Jordskarn

Deep in the hills of Jordskarn, Volbrekka was once a prosperous Jordskar village before its residents were wiped out by Hibridi. The village's wood-and-stone buildings still stand, sentinels on the hillside waiting to shelter new inhabitants.

 

This is an area of dense temperate broadleaf forestland at the feet of Jordskarn's mountains. 

 

A network of abandoned mines, Asgarssen's Vault was once used by the miner and inventor Asgarssen to hide Jordskar who were fleeing from the Hibridi. Without Asgarssen's help, entering the twisting mines was suicide. It is said that in addition to still containing unclaimed riches, the mine is still guarded by Asgarssen's now masterless automatons-- some of which are rumored to be metal giants that lurk in the larger caverns.

 

Their name translating to "Brother Lakes", the Boromire Lakes are two of the largest lakes in Velukaelo and are located in close proximity to each other. They are named for the god brothers Asli and Anti. While they are close to each other, the two lakes have drastically different ecosystems. The southernmost of the lakes (commonly referred to as the Asli Lake) is far more hospitable, supporting abundant aquatic life as well as providing water for the surrounding animals. Its twin, the Anti Lake, is highly alkaline and is home to very few creatures.

 

In Jordskar lore, Jordraugn was a god in ancient times who gained power by sucking the life from the land. The Jordskar begged the other gods for help, and they answered by transforming Jordraugn into a gigantic tree that towered hundreds of feet above the surrounding canopy. The tree still stands near the cliffs bordering one of Jordskarn's fjords. The land around the tree as well as the tree itself have a mystical aura about them that has spawned many more legends among the Jordskar. Over the years, Jordraugn's trunk has been carved with mysterious runes and pictographs.

Bjorgrim is an ancient being that roams Jordskarn, watching and protecting all nature. His long legs and gnarled feet let him traverse over any terrain, whether it be rocky mountains or marshy deltas. Not much is known about where he came from, but there are a few legends that have been passed around in the human villages. One of these say that he used to be a primitive hunter that killed for sport and never thanked anyone for his prosperity. He was mauled by an unknown entity and was then raised to guard nature instead of destroy it. Others say that he was born of the land itself, imbued with its power. No one knows for sure and most refuse to get close enough to ask. No one has ever seen him use his magic, but his gashes and body radiate with it. Only the fearless have ever had any kind of conversation with this massive ancient and every one of them had sworn an oath to never speak of what was said. His secrets will remain just that... secret.

 

He is majestic, yet terrifying to see walking towards you. Bones protrude from many places on skin and moss hangs from his body. His feet are one of his oddest traits. One main hoof and a claw make up the front of the foot, while a smaller hoof in the back helps balance him when walking in tough places. The whole foot is raised up off the ground, making navigating through water and mud easy. He will not harm anyone unless he perceives them as a threat to nature.

 

DG courtesy of WiIdpaws