Isvatn Tundra

The hunters of the village had invited me and a few other guards to accompany on a hunting trip while Jacquin conducted his business. After traveling north into the tundra for three days we finally found a big herd of reindeer. We sneaked closer and just about ready to take down a few with our bows when three giant white wolves crashed into us out of nowhere. We pushed them back and I though we might kill them when one of them suddenly exhaled a blast of frigid air, instantly freezing two of the hunters. The winter wolves, as we learned they are called, fell on the frozen victims ans we used that distraction to make a hasty retreat back towards the village.

— from "Memories of a Caravan Guard" by Clais Hiltprandt

Geography

These tundra plains stretch northwards from the Graslendi grasslands for several hundred kilometers. The terrain consist mostly of low hills. Bogs and shallow lakes that freeze during the long winter periods are common in the depressions between the hills. Towards the coast the terrain becomes more rocky and rises slowly. Most of the coastline consists of cliffs that range between 3 and 8 meters in height ,with rough ravines granting access to stony beaches every two to three hundred meters. Towards the west the tundra stretches all the way to the Ice Flow inland sea. Most of the coast on this side consists of broad sandy beaches. The northern part of the tundra i bounded by the Icecrown glacier.

Fauna & Flora

During the brief summer period when ice and show retreats north the Isvatn tundra blooms. The hills are covered in variations of grass, heather and moss. Large herds of reindeer roam the area hunted by both bears and wolves. Snow owls and wind hawks come to feed on the numerous rodents that peak forth from their winter hideouts, while other birds hunt the insects that suddenly swarm around the thawed out bogs and lakes.

When winter arrives again the reindeer herds move south along with the migratory birds. Show and ice covers the land and only a rare rock promontory is covered in cold resistant mosses and lichen. Winter wolves and young remorhaz can be seen hunting on the icy hills. The eastern coast is home to large groups of walrus and seals year round while polar bears are common on the western coast and areas close by. At least three different white dragons are known to have lairs on the tundra, but it is likely there are more in the farthest reaches that are rarely visited by humanoids.

Natural Resources

The large herds of reindeer are hunted for their meat and hides year round by the tribes living in the northern part of Graslendi. During the winter the herds are close enough to the villages that the hunters can be based there. During the summer the herds move north and the hunters move with them. Many of the villages have cooperated in establishing a semi-permanent summer camp, called Sumarbuthir, on the shore of one of the largest known permanent lakes, about four days travel north. From here groups made up of hunters from different villages range out of week long hunts. Occasionally a group will try to hunt lone Winter Wolves if one is spotted.

During the summer a number of valuable plants can be found in the tundra, including the rare Cloud Heather and Frost Spike Moss. Collecting these can be dangerous due to roaming predators, but the chance to make a tidy profit makes several foraging groups head out into the tundra each year.

Type

Tundra