Jasper Mountains

The **Jasper Mountains** are a mountain chain located from southern Nevkreno to the northern border of Rabydos.

The ancient Auteans referred the Jasper Mountains as **Nothnodar** or **Tollidar**, meaning "wall of the known world", or "**Wall of the World**".

## Nevkreno

* Mount Rintir-slorin - the northern edge and the beginning of the Jasper Mountains in the southernmost point of the country, which run south all the way to northeastern Rabydos.

## Sevestrana

* The Dry Fence - a mountain chain along the western side of Sevestrana, near the eastern Honvian border.

## Rabydos

**Jasper Mountains** (Oronja Jakkadūr, Yaqedūr Mountains) - a mountain chain made of orange-coloured peaks that form Rabydos' northern border, dividing the nearly-endless jungles. The southern side of this mountain chain is littered with the tombs of ancient kings.

In ancient times, the Kekhaulid civilisations of Aute and their allies of Prumthesan and Minumakh referred those mountains as Nothnodar and Tolisar, which meant "northern mountains" and "wall of the known world". According to their legends, those mountains were formed to protect the civilised world (the Kekhaulid lands) from other invaders. The peoples of the north - from the Assuwelli in later times to the Redjetesh, the Norse, and their descendants, were all known as "Jotthol", the "strange people beyond the World's Wall". Other civilisations that knew Sanskrit often translated the exonym "jotthol" to *mleccha*, used on Jerde to refer to anyone considered "barbaric".

* Mount Aklakōri
	+ The westernmost and the most orange mountain of the Jasper Mountains. Home to three Burrow-cities under Rabydosian rule, formerly the domain of three dukes whose descendants submitted to the rule of the modern Rabydosian republic.
* Ziggurat of Shin
	+ A pyramid-like temple built as a mausoleum to Duke Shin the Conqueror.
* Serpent Tomb
	+ Burial place of the Exile king who founded Rabydos, King Bel-muludpergum, later a necropolis with the sarcophagi of his officials and sons after their deaths.
	+ Guarded by the soulless, skeletal Raktesai and other bladed automatons. For this reason, a lot of army bases were built between the city of Rabmulud and the ziggurats along the mountain.
	+ Near the large city of Rabmulud, the founding capital of Rabydos.
	+ The region is known as Sarilli.
* Kigukku
	+ A medium-sized town located along the border to Fawesan.
	+ Known for its bronze bells and metallurgy. Guarded by an army of *muskhuskhu* Raktesai.
* Lōrilqas Peak
	+ The tallest mountain in northern Rabydos. The Burrow-city of Sūrnumil was the former base of operations to a band of Survivors that rode on chariots pulled by wolves, the Skarundim.
* Sinabur Peak (Two-head Peak)/Tyros Peak
	+ Named for its two forks on its peak and its Aspuruk skeletons. The Aspuruks were a race of two-headed aliens that invaded the world many years ago.
* Mount Ulnamdar
	+ A volcano wreathed in lightning storms.
* Tomb of Sum-shirim
	+ Burial place of the third king of the Exiles who founded Rabydos. Guarded by skeleton-like Raktesai.
* Diamond Pass
	+ A mountain pass known for its plentiful diamond deposits.
* Sands of Time
	+ A pool of sand formed after a chunk of jasper broke off from the mountain and crushed a tomb below. The only things that can safely navigate past the sand pool aside from aircraft and skiffs are camels.
* Howling Pass
	+ Named for its fierce winds.
* The Red Tomb
	+ Named for the spinel crystals that overwhelmed the tomb. It was the mausoleum of Sawarnum the Accursed, who rebelled against Rabydos' kings to keep some Celestial technology for himself.
* Bāb Mardukim
	+ A large gate built as a temple to Marduk. One of a few passages open to foreigners and still actively-maintained.
* Mount Dasar
	+ Its Burrow-City was home to the rebel duke Tasrim, who was slain by Rabydos' fourth king.
* Mulgar
	+ A small mining town near the mountains.
	+ Has an airport to the rest of Sevestrana and Rabydos.
* Akhalkarid March
	+ The territories of Rabydos to the north of the Jasper Mountains. Mostly jungle, with some cleared farmland and pasture.
	+ Ancient ruins are found scattered along the edges of the March, many of which are guarded by bandits and monsters.
* Golden Grave
	+ A tall mountain where rivers of molten gold flow underneath its caverns.
	+ Home to several Burrow-cities built and controlled by tribes of Lausorijo, clown-like ogres that fiercely protect their domain, known as the Hurāsim and Gišman. In later times, seven of the Lausorijo cities have submitted themselves as subjects of Rabydos.
	+ Three of those great cities were Azarsal, Nirrusal, and Gurasal. Azarsal is the capital of their league, simply known as the Hurasim Holds. It is now the regional authority for all Lausorijo regions and towns along the northern border. The Hurasim are ruled by a high king, elected by the other rulers. The other Burrow-Cities (known as holds or keeps; "aklakkim" in plural, "kalakku" in singular) each have their own kings or elected mayors, and all of them number up to 136 in total.
* Akbas (Eyeball) Rock
	+ A large spherical rock with cracks making it shaped like an eye.
	+ Notorious for its Zuronnonzo packs: while these wolf-like aliens are fierce warriors, they are also expert chefs in making venison and mutton.
* Forest of Blades, The Blood Forest
	+ Named for the blade-like rocks and spinel pillars scattered all over the southern side, the result of a rebellious lord who fought against the vampiric emperor of Rabydos. Little did he realise that the spinel crystals he detonated and destroyed himself with were consecrated by the northern gods, killing the dark gods forever.
	+ The Auteans once referred it as Maith Skobuithaz, the cursed mountain of blood and bone, later Mathskobar. It was the prison of the blood god Mjoth and the bone god Loth, trapped by Pulutukhas to stop them from slaughtering all people.
	+ It was later the tomb of an evil king, and then violated when the founder of Rabydos, Emperor Bel-muludpergum, entered its caverns to plunder its wealth. His grandson was cursed to become a vampire.
	+ A certain Celestial wandered there and carved several arches for travellers to cross the spinel "forest". These are known as the "Gates of Ruby" or the "Gates of Blood".
* Mount Wardakhtis
	+ A large volcano. Its volcanic soil fed large tracts of farmland.
* Naggalapu Mesa
	+ A large mesa named for its arid, pale surface appearing like the surface of the moon. Haunted by wandering bands of Zuronnonzo, wolf-like raiders that fight over its silver deposits.
	+ Also known for its stone monoliths erected to the Zuronnonzo's gods of war, the desert, the moon, and the sun.
* Kusiptar
	+ A major city located along the border to Sevestrana. One of a few border crossings that are safe to all travellers.
	+ Lausorijo send their sons (and some daughters) there to learn to be master smiths, as its academies are prized by engineers from all over the world. One of the most famous engineering schools in Kusiptar is known as the

* Mount Malimekh
	+ A mountain with more tombs to former nobility.
	+ Inhabited by alien bandits and rogues.

* Mount Arhiskai (Mountain of Screams)
	+ Believed to be inhabited by hundreds of angry *ezemat*, vengeful wraiths from past civilisations and wars.
	+ Notorious for being the site of a great battle and its skeletons. Taking advantage of its notoriety, an army built Raktesai droids shaped like skeletons to kill any trespasser who approaches the mountain's buildings.
* The Boiling Slopes
	+ Another volcano with lava flows, hence its name.
* Peak of Bleak Dawn
	+ The easternmost peak of the Jasper Mountains.

## Huneskir glossary

The Huneskir language, derived from an archaic form of Rabydosian, is the lingua franca of the Jasper Mountain Lausorijo. It has many words from their ancestral language, gradually influenced by the Rabydosian and indigenous Kekhaulid languages.

### Grammar

li (from til) - is, am, are

ina - towards

kla - all

### Numbers

* 0 - lā
* 1-10 - wēdo, isēn, selos, irba(j)e, khamso, šīda, sobe'a, somān(ej), taš('je), saru
* 100 - ilap
* 1000 - milaq, mi'ad, mejad

### Wordlist

* awil - man, human (pl: awilat)
* ikhta - alone
* kelkuri - Kalokei Ontemazei
* khazit - star
* lā - nothing (archaic Rabydosian for "no, not")
* li'on - mighty
* mahar - welcome
* qarik - spinel
* šarid - lord
* warīl - men, human heroes, champions

## In other languages

* Old Autean: Namthaddar (northern mountains), Tolisar (wall of the [heart of the known] world)
* Prumthesan: Nothnoddar (northern mountains), Toljesra (wall of the world)
* Sarmelonid: Oronja Jakkadūr
* Rabydosian: Yaqedūr Jebalat [jaqɛdor d͡ʒɛbalat], Yaqedūr Tūrārat [jaqɛdor tuːraːrat] ("Jasper Mountains", "Peaks of Orange Rock")
* Zuronnonzo: Sokhir Merazez ("Mountains of the Sun")
* Lausorijo (Huneskir): Hjarassan Vâron ("Peaks of Dusk"), Hesran Warni

## Trivia

* The Jasper Mountains were inspired by Jasper from Steven Universe and Nehekhara.
* For an idea of what Rabydosian culture looks like, it would be as a mixture of Akkadian and Iraqi art.
* Several battlecries used in ancient Rabydos are still used by the modern Rabydosians and their Lausorijo allies and students, mostly to invoke their patron deity Marduk:
	+ Barasakusu Baalduru - "Benevolent Lord of Justice"
	+ Banutukku - "Dispeller of Chaos"
	+ Asaruludu Banmaskim - "Wielder of the Burning Blade" (also the official motto of the Rabydosian Armed Forces, and the national war cry of all of Rabydos)
	+ Namru Bakakalmu - "Lord and Source of All Knowledge"