Western Reach

The western reach is the term used to describe the frontier lands to the west of the swanny river. It is a varied land, from the low hills and fertile plains on the eastern edge to the high snowy peaks of the western mountains. Much of the western reach is covered in a thick coniferous forest, making it a hard land to traverse. One relatively well kept road snakes it's way through the hills to the foot of the western mountains, it is the main transport route for electrum mined in the reach. Numerous caravans travel this road to bring food to Fartown and electrum to the capital region, the caravneers affectionately refer to it as the 'lonely road'.
Many however, wish it was a lonely road. Numerous bandits and worse monsters make the western reach their home, and the laden caravans that travek the lonely road make for easy pickings. This has inspired somewhat of an arms race, as many caravans hire more well outfitted guards and bandit groups band together in order to take down these heavily defended caravans.

Geography

Owing to the sheer vastness of the western reach, the geography is varied. On the eastern edge next to the swanny river there is are plains and shallow hills. This region is home to numerous herds of wild horses, and a number of nomadic peoples, there is little in the way of permanent settlements however, as the land does not have the safety of the lands east of the swanny nor does it have the mineral deposits of the hills to the west.
Travelling west throught the plains a traveler soon finds themself walking uphill, and will soon lose sight of the sky as they enter an ancient forest. The vast majority of the western reach is covered in this forest, and a wise traveller would not wander off the road to explore it. It does not have an official name, but most travellers and locals to the region refer to it as the 'old forest' or the 'big forest'. It has apparently existed since time immemorial, as no record exists of anything else existing there. The trees here are huge, reaching heights of 20-30 m and have trunks as wide as 2 m.
No one exactly knows what lives in the old forest, but rumours abound of dragons, giants, and druidic circles that all call it home. Efforts have been made to map it by some foolhardy adventurers but many do not return, and those that do tell tall tales of ancient ruins covered in ivy, mysterious hot springs full of nymphs and dryads, and angry green dragons that do not appreciate visitors
As one follows the lonely road they will eventually reach the foothills of the eastern mountains, and the settlement of Fartown. The settlers here have begun to cut back the forest, using the timber to construct a town and the mines that are the lifeblood of the town. From Fartown one can look up to the west and see the peaks of the western mountains in the distance, they are the highest known peaks in the land and no one has ever crossed them and returned.
The mountains are a brutal place, where only the hardiest creatures carve out a life. The terrain of the mountians is brutal, vast glaciers, sheer cliff faces and a near constant blizzard. There are rumours among some adventurers of a tribe of goliaths that live up in the mountains and will offer aid to weary travellers for either a fee or test of might. There are also whispers of less than friendly inhabitants, such as yetis, remorhazs and the occasional red or white dragon.

Type

Region

Included Locations

• Fartown
• The Lonely Road