Norheim

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## **Description**

**Norheim**, (Now known officially as ***"Greater Cloudrock Isle"***) is an island region of the continent of **Bariquel** located in the **Superior Sea**, northeast to the province of **Northhaven**, and northwest to the province **Cloudspire.** Norheim Isle is a member of the ***"Northrend Territories,"*** a blanket title given to ten large islands found off the northern coast of Bariquel in that of the Superior Sea. For much of its history, Norheim served as a protectorate state to that of Northhaven, the **Westland Empire's** true northernmost province. However, upon the conclusion of the **Bloodied Sea** in **2,850 YM**, and the subsequent defeat of Northhaven by that of Cloudspire, control over the Norheim region was given to the latter province and has remained so to the present day.

Despite being seen as one of the less important territories of the Westland Empire, Norheim has an extremely varied history and culture. In modern history, the island was first conquered by **Haethiod Vuldameek** in **939 YM**, during her northward treks into the then uncharted Superior Sea. Following the addition of Northhaven into the Westland Empire, Norheim has been a region under the continental superpower's control, and has remained so to the present day.

Famously, Norheim once served as the seat of power to the ancient **Amaranth Heir**, **Itilgoloth**. Under his reign, Norheim was transformed into a hellish waste of wriggling, gnashing tentacles, the mirror-image of his lord, the **Wriggling Abyss.** However, his kingdom would fall to ruin, and Itilgoloth himself would be magically trapped underneath the Norheim Isle. He would once again be unleashed upon the island in **3,000 YM** following the subsequent **Mavishift** weakening his magical bindings, but his ultimate defeat came soon after at the hands of the Amaranth Heir **Oblivion Mystara**.

## **History**

### **Archaistic Era**

Though much of Norheim's history during the **Early** to **Middle Archaistic Eras** remains in large part a mystery to the modern day, it is known that the **Edian Empire** held a presence on the island, albeit a minor one. The island was viewed by the **Edia** to be one of the lesser important territories the continent of Bariquel held. Despite the Edian Empire being famed for their global dominating presence, advanced technology, and military might, it seemed they held little to no interest in holding much territory over many of the outlying islands across the Superior Sea, including that of Norheim. While there were some minor settlements located throughout the landmass, most of these were small villages or hamlets that acted merely as stop-offs along trade routes, rather than functioning as any sort of major settlement.

These isolated Edian communities were not unique to Norheim, but rather were found across much of the Superior Sea. However, despite the Edian Empire's ironfisted rule over the Bariquel continent mainland, the islands of the Superior Sea were almost lawless by comparison, making them a hub for other less powerful races to thrive upon. Particularly, the polar bear-like ***"Kolamar,"*** whose natural hardiness to the extreme colds allowed them to live on the hostile island with minimal protection. This led to many of the smaller settlements on Norheim being home to nomadic tribes who would travel from place to place depending on where their resources could be found. As such, while the island was technically under the control of the Edian Empire, it did not see much use by the aforementioned global superpower.

With this in mind, it should come as no surprise that the island experienced its fair share of trouble throughout the era, including a long history of pirate raids and violent skirmishes between various nomadic factions and groups. Such incidents often left Norheim in ruins, with entire towns and villages burned to the ground due to the violence. This was particularly true of the southern coast of the island, which saw far more attacks from pirates and other brigands than any other region. Still, it is believed that this was only because of the relative ease by which ships could reach this area due to its lack of natural defenses. The northern portions of the island, however, were largely untouched, likely due to the fact that the more remote areas had little value to those who wanted to raid the island.

As time went on, some of the nomads eventually settled into permanent homes, building larger villages, towns, and cities across the island. Most of these were concentrated on Norheim's southern and western sides, near the coastal regions. This was the result of the nomads seeking out more fertile lands and water sources in order to build up a viable population. Further inland, nomads would continue to roam freely, with many establishing themselves around the many rivers that flowed through the land. Some even chose to settle near the mountains, though these areas were generally sparsely populated. Despite this, the nomadic peoples of Norheim still retained their customs and traditions well into the middle archaic period.

The late archaic period saw a great deal of change take hold across the island. It seems that some of the nomadic tribes began to form alliances with each other, forming a loose confederation of clans in order to better defend against the constant threat of invasion from pirates and other groups. A few of these people also decided to send out expeditions to explore the rest of the Superior Sea and beyond, looking for new lands to settle. These exploratory missions were not always successful, however, with many of these expeditions either failing utterly or being forced back by the climate conditions. Nonetheless, this newfound sense of cooperation and unity between nomads and other settlers alike would prove useful during the coming centuries, as it would help keep the island defended against pirate raids.

### **Rise of Nagrunok**

With the collapse of the Edian Empire, due to Norheim's comparatively little presence in the world-spanning superpower, the island remained largely unaffected by the cataclysmic event. With the Edia gone, however, many of the nomadic tribes that lived on Norheim joined together to establish a new nation. They called their new country ***"Nagrunok",*** meaning *"the land of the nomads."* Though the culture of the people had been evolving toward an increasingly sedentary lifestyle, the people of Nagrunok still kept many of their traditional ways intact, including their nomadic traditions. The first king of Nagrunok was named **Sreshak Skolldava**, who unified the scattered tribes of the island under his rule in the year **36 YM**, making the kingdom of Nagrunok one of the very first mortalborne powers upon the entire planet.

Sreshak was able to accomplish the unification of the disparate Kolamar tribes in large part due to both his own individual physical strength and prowess, but also the strength in his words. He weaved great songs and tales telling of the promise of unity, passion, and strength. That all of Norheim would prosper should they come as one. One tribe with one goal. And so it came to be. A major factor in this would be the invented faith known as the *"**Pillars of the World,"*** one of the few faiths of Haven lacking in reverence to any of the Divines of the Thirteen Realms. Instead, it believed by its practitioners that the world was controlled by four great pillars of north, south, east, and west, with Norheim itself serving as the world's northern pillar, and its Kolamar peoples being blessed with a special connection to these pillars because they were formed from the very same ethereal stone known as ***"Norshamar"***

For a time, Nagrunok prospered, becoming a regional power that rivaled many of the other fledging nations of Bariquel. Their culture was heavily influenced by their nomadic traditions, this nomadic nature also made them adept at raiding and pillaging along the coastlines of neighboring islands, most notably that of Cloudrock Isle south of Norheim, alongside regions of the northern Bariquel mainland's coastline. This effectively kept the Nagrunok militarily strong, though the nation's influence never expanded beyond the Norheim island itself. Though the Nagrunok people would long covet the smaller Cloudrock Isle due to its relatively close proximity to Norheim itself, causing them to believe that the southern island was their birthright.

In the decades that would follow, under the reign of King Sreshak, the Nagrunok Culture would thrive on the island, as very little in the form of dissent would occur. Even as a more unified cultural face began to form among the continental north of Bariquel, Norheim Isle remained a distinctive land all of its own. As time went on, however, the island fell into a state of stagnation, with the only major development taking place within the nation. The people of Nagrunok became increasingly focused on maintaining their hard-won status quo, rather than expanding into anything else. This would lead to several generations of stagnation, with little happening in the way of political progress on the island. Those who were born on the island, however, came of age without ever having seen any sign of conflict or war.

To prevent further stagnation of both the island and its people, King Sreshak would spend the latter half of his reign beginning new and grandiose projects for the nation, the first of which was the mapping out of the neighboring islands in the Superior Sea which began in **98 YM**, with exploratory Nagrunok ships being sent in all four cardinal directions, in accordance to the Pillars of the World faith. From the north, they would discover the shores of the island of Alianna, while to the west they'd see the great Vorminheim Isles. They'd sail far enough east to find the monstrously large isle Galriel, and to the south, they'd find the continental mainland's regions of Northhaven, Cloudspire, High Castle, and Maidensong.

These expeditions, while mostly successful, did experience several disasters, as the waters remained largely uncharted to the people of Norheim, several ships and their crews would ultimately meet their doom at the hands of devastating arctic storms, large icebergs, or even monstrous sea beasts which call the Superior waters home. These would later go on to become popularized stories in the oral histories of the island, such as the tale of the three ships which set sail for the **Great White Glacier** in **103 YM**, where they encountered a terrifying beast that would destroy the ships, sending the crew to their deaths. The last Nagrunok expedition would set sail for the Vorminheim Isles in **106 YM**, ultimately meeting its doom at the hands of the great northern gales.

The most significant and grandiose of these great works programs would be the construction of the very Pillars of the World which the Nagrunok people held in such reverence. Beginning in 106 YM alongside the last exploratory expedition, great stone pillars would be erected upon the northernmost, southernmost, westernmost, and easternmost parts of the main Norheim Isle. Each of the pillars represented the four cardinal directions of the world, and each pillar was formed from the same mysterious and divine stone known as *Norshamar* which the Nagrunok people believed they were sculpted from. These pillars would serve as a reminder to the people of the importance of the pillars to Norheim's history, and that the people of Norheim had a special bond with them. Ultimately taking decades to accomplish, the last of the World Pillars would be completed in the year **166 YM**, marking the end of the Nagrunok Golden Age.

### **Nagrunok War of Succession**

Concurrent with the completion of the Pillars of the World, King Sreshak would perish unexpectedly from an undiscovered illness of the liver. His death brought about a great period of unrest for the island, as the people of Nagrunok grew increasingly concerned about who would succeed him. Due to Sreshak not fathering any children throughout his reign, the Kingdom of Nagrunok lacked a true heir to the throne. Many of the leading nobles of the island had been close friends of the deceased monarch and thus felt that they had the right to ascend to the throne of Nagrunok. While there were attempts at diplomacy, the desire for personal power infected nearly all of the highest echelons of Nagrunok society, and soon after battle lines would begin to be drawn. It would not take long before the nobility of the land engaged in open warfare against one another, with the commoners either siding with one side or the other. This conflict would later be known as the *"**Nagrunok War of Succession,"*** and its waging would soon engulf all of Norheim Isle.

Like much of Nagrunok society, these factions vying for control over the island were formed alongside the four cardinal directions of north, south, west, and east. The southernmost faction, named ***"Mythakhan,"*** due to their advantageous location on the isle, remained the foremost and dominant power of the isle. Their naval might and position on the most temperate region of the island allowed them to send fleets of warships to the four corners of the isle, bombarding the settlements located upon the coastlines. This naval might allowed them to conquer nearly the whole of eastern Norheim by the year **172 YM**. This utter dominance proved so threatening that the western and northern factions of the Isle were forced to form an alliance with one another in order to even begin to match Mythakhan's ferocity.

As the conflict dragged on, the great pillars that stood upon the four corners of the island began to show signs of decay and disrepair. While the people of Nagrunok continued to worship the pillars, many began to believe that the pillars themselves were magical and/or divine in nature, and that these flaws were reflections of the violence that befell the isle. In the ensuing chaos, many of the noble families' children sought to escape the fighting, leaving their parents behind to wage war against one another. Some of these children would go on to seek refuge within the lands of neighboring nations, like that of the northern island of Alianna. By **188 YM**, when the last of the pillars were toppled, the Pillars of the World had been destroyed in the process of the civil war, leaving the people of Nagrunok bereft of the former symbolic connection to the pillars of the world.

After the Pillars of the World had been destroyed, the people of Norheim experienced a period of great turmoil and strife. Several generations of children were born during the war and they would grow up without any knowledge of the existence of the pillars and instead began to worship the Pillars of the World as mere symbols of power and authority. During this time, the nation would enter its greatest dark age of isolationism, refusing to accept any visitors from outside of Norheim's borders. There would be no more exploration or settlement of new lands, and the nation's economy would plummet into stagnation.

As the decades wore on, the once proud people of Nagrunok would become increasingly isolated from the rest of the Northrend Territories, and the continent at large. Only the occasional merchant ship from the mainland would make its way past the collective faction's coastal defenses, and even then, the merchants would only stop at the island's shores to gather supplies for trade. Fewer and fewer people would venture to the island, and those who did would eventually be met with hostility, as the people of Nagrunok would come to view anyone who ventured onto the island as a potential enemy. The northern and western factions of the island would do their best to try and foster a lasting peace with the southern and eastern factions, but for the most part, this would prove fruitless. The years following the destruction of the Pillars of the World would prove to be nothing short of difficult for the people of Norheim. With no more pillars of power to unite them, the four factions of the island would continue to fight against each other.

By the year **205 YM**, the war would end, however, no effective monarch would remain in order to take their place as ruler of Norheim Isle. And as the majority of the Isle was left in ruins, many of the people of Norheim would lose all hope for the future and even consider abandoning the island entirely. Some o the people of Norheim would never abandon their homeland, clinging to the old ways, hoping for a return to the glory days of the golden age, even as the island itself began to fall into ruin. And so the people of Norheim would live on, in a desperate attempt to preserve some semblance of their old life.

### **Rise of New Nagrunok**

With the war's end ultimately resulting in a stalemate, the whole of Norheim Isle was left standing in total shambles, as much of the population remained in total isolation from one another, while others would leave the island altogether and seek refuge elsewhere. By the yea**r 210 YM**, the four factions of Norheim had begun to break apart entirely, and many of the remaining members of the nobility of the island began to voluntarily relinquish their positions of power and authority, unable to meet the callings' demands. As many of the nobles gave up their titles, the remaining ones would be left to deal with the responsibilities of governing what little remained whole on the island. This period of uncertainty would lead to further decline of the once great island of Norheim.

In the years following the war, the only thing the people of Norheim could focus on was rebuilding the nation, and restoring the ancient pillars of power that had once been the symbol of authority and unity among the people of the island. For many years, the people of Norheim would struggle against one another in a desperate attempt to rebuild their nation, however, it would not be until the year **225 YM** when from amongst the common masses, a Kolamar woman named ***"Baefael Nornaleth"*** would rise up and gain prominence over the rest of the people of Norheim. Baefael came from humble beginnings, and unlike her predecessors, she was not a member of any of the noble houses of the island.

Coming from more humble backgrounds, Baefael's family had fled the carnage of the Succession War years past and made a home on the continental mainland. Once upon the continent proper, Baefael would find herself in the court of a wealthy Mythra noblewoman within what would eventually become western Northhaven. In this court, Baefael would learn the intricacies of politics, economics, commerce, and trade. While at first, she did not know how to best utilize these skills, by the time the war had ended on Norheim, Baefael had quickly risen through the ranks to become an influential figure in the court. Eventually, she would resolve to leave her position in the Northhaven court and return back to her beloved home isle, hoping to make use of her new skills of leadership and administration to help rebuild the nation. With little opposition, Baefael returned to the isle of Norheim, where she would soon begin to take steps toward reforming the broken state of her homeland.

Once returning in 225 YM, and seeing the nation of Nagrunok in such a dire state, new invigoration filled her heart and she set out to create a new nation that would serve her people better than ever before. She would make visits to each of the few remaining sparse settlements across the isle, hoping to get others willing to join her in this cause. While at first, the people were intentionally reprehensive towards the idea of reconstituting Nagrunok, fearing it would bring about further bloodshed on the island, things soon changed after she presented them with the possibility of becoming part of something greater than themselves. The people would come to see Baefael's vision of the future, and together they would begin the work of rebuilding their nation. By the time **230 YM** approached, the majority of the island's citizens were under Baefael's leadership, and she had successfully brought together all the disparate group to establish a single government.

Now having large enough support by the island's populace, she set out to recreate the same sort of great works programs the late Sreshak Skolldava had done in the centuries past. By her orders, all of the resources of the island were put into the rebuilding of the former capital of Nagrunok, Mythakhan. With the aid of the many laborers, craftsmen, and artisans of the island, along with the assistance of the numerous merchants, traders, and explorers, Baefael would soon have the city rebuilt far beyond its original glory, completing their work by **243 YM**. However, she knew that there were still many challenges ahead for her country.

As the decades passed, the people of Norheim continued to prosper. Together, they worked to build and rebuild their nation anew. Over time, more cities and towns would be built across the isle, and more settlers and refugees would arrive from across the Superior Sea, including those who had once lived on the island but had fled to escape the last century's bloodshed. However, the greatest of these works programs would be the ultimate restoration of the island's most prized idols, the Pillars of the World. After years of work, by 264 YM, the Four Pillars were restored to their former glory and brought back to be the center of the island's cultural and religious face, where they would stand watch over the nation for generations to come.

As Norheim continued to slowly rebuild itself, Baefael would continue to take steps forward in helping improve the lives of the people. One of the foremost issues for the people of Norheim was their lack of access to basic resources such as food, fuel, and medicine. To address this problem, she ordered the building of several small agricultural villages and farming communities throughout the island, so that the people could once again grow and cultivate crops and produce their own food. After a long and difficult effort to recover from the wars, the people of Norheim were finally able to begin focusing on the prosperity of their land, rather than simply surviving from day to day.

## **Geography**

### **Graecoast**

The **Graecoast** is the name given to the region of land nearly consisting all throughout southern Norheim Isle, alongside several outlying smaller islands. Its landscape consists mainly of snow-covered rocks, weather-beaten by the constancy of the south Superior Sea waters crashing upon the coastline. The climate of the Graecoast tends toward extreme cold, with temperatures dipping down to a balmy -10 degrees Celsius (14 degrees Fahrenheit) at times during the winter months. During the summer months, however, the weather can warm up to around 0 degrees Celsius (32 degrees Fahrenheit), and in some rare cases even higher.

Across the rocky coast, small pockets of conifer forests grow between the blankets of snow that cover much of the area. These forests are home to many species of animals, ranging from arctic foxes and reindeer to snow leopards and wolves. In other areas where there aren't conifers growing, thick patches of tundra grasses and flowers can be found blooming. The sparse vegetation provides little in terms of food for most of the wildlife which live on the Graecoast, thus they often rely primarily upon their own hunting skills or resources provided by travelers passing through the area.

Further inland of the Graecoast, numerous large mountain ranges shoot upwards in spectacular fashion. The peaks are covered with snow year-round and often are subjected to harsh winter storms. This is a particularly snowy region and the mountains have been known to receive hundreds of feet of snowfall in one storm. During the summer months, though, fierce rainstorms and flooding are common. When this happens, great deluges rush down the mountainside, with enough force to smash entire forests to bits. These raging torrents can be heard for miles around, and they are frequently seen as dark clouds against the bright blue sky. Alongside inland mountains, towards the northern Graecoast exists an area of towering peaks and deep valleys, mountains riddled with caves and grottos, hiding many secrets within their depths. Frozen waterfalls cascade down the sides of the cliffs, creating vast ice fields that stretch far into the distance. The more southern parts of the High Mountains are covered with dense arctic forests, containing numerous frigid forms of flora and fauna.

### **Luthrik Forest**

Stretching across nearly all of central Norheim Isle, the vast **Luthrik Forest** can be found. Consisting of thousands upon thousands of conifers trees such as **Pine** and **Ceving**, the Luthrik Forest is a cold, immense expanse of hardy vegetation. The thick tree lines of the Luthrik Forest are home to a wide variety of wildlife including numerous species of wolves, bears, deer, wild boar, and many more. While not inherently dangerous, it's important for travelers to take caution when traversing this forest due to the presence of many species of predatory fauna which call the forest home.

Nearly on a daily basis throughout the year, the Luthrik Forest is subjected to a seemingly endless jet of snow falling down from the sky above, leaving the ground covered in meters of thick white powder. Snow drifts are common all across the reaches of the forest, covering everything in sight with miles upon miles of white fluff. The wind that blows through the forest is cold and bitter, making it difficult for people apart of races not accustomed to the extreme cold to walk outside, even in the summer months.

Despite its harsh nature, Luthrik Forest also serves as an important source of lumber for both construction and decoration among the cities of Norheim. It is also abundant in wild herbs that are used by many of the people of Norheim for cooking and medicinal purposes. Small villages can be found sparsely settled across the forest, but their populations rarely exceed two dozen or so due to the extremity of the location, leaving only those accustomed to the harsh conditions able to make a home here. A few larger settlements had been established in the southern portion of Luthrik Forest, but most are largely abandoned as their populations chose more in favor to move towards the more densely populated cities.

### **Lake Valagar**

Located near the center of the Luthrik Forest lies the vast Lake Valagar. Stretching for an area of land of 5,291 square kilometers, (3,287 square miles) it is an immense inland sea of frigid fresh water. Thermal shockingly cold, Lake Valagar's waters reach immense temperatures of cold well in excess of -48 degrees Celsius (-55 Fahrenheit). The lake itself holds a deep blue color that is tinged with green and brown from its many layers of sediment. Its deepest point reaches 1,386 meters (4,600 feet), making it one of the deepest lakes on the planet.

Lake Valagar is home to numerous species of fish, amphibians, and even some birds. In particular, there are quite a few species of waterfowl and duck-like creatures that inhabit this body of water. There are also several freshwater turtles that can be found here as well, swimming about the surface or basking on rocks along the shoreline, though only those capable of withstanding the extreme cold have been spotted within these waters. The lake's most notable inhabitants, however, are the immensely large species of predatory fish native to its depths. These include giant Aboleths, and Leviathans, which prey upon smaller fish by dragging them from the shallows towards the darkened deep where they can more easily consume their meals. A few of these monsters can grow up to hundreds of feet in length, and some even larger than this, but such sightings are rare. Other large beasts that dwell within Lake Valagar are the giant eels called **Maelstroms**. These massive serpents, like the Leviathans, are capable of swallowing entire boats whole if so inclined

Due to its immensity in both size, and life, Lake Valagar serves as a vital part of Norheim Isle as a whole, acting as one of the most major food and fresh water sources on the island. As such, fishing here is extremely popular amongst the locals who live in the surrounding regions. Because of the high level of danger involved, however, it is not uncommon to see fishing guilds set up shop along the shores of the lake. As result of its many advantageous features, the only major city in the region, Fefnir, was settled right upon its northern coast.

### **Voldamyr Mountains**

Constituting the majority of Norheim Isle's eastern shores, the Voldamyr Mountains are spread far and wide through the snow-laden lands. Its tallest peaks rise above the clouds and provide a spectacular view for those who can climb them. Within this region, the island's tallest mountain, Mt Vuldameek, stands at a height of over twenty thousand feet (6,100 meters). Its landscape consists mainly of snowy, wind-battered wastes, and steep, ice-covered rocky inclines. In some places, it is possible to find small caves or shelters that have been carved out by the cold winds of winter. The mountains provide an excellent vantage point from which one may observe the seas around the island, including both the ocean and its many regions.

Many species of monstrous arctic fauna call their homes within the Voldamyr, as only the most hardened of creatures can withstand the extremity of the region's environment. These include great species of ice trolls such as the Gollusk, a species endemic to the region. Many other dangerous beasts inhabit the icy reaches of the Voldamyr, including wyverns, great ice serpents, and snow dragons, alongside more aberrant forms of life such as frost elementals, or icy Daevolin. Living alongside these fearsome beasts sit species of arctic flowers, trees, and other flora suitable to grow in the extreme cold.

As its landscape is extremely harsh in both terrain, and climate, no major settlements have been established within the region. Instead, only minor hamlets can be found hugging along the jagged mountain lines, or at the bases of steep cliffs. In addition to this, there are a few fortresses that dot the landscape. These fortresses were constructed when the established protectorate of Norheim was young, and as such, most remain abandoned and forgotten. Most of the region's sparse population relies on agriculture and hunting for sustenance, though some have turned to mining operations deep inside the mountains. The latter has proven to be lucrative, with many finding veins of precious metals scattered throughout the mountainous areas, though the profits are not without their own risks.

### **Norfross Region**

Throughout most of the northern regions of Norheim Isle, the vast snowy wasteland known as ***"Norfross"*** stretches for hundreds of kilometers in every direction. Norfross is very much a blanket term referring to the region itself, the frigid river which stretches down towards the Voldamyr Mountains, its own outlying mountaintops, and the major settlement established in northern Norheim Isle. It stands as the second most immense region of the isle behind that of the Luthrik Forest. This entire region is covered by snow year-round, and all that can be seen are barren mountains, frozen lakes, and rocky outcroppings. As the name indicates, the Northern region is frigid all year. Snowfall is common throughout the winter months and rarely does the temperature rise above -25 degrees Celsius (-14 degrees Fahrenheit).

The Norfross River flows down through the middle of the region from the north until it reaches the southernmost point where it splits eastward, carving through the Norfross Mountains towards the Voldamyr Mountains where it deposits into Lake Vernakhan. Its waters are amongst the most frigid of the isle, -50 degrees Celsius (-58 Fahrenheit) at their warmest. The river's current is slow but steady, making for treacherous travel along its banks due to the precarious footing. In some areas, ice has formed on the water itself, forming what is called "ice bridges," which are narrow, floating platforms constructed of large sheets of ice that have been naturally frozen together. These can easily support several people at once and are used to cross the river.

Like the region in which they inhabit, the creatures which dwell across the Norfross Region are often large and powerful predatory arctic beasts, of these creatures are nocturnal hunters and avoid the harsh cold during the day. However, the small number of species that exist here make up for their size in intelligence and cunning. Most of them live alone or in pairs, as opposed to being part of packs like those found elsewhere on the isle.

### **Mount Frossflame**

Mount Frossflame, while referring to both the great peak, and the surrounding region, is most often associated with that of the Cryovolcano which stands atop the northernmost region of Norheim Isle. One of only six in the known world, Mount Frossflame is the most unique geological feature of the island, acting as a massive physical gateway between Haven, and **Confluxia's** **Plane of Frost.** Innumerable aberrant elementals and materials birthed from the endless condensation of Frost which are

This mountain is a true volcano, one which has erupted many times since the creation of the world, a fact which has caused massive death tolls in the past due to the ferocity of its eruptions. The last major eruption was well over two thousand years ago to the modern day, and there are those who believe it may not erupt again for another few centuries at least. As such, Mount Frossflame is considered to be a sacred place by many, and many rituals have been performed on the mountain over the ages.

## **Fauna**

Many species of endemic fauna call the Norheim Isle, alongside the outlying islands home. Most creatures who call its shores home are large, arctic beasts of ferocious strength and magnitude. These creatures all have an affinity for cold weather climates, some even being able to survive in freezing temperatures without a problem. Other creatures who call the Norheim Isle home include forms of Frost Elementals or arctic Daevolin, as well as non-endemic arctic animals.