Shadow Mountain

Overview

Shadow Mountain is a mystery. On that (if little else), the scholars agree. It is by far the tallest mountain on the continent of Yrth. Its height is impossible to measure, or even estimate with any hope of success, since it extends above the air envelope of The Wold. Its upper slopes are constantly shrouded in clouds, and storms are commonplace at the higher elevations.

Its height, however, is not the mountain’s only unique characteristic. The rock from which it is made is different from the bedrock of the surrounding plains—or, indeed, from any rock that can be found within a thousand miles.

There are two main scholarly theories for the origin of Shadow Mountain. The first is that the mountain was thrust upward from deep within Yrth itself, in what must have been a massive cataclysm. The second theory claims that the mountain came not from below, but from above. A moon or other celestial body, the theory goes, fell from the sky in an equally massive cataclysm, and became the Shadow Mountain we see today.

The one thing these theories have in common is that they would have been devastating to the surrounding area; however, there is no scholarly evidence that such a catastrophic event ever took place. The scholars claim that the events would have happened so long ago that the region has long since recovered. The common folk, however, have their own theory on the mountain’s origin; they claim that the mountain was placed there by the gods for reasons they have yet to reveal.

Because Shadow Mountain covers such a large area, it is useful to divide it into sections when discussing its features and inhabitants.

The North Slope

Shadow Mountain’s North Slope is home to the Winged Folk (also called winglings), humanoids sometimes described as “half-bird, half-human.” They live in small, scattered villages, organized along clan lines. The Winged Folk keep careful track of clans and lineage, and any wingling can describe in detail how he or she is related to the neighbors.

Several years ago a wingling brother and sister left their mountain home to explore the lowlands. They became adventurers with The Chosen. The first of these is Hawkmoon, captain of the King’s Personal Guard in Plateau City. The second is Miss Clarissa, former High patriarch of Alemi in the Floating City.

The Winged Folk originally joined the Free-Staters and defended the staters many times from Aisildurian skirmish units attempting to bypass the Wall of Kaazul by climbing the lower reaches of Shadow Mountain. The Aisildurians eventually recruited the hawkmen of the lower southern face of Shadow Mountain to attack the Winged Folk at the mountaintop. The ensuing battle did not go well for either side, and both winglings and hawkmen sustained heavy losses.

The East Slope

The area known as the East Slope is home to giants. Most types of giant-kind are represented; however, the mountain does not have the extreme heat to attract Fire Giants.

Each type of giant has established its own territory, except for the Ogres who are too weak to defend a territory against their bigger, stronger brethren. Each giant territory is ruled independently, with its own laws and customs. The giants fight one another a great deal, of course, but there is also trade and cooperation between the territories.

The higher elevations on the East Slope are divided between the Cloud Giants and the Frost Giants. The mid-level elevations are claimed by the Storm Giants and the Stone Giants. The lowest part of the slope contains the territories of the Trolls, Ettins, and Hill Giants.

The Frost Giants almost never leave their territory, preferring the icy upper reaches to the more temperate slopes below. Storm and Cloud Giants travel but rarely, as their larger size is often difficult to accommodate in the other territories. Among the other giant-kind, however, travel between territories is not unusual. Individual giants travel to see more of the world, to speak with and learn from other giants, and to trade. And, of course, some go into other territories for the express purpose of starting trouble.

Since they have no territory of their own, Ogres can be found nearly everywhere. The smallest and the weakest of giant-kind, they are harassed and bullied wherever they go. They live in the slums of giant cities and towns, or in squatter encampments out in the wilderness. Stronger giants regularly roust them from their homes; they must then pick up and re-establish themselves elsewhere.

For non-giants, the most noteworthy feature of the East Slope is Bigtown.

The South Slope

The South Slope is home to the hawkmen, a fierce, proud race of humanoids. The hawkmen are warlike, insular, and xenophobic, which is an unfortunate combination for anyone wishing to study their culture and society. A few facts, however, have been pieced together over the years.

The hawkmen claim to be descended from actual hawks, which may or may not be true. They do not have wings, and physically resemble short, wiry elves. Both male and female hawkmen tend to cut their coarse dark hair short, in uneven chunks, so that it vaguely resembles ruffled feathers atop a bird’s head. They favor snug-fitting black clothing with little ornamentation. Instead, they ornament their bodies with tattoos and jewelry. Most adult hawkmen have at least one earlobe pierced, and multiple piercings in the ears, brows, noses, and mouths are not uncommon.

Hawkmen believe their race once had the power of flight, but that their gods took it away from them as punishment for some transgression (the exact nature of the transgression is something they do not discuss with outsiders). They believe that if they lead pure lives, one day the gods will relent and restore their wings to them.

A few scholars who have spoken with the hawkmen have remarked on their extensive knowledge of the theory of flight. Indeed, it seems that the lowliest hawkman peasant can discuss thrust, lift, and velocity with the most learned scholars from the lands below. The scholars theorize that the hawkmen place a great emphasis on learning about flight, in preparation of the glorious day when they are allowed to fly once more.

Hawkmen aeries (they should never be called “towns” by any flatlander wanting to remain in good standing) are built into the sides of steep cliffs. Hawkmen seem to possess no natural vertigo or fear of heights, and move about their aeries with ease, aided by slender wooden ladders. Visitors are advised to develop nerves of steel and a head for heights.

The West Slope

The outstanding feature of the West Slope is, of course, the Wall of Kaazul, which stretches onto the lower slopes of Shadow Mountain itself. Travelers attempting to circumvent the wall on this end will have much to contend with. The west slope of the mountain is a savage place, home to all manner of fierce beasts. It is perhaps no surprise that Flamelich, the well-known dragon, got his start here.

There is one minor—and very unusual—outpost of civilization on the west slope. A wealth eccentric, calling himself Lord Whatnot, has established a holding here. In addition to his manor house, there is a walled village of hardy peasants who farm his lands and tend his herds. But the most unusual feature here is the dungeon.

The Hall of Champions was established by Lord Whatnot as a way for adventurers to test themselves. A small army of rangers and druids keeps the dungeon stocked with all manner of savage and challenging monsters. Cunning locks and traps separate the various sections of the dungeon, and (mostly) keep the monsters from attacking one another.

Lord Whatnot happily extends the hospitality of the manor house to any group of adventurers willing to test their skill in the Hall of Champions.

Powers of Shadow Mountain

There are literally dozens of Immortal Powers revered by the denizens of Shadow Mountain. These are the most popular.

Mighty Granite (Og-Tlakkhen-Mouw in the Giants’ tongue) is the personification of the mountain’s strength, particularly the strength of its stone. He is very popular among all tribes of giants. Not surprisingly, the Stone Giants think especially well of him, and worship virtually no other deities.

Grandfather Wind is a spirit honored by both winglings and hawkmen. The extent of Grandfather Wind’s realm is an open question; his powers are certainly strongest in the Shadow Mountain region, but his followers insist that he can grant powers to his clerics “anywhere the wind blows.”

The Storm-Horse draws his strength from the storms that continually pound the upper slopes of Shadow Mountain. He is popular among the Storm Giants, and the winglings and hawkmen both grant him a measure of wary respect.

Frethja is a vast glacier covering parts of the North and East slopes. Her Immortal Power, also called Frethja, is honored by the Frost Giants, and acknowledged by all sentient races on the mountain.