The Frost Wastes

Geography

The Frost Wastes spread out as a sweeping, desolate canvas of unending ice and snow, an austere landscape dominated by the harsh embrace of frost. Rising from this primarily flat terrain, jagged hills and mountains thrust upwards towards the south, their dark, grim rocky formations, which were sculpted by centuries of rainfall and water flow, now locked in a state of perpetual frost. In contrast, the northernmost extent of the region stretches out as an uninterrupted, flat icy expanse.
The once-vibrant rivers and lakes now lie motionless, frozen solid beneath layers of snow and ice. While life has all but relinquished its hold on this barren region, faint echoes of a more vibrant past linger on. Ancient ruins peek through their snowy shroud, while ominous, dark spires puncture the distant skyline – a chilling testament to the might of the Precursors, or more specifically, their Nemesis.
The Frost Wastes constitute a significant part of the Arctic, the world's northern ice cap, extending far across the northern frontier. To the west, it meets the turbulent waters of the Jagged Sea, while in the far east, it borders the northern periphery of the towering Celestial Mountains.

History

In a bygone era, The Frost Wastes bore a warmer, more welcoming mantle. What is now an icebound wilderness was once a sprawling expanse of verdant evergreen forests, or taiga. While still cooler than the temperate regions further south, life thrived amidst the rich tapestry of flora and fauna. The freely flowing rivers nourished a diverse array of creatures, and even Humans found a home amidst these robust ecosystems.

Known then as Hyperborea, this was the original cradle of Humanity when they were primarily nomadic tribes, before the world was forever reshaped by The Cataclysm. The thriving landscape of yesteryears has now been replaced by the inhospitable frozen wasteland, but the memories of a time past still resonate in the echoes of the wind and the remnants of ancient civilization.

Dangers

While The Frost Wastes might seem devoid of life at first glance, it is far from vacant. The lifeless vastness is plagued by the restless undead, legions of beings who fell victim to the Ice Age's cold embrace, their land stolen and forever encased in frost. They are known as The Frozen, condemned to roam this icy expanse in an eternal aimless journey. Bound by the icy chains of their frozen prison, they dare not venture south. Exposure to the thawing warmth causes their frost-preserved forms to disintegrate.
The Frozen exhibit a peculiar affinity for the ancient ruins of the Nemesis. Like moths drawn to a flame, they wander protectively around these archaic structures, their purpose or reasoning remaining an enigma shrouded in the icy mists of the Frost Wastes. 
The horror of The Frozen is not confined to Humans alone. Many of Hyperborea's feral beasts of yore have suffered a similar fate, their skeletal remains and decaying flesh held together by the merciless frost, adding another chilling layer to the danger lurking within the Frost Wastes. Their silent prowl in the frozen wilderness, together with their Human counterparts, form an ominous spectral parade, a constant threat to the northern realms they mindlessly encroach upon during winter.

Alternative Name(s)

Old Hyperborea

Type

Wasteland