scaling of the mountain "Scaling the doorway to sky - My expedition to conquer Mt. Empyrean"

Overview

General description

Mount Empyrean is a part of a mountain chain of Isvarya (Göttliger), located in the northern part of the Central Continent. It is the highest mountain on Aon, with its summit, nicknamed the "Final Outreach", achieving the height of 10 412 meters above sea level. Besides, there are three lower positioned "side peaks", each located on a different compass point in relation to the prime peak - south, northwest and northeast (peaks referred to as follows: "Dhokadho", "Norrendost", "Pfielspitz" ). The mountain has received its name "Crown of Aon" thanks to these, as they do create a certain image of a royal headwear.

Expeditions to Mt. Empyrean and their history

First records

The mountain was and still is an eagerly researched natural landmark, with geologists of all continents trying to uncover all of its secrets. The first-ever recorded expedition dates back to 1241 when a Solarian expedition, led by an Ethnis priest and scientist - the so-called "Ankit Cakita", managed to climb to what is now thought to be a tiny plateau on the southern face of Empyrean at a height of around 2300 meters above the sea.

[...] There [he] came with his pupils to scale the gates of sky, curious of its transcended [magnificent?] beauty. [...] excerpt of a rough translation of the text about Ankit's expedition

First to scale a side peak

There have been numerous attempts to reach at least one of the three side peaks across the next millennia, as the average height of those is around 6500 m.a.s.l., too high to reach without breathing equipment. The first to achieve this height was an expedition organised and led by a Folfmer geologist, Quardien of the Great House of the Uncanny Shard. Consisting of a team of 15 climbing and tool specialists, they managed to scale the southern "Dhokadho" in 2552.

First to conquer the mountain

In 2789, a group of over a 100 engineers, expert climbers and scientists of many fields, led by a Verfandian noblewoman, well-known female climber, adventurer and orologist, Adelheid von Behringer, began a perilous journey to reach the summit. After an endeavour that lasted almost a year, they succeeded, stepping on the summit for the first time in recorded history in 2790.

[...] When we reached the height of 9km our whole crew was nearing complete exhaustion. But I knew there was no turning back now, we had to go all the way. For everyone. To this day I still remember when I told them, all exhausted and stern, but certainly still determined, that: "We are too close to turn back now, gentlemen. We will take this mountain by force. And trust me on it, as I'd say I have reached peak motivation." Their faces in reaction to that were priceless. [...] part of a contemporary newspaper interview with Adelheid von Behringer, leader of the expedition

Alternative Names

Mount Imperialis, The First Pillar, Crown of Aon

Type

Natural Wonder

I have reached the absolute. First words of prof. Winfried von Melye upon reaching the summit