Vandic Mountains

Saleh'Alire » Ecology ⭲ Rusatar ⭲ Occupied Territory

The smallest Rusatari mountain range, the Vandic Mountains are located in the south west of Rusatar, and directly bordered by the Thel Ranme water pass that separates the continent from Castrillis. To the east of the range lies the Lasna Forest and Rarawa Swamp- two of the lowest elevation areas in the Maline Valley, situated between the Vandic range and the much higher elevation Raasla Mountains.
To call the Vandic range a series of "mountains", however, is a bit of a misnomer. As Solar Elven explorers noted during the early lead up to the Kadenazi War, they're more correctly a series of highly eroded plateaus. Three main peaks have been identified among the formations- named the Ohila, Eilomia, and Cavia peaks respectively; in some areas of the range these plateaus drop off into a series of jagged limestone-quartz pillars.
Just on the other side of the Vandic range, the Lasna Forest and Rarawa Swamp of the Maline Valley catch the copious water drainage from the porous limestone mountains- a result of Rusatar's unstable and severe weather patterns; the region can average between 60 and 80 inches (24 to 31 cm) of heavy rainfall per year during any season. This rainfall seeps through the permeable limestone layers, which traps the water and channels it back to the surface. This process initiates a path of constant moisture, leading to the formation of numerous lakes, wetlands, springs, and other water phenomenon within the mountains.
During the Oliennesian occupation in particular, the range became known for its stunning collection of waterfalls- the tallest of which, Tath'levi, is a multistory fall sourced from the 2,000 meter (6,600 feet) Thakosi Pillar formation. The Avil'dac spring was also popular during the occupation due to its crystal waters and accompanying 23 meter (75 foot) waterfall.

Limestone Mountain by Rowan Heuvel

Located In
Occupied Territory, Rusatar

Ecosystem Type
Limestone Mountains

A truly unique feature of the range, however, are the hanging swamps formed in the border regions where the Lasna Forest and Rarawa Swamp meet; the constant water flow and high rock permeability produces the perfect conditions, allowing for the creation of peat flats that play host to hanging swamps and forests. These "Hanging Gardens", as they're colloquially called, are so named for their appearance of literally hanging off the Vandic Mountains' steep cliffs and pillars.
With year round temperatures rarely dropping below 60 to 80 degrees (16 to 27 Celsius), the weather is frequently warm and humid- aiding in the production of the Rusatar's near constant but slow moving thunderstorms. Between the heat, humidity, and constant rainfall, these hanging biomes have developed to play host to more than 400 different animals, 2,700 species of flowering plants, and 160 unique species of birds, accounting for a high proportion of Saleh'Alire's biodiversity. Most of the Vandic Mountains’' flora and fauna includes Relic Species, and many of them are threatened, endangered, or generally rare.
Notable Vandic flora includes the Maiden Bush, Swampy Eucalypts, Wollemi pine, flowering Cattail and Downy Reed- along with mosses, hundreds of ferns, fungi, algae, and land lichens... Notable fauna, on the other hand, includes the Kavu Climbing Mouse, Yellow-Bellied Glider, Golden Bell Frog, Collared Fruit Bat and Blue-Tailed Water Skink. The Stiga Goat is also found in this region- a favored prey of the region's only predator: The Hanging Pillar Cat (or Kris'lana Mal). Birds include many range restricted water birds such as Sooty Coots, Sunbitterns, and several species of Egret and Heron- as well as non-water birds like Bee-Eaters, Diamond Firetails, and Honeyeaters.
Due to the jagged and pillared nature of the Vandic Mountains, however, traversing the range is incredibly difficult. Much of the travel is done by a complex network of hanging bridges connecting various pillars, plateaus, flats, and other stable surfaces. Of these networks, four main routes exist: the Isade Pass, Lanian route, Yaresi Highline, and the Tianak Pass; originally established by the Solar Elves of Olienn after the Kadenazi War, they're now maintained by specialty groups of Goliaths known as the Kuma'ros.

Major Landmarks

• Peaks
  • Ohila
  • Eilomia
  • Cavia
• Pillars
  • Thakosi Pillar formation
• Routes
  • Isade Pass
  • Lanian Route
  • Yaresi Highline
  • Tianak Pass
• Waterfalls
  • Tath'levi
• Springs
  • Avil'dac spring

Major Cities

• Ma'akdi