Post by The Rising Dragon on Sept 30, 2009 23:13:34 GMT -5
The Heights
The Heights are an expansive range of mountainous plateaus and steppes that rise up to phenomenal heights, often covered by low clouds, giving it a rugged beauty. They cover a significant portion of Kemei, though not nearly as large an area as the desert wastes that cover much of the continent—in fact, resting between the Desert and the Heights is the forsaken necropolis of Thebas, a place where the dead roam. Unlike the Desert, the Heights are naturally isolated, which keep the undead from Thebas from invading the region. The Heights are mostly uninhabited by sentient races, leaving mostly wildlife to roam the plateaus. This is not to say that the place does not see any of the dominant sentient races—often relic hunters and other adventurers travel to the Heights in search of excitement and thrills and treasure. The only problem is that the Heights, due to their nature, are extremely difficult to travel on foot. The easiest method of traversing the Heights is through flight, whether it’s a natural ability or through flight-capable vehicles. Even then, travel becomes hazardous: the clouds limit visibility, and as such you can never truly know if you’re going to hit a cliff wall. Despite the difficulty of travel, there is evidence that at one point, some sentient race of people lived in the Heights. All but gone now, they have left behind numerous ruins of cavern-like dwellings in the cliffsides to mark their passage. It is thought that this race of people was avian in nature, but no one knows for sure (biological remains have never been discovered) and had some sort of spiritual culture, judging by the shrine-like architecture of the ruins they left behind.
One other thing that limits travel by people is the wildlife living in the Heights—in the foothills and initial slopes of the mountainous plateaus are dangerous creatures such as the Manticore and the Nemean Lion, and as one makes their way higher up into the plateaus, more and more avian creatures can be found, such as Drakes, Kargarocs, Hippogriffs, Pegasi, and the ever-annoying Cliff Racer. The farthest reaches of the Heights, however, hold the most dangerous of avian creatures, such as Lightning Hawks that migrate from the desert, vicious red dragons, and the majestic and intimidating, yet rare, Blood Eagle. Kargarocs are usually found hunting at the flat tops of the plateaus, but often make their nests in the cliffsides. Also, the ruins found in the Heights are often found to be defended by Aeralfos, who are quick to protect their new dwellings.
Bestiary:
Aeralfos
Blood Eagle
Cliff Racer
Dragonet
Drake
Drakeling
EggDrake
Faerie
Griffin
Hippogriff
Kargaroc
Lightning Hawk
Manticore
Nemean Lion
Peahat
Pegasus
Red Dragon
Tigrex
The Heights are an expansive range of mountainous plateaus and steppes that rise up to phenomenal heights, often covered by low clouds, giving it a rugged beauty. They cover a significant portion of Kemei, though not nearly as large an area as the desert wastes that cover much of the continent—in fact, resting between the Desert and the Heights is the forsaken necropolis of Thebas, a place where the dead roam. Unlike the Desert, the Heights are naturally isolated, which keep the undead from Thebas from invading the region. The Heights are mostly uninhabited by sentient races, leaving mostly wildlife to roam the plateaus. This is not to say that the place does not see any of the dominant sentient races—often relic hunters and other adventurers travel to the Heights in search of excitement and thrills and treasure. The only problem is that the Heights, due to their nature, are extremely difficult to travel on foot. The easiest method of traversing the Heights is through flight, whether it’s a natural ability or through flight-capable vehicles. Even then, travel becomes hazardous: the clouds limit visibility, and as such you can never truly know if you’re going to hit a cliff wall. Despite the difficulty of travel, there is evidence that at one point, some sentient race of people lived in the Heights. All but gone now, they have left behind numerous ruins of cavern-like dwellings in the cliffsides to mark their passage. It is thought that this race of people was avian in nature, but no one knows for sure (biological remains have never been discovered) and had some sort of spiritual culture, judging by the shrine-like architecture of the ruins they left behind.
One other thing that limits travel by people is the wildlife living in the Heights—in the foothills and initial slopes of the mountainous plateaus are dangerous creatures such as the Manticore and the Nemean Lion, and as one makes their way higher up into the plateaus, more and more avian creatures can be found, such as Drakes, Kargarocs, Hippogriffs, Pegasi, and the ever-annoying Cliff Racer. The farthest reaches of the Heights, however, hold the most dangerous of avian creatures, such as Lightning Hawks that migrate from the desert, vicious red dragons, and the majestic and intimidating, yet rare, Blood Eagle. Kargarocs are usually found hunting at the flat tops of the plateaus, but often make their nests in the cliffsides. Also, the ruins found in the Heights are often found to be defended by Aeralfos, who are quick to protect their new dwellings.
Bestiary:
Aeralfos
Blood Eagle
Cliff Racer
Dragonet
Drake
Drakeling
EggDrake
Faerie
Griffin
Hippogriff
Kargaroc
Lightning Hawk
Manticore
Nemean Lion
Peahat
Pegasus
Red Dragon
Tigrex
