Post by Kenneth New on Sept 7, 2013 21:56:33 GMT -5
The Neimocrands is a large massif situated east and slightly north of the Sea of Endymion. It lies just south of the Bay of Falna (a southward inlet from Aquillo Bay) and north of the Sugdeana Plains. A northward spur off the massif, called the Hyades mountains run along the eastern shore of the Bay of Falna, all the way to the tip of frozen Vanya peninsula.
The Neimocrands runs nearly 500 miles from east to west and up to half that distance north to south. The highest peaks reach 14,000 feet, but the average elevation of the massif is much lower. The region can divided into several distinct regions.
The Lower Plateau
Sitting at an average elevation of 6000 feet, this relatively flat region is on the western end of the southern face of the massif. The steep face is impossible to climb, but an ancient stone stair climbs from the lowlands west of Lake Tanea all the way to the City of Mandrigor which sits about halfway along the face. The lower plateau is bounded on the west by the Western Vales, the north by the rapid rise of the highlands and the east by the rather deep Vinasko River gorge. The easiest passage to the north face of the massif run through the Domains of Rhegona and Delcarran all the way to the High Pass, guarded by Castle Orlan.
Some famous places on the Lower Plateau include ancient Mandrigor, Travin (where the 10 mile long Traven Ramp ascends to the bridge across the Vinasko River, Satida (home of the Satida fighting schools) and Strange Pawuz (a mysterious city that appeared a century ago).
The Grand Plateau
Despite the name, this region isn't really a plateau. It's a u-shaped vale, laying between Daleron and the Enoka Ridge on the southern slopes and the highlands to the north. On the west it's bounded by the Vinasko River gorge and on the east by the Great Rift. The elevation is lowest in the Neimoth River Valley (7000 feet at Karthis where it plunges into the Vinasko River gorge and then into Lake Tanea), but it climbs to 8000 feet at Lake Hali. The hills of Daleron sit at 9000 feet and the Enoka Ridge at 10,000.
Some famous places on the Grand Plateau include Karthis (the capital of the Karthian Republic), Dreaming Carcosa and Brooding Alar (rivals situated at opposite ends of Lake Hali), Alberon (a small city in Daleron where the Bronze Ladder connects the Grand Plateau to the city of Astyana on an island in Lake Tanea) and Castle Magura (in Trinasha Vale), a sprawling and haunted subterranean complex still inhabited by fiends and magical constructs.
The Great Rift
Separating the Grand Plateau from the Eastern Plateau, the Great Rift stretches down to the level of the surrounding or plains, and is even rumored to descend deeper into the earth in places. The city of Debarska, once the center of Dweirish culture in the Neimocrands, lies abandoned to shadow creatures near the southern end of the rift (where it opens onto the plains thousands of feet below). The newer and less ostentatious Little Debarska sits nearer the northern end of the rift. Almost exactly halfway between the two sits the town of Shadowgate, with its easy descent into the rift making it a popular destination for would be adventurers.
Eastern Plateau
Sitting at the same elevation as the Grand Plateau, and separated from it by the Great Rift, the Eastern Plateau is rocky and rough terrain. The easternmost reaches of this plateau slope gently to the plains below in a rough moraine known as the Eastern Slopes. At a narrow point, a fortified wall stretches the entire six miles from the highlands in the north to the southern cliff face in the south. Lithmallen Fortress and its several subsidiary watch stations guard the Neimocrands from easy approach by the marauding hordes of Janthy nomads (a mixed group of orcs and humans).
The High Plateau
Situated at 10,000 feet, this plateau is in the highlands overlooking the Eastern Plateau. It is accessible only by a narrow and treacherous road that begins in Little Debarska. It's much smaller than the other plateaus, and is home to the Griffon Rider of Karthis.
The Western Vales
These small valleys can be found throughout the western slopes that separate the Lower Plateau from the Lepary Lowlands. Human shepherds and goatherds vie for control of these valley with the Lepary (catfolk).
Highlands
The highlands are the peaks of the massif. Many small mountain valleys are under the control of the Mountain Lords (mostly human sorcerer-lords), but the more inaccessible regions are home to the rakhir, a race of vicious birdlike humanoids who descend on civilized lands in the fall and early winter.
The North Plateau
This series of hilly mountain valleys tumbles down towards Falna Bay. The lords of the northern slopes are mostly dweirsh or Vanyar humans. These regions are menaced by giants and trolls, in addition to swarms of rakhir.
The Neimocrands runs nearly 500 miles from east to west and up to half that distance north to south. The highest peaks reach 14,000 feet, but the average elevation of the massif is much lower. The region can divided into several distinct regions.
The Lower Plateau
Sitting at an average elevation of 6000 feet, this relatively flat region is on the western end of the southern face of the massif. The steep face is impossible to climb, but an ancient stone stair climbs from the lowlands west of Lake Tanea all the way to the City of Mandrigor which sits about halfway along the face. The lower plateau is bounded on the west by the Western Vales, the north by the rapid rise of the highlands and the east by the rather deep Vinasko River gorge. The easiest passage to the north face of the massif run through the Domains of Rhegona and Delcarran all the way to the High Pass, guarded by Castle Orlan.
Some famous places on the Lower Plateau include ancient Mandrigor, Travin (where the 10 mile long Traven Ramp ascends to the bridge across the Vinasko River, Satida (home of the Satida fighting schools) and Strange Pawuz (a mysterious city that appeared a century ago).
The Grand Plateau
Despite the name, this region isn't really a plateau. It's a u-shaped vale, laying between Daleron and the Enoka Ridge on the southern slopes and the highlands to the north. On the west it's bounded by the Vinasko River gorge and on the east by the Great Rift. The elevation is lowest in the Neimoth River Valley (7000 feet at Karthis where it plunges into the Vinasko River gorge and then into Lake Tanea), but it climbs to 8000 feet at Lake Hali. The hills of Daleron sit at 9000 feet and the Enoka Ridge at 10,000.
Some famous places on the Grand Plateau include Karthis (the capital of the Karthian Republic), Dreaming Carcosa and Brooding Alar (rivals situated at opposite ends of Lake Hali), Alberon (a small city in Daleron where the Bronze Ladder connects the Grand Plateau to the city of Astyana on an island in Lake Tanea) and Castle Magura (in Trinasha Vale), a sprawling and haunted subterranean complex still inhabited by fiends and magical constructs.
The Great Rift
Separating the Grand Plateau from the Eastern Plateau, the Great Rift stretches down to the level of the surrounding or plains, and is even rumored to descend deeper into the earth in places. The city of Debarska, once the center of Dweirish culture in the Neimocrands, lies abandoned to shadow creatures near the southern end of the rift (where it opens onto the plains thousands of feet below). The newer and less ostentatious Little Debarska sits nearer the northern end of the rift. Almost exactly halfway between the two sits the town of Shadowgate, with its easy descent into the rift making it a popular destination for would be adventurers.
Eastern Plateau
Sitting at the same elevation as the Grand Plateau, and separated from it by the Great Rift, the Eastern Plateau is rocky and rough terrain. The easternmost reaches of this plateau slope gently to the plains below in a rough moraine known as the Eastern Slopes. At a narrow point, a fortified wall stretches the entire six miles from the highlands in the north to the southern cliff face in the south. Lithmallen Fortress and its several subsidiary watch stations guard the Neimocrands from easy approach by the marauding hordes of Janthy nomads (a mixed group of orcs and humans).
The High Plateau
Situated at 10,000 feet, this plateau is in the highlands overlooking the Eastern Plateau. It is accessible only by a narrow and treacherous road that begins in Little Debarska. It's much smaller than the other plateaus, and is home to the Griffon Rider of Karthis.
The Western Vales
These small valleys can be found throughout the western slopes that separate the Lower Plateau from the Lepary Lowlands. Human shepherds and goatherds vie for control of these valley with the Lepary (catfolk).
Highlands
The highlands are the peaks of the massif. Many small mountain valleys are under the control of the Mountain Lords (mostly human sorcerer-lords), but the more inaccessible regions are home to the rakhir, a race of vicious birdlike humanoids who descend on civilized lands in the fall and early winter.
The North Plateau
This series of hilly mountain valleys tumbles down towards Falna Bay. The lords of the northern slopes are mostly dweirsh or Vanyar humans. These regions are menaced by giants and trolls, in addition to swarms of rakhir.