Mountain's End Range

The Mountain's End Range is an enormous, circular range of peaks which comprise the bulk of Polaris. They seperate the Starlit Sea from the mainland and are the dwelling-place of The Reasonable Folk.

Description
The peaks of the range are high and daunting, and dip from elysian hights to forested valleys so steep that the sun rarely touches the ground. While the climate in the low reaches of the mountains is quite variable, the heights are frozen peaks- some terrible endothermia draws the heat of the atmosphere into the ambit of The Wishing Star at the center of the land, and exposure on the heights can set in after seconds. The tallest mountains reach into The Hailskies above, and are stained with prismatic colors where they are kissed by the terrible energies of the Animus Aurora.

Below the peaks, the steep nature of the mountains means that a number of deep and shadowed valleys exist, with a climate which varies bizzarely over the course of just a few miles. Communal and individual settlements of The Reasonable Folk exist here, as do hidden fortresses carved into the mountains themselves. The mountains, formed by Gran Cynosure to block the radient energies of the Wishing Star, are highly resistant to divinatory magic and create natural vaults for otherwise-scryable and potent treasures.

To navigate from valley to valley, the Reasons who dwell outside of The City of Peace Abiding will use magic to carve miles-long tunnels through the mountains, create artifical passes or, in extreme cases, establish teleportation circles. By these routes it is possible to travel from one end of the continent to the other without ever walking over the mountains- but by the same token, it is not possible to reach the Starlit Sea through these networks, as a tunnel through the shieldwall of mountains surrounding the water would allow the radiant power to flood the range.

History
The Mountain's End Range has long been in use by the Reasonable Folk who wish to escape the social confusion and clashes of the City, and appriciate the peaceful climate. Given the difficulty a Reason has when leaving Polaris, the exiles and unpopular of the race have established entire cities in the depths of the shadowy valleys, and most of the temples to Cynosure are carved into the mountains here.

Communities of exiles from other lands and other races also exist here- in Holmes beneath the mountains. The intense difficulty in penetrating Cynosure's creation means that a fugitive from all nations can encamp beneath the mountains and have little fear of ever being found. Archmages and ancient dragons who wish to be left alone will occasionally make vast labyrinths here, and a spelunker in the caves under the mountains must always be wary of plunging into some ancient demiplane or sanctum.

While many criminals dwell under the mountains, the valleys remain relatively safe. The Temple of the Third Chance lies in the western peaks, and the clerics and oracles who dwell there keep a small army of Inevitables in the depths of the temple, sending them to prosecute any offense against 'The Placid Lord's peace'.