Maniitloq Region

\The Maniitloq region is the most northwestern area in Agea, and is sometimes called part of the northern region of Sisuk. It is home to a handful of tribes, and is sparsely populated. Rules for playing as these tribes are provided, but it is recommended that this region is used as a setting for exploring parties due to the sparse, nomadic nature of the inhabitants.

## Peoples

The native tribes of Maniitloq are the Manil'uqh in the interior and on the southern coast, the Hiuralik of the arctic north, the Qaqurluk of the east, and the Nutaarqortoq of the islands which bare their name.

Like many other tribes, pinning down exact hiustory of these tribes is difficult as they all ustilizing oral hsitory. The purpose of this oral histoy falls more in the realm of entertainemnt and mythology rather than pure education. There are few dates given and little consistancy between tribes about the history. While there are some unified tales of small conflicts and bad hunting seasons, major historical events are hard to pin down and chronicle.

The first contact the tribes had with Eloth was in year MDCXLVIII, when explorers from Vladirkuta sailed across the Sioloq sea. Various other expiditions were mounted but trade finally began in year MDCCXLIII. Many small outposts were made along the Nutaarqortoq islands, with a handful becoming permenant settlements for dedicated traders. Vladirkutan traders are brutal, and often forced the Nutaarqortoq to work for them for little pay, however recently they have been urged from their ruler to lightne up and be kinder to the population. Tensions continue to be tense between the natives and the Vladirkutans, which is definatly not helped by the reduction in animal population and the spread of disease.

On the mainland, relations are slightly better. There are fewer settlements, mostly sticking to the eastern coast. While the problems of reduction in animals and disease spread are an issue, the Qaqurluk and Manitl'uqh have reportadly been treated much better by the Vladirkutans than the Nutaarqortoq.

In addition to trade with Valirkuta, the Sioloq sea has become a favored spot by Elothian whalers and a key area in the trade of blubber and whale oil. Whaling in the arctic began in year MDCCXXX and was spearheaded by Kilguard and Nieuwleen. Commercial whale hunting is practiced all over Agea, but is especially popular in the arctic due to the high density of whales and the eagerness to aide by native tribes.

## Geography

Maniitloq is divided into five distinct regions; the south central, the southwest, the interior, the northern slope and the Nutaarqortoq islands.

The Major mountain ranges are the Maniitloq, Nutaarqortoq,

The Maniitloq range is a narrow mountain range that runs from Gathering lake in the west to the White river in the east (650 km total). It is the third tallest mountain range in Ilaria. The mountains have some of the harshest winds and most adverse weather in Ilaria, making them very rarely crossed. They boast a large number of glaciers, and are crossed by four rivers. The tallest mountain in Agea, The Tall One (6190 m), peaks right on the edge of the south central region. The Tall One has two summits and five major glaciers, with one being the longest in the Maniitloq range.

The Nutaarqortoq range is a very long range that extends from Napasup river to Umiak island, a part of the Nutaarqortoq islands (1000 km long). Most of it's islands are volcanic, and it's a core formation of the Nutaarqortoq islands. The highest peak is the Forbidden One (3,018 m), a large, active stratovolcano just out of Tikahtnu inlet, it erupts frequently. The Guiding Mountain is the tallest peak of the Nutaarqortoq islands (2857 m), it is an active stratovolcano and is wrapped in layers of glaciers. Other active, frequently erupting volcanoes are The Humbled One (Stratovolcano, 2,515 m), One who smokes (Stratovolcano, 2,047 m), and the Cratered One (Shield volcano, 1,073 m).

The Spirit Ridge range is the northernmost mountain range. There about 1,100 km long, and nearly completely uninhabited. It's tallest peak is The Ruler, which stands at 2,736 m.

The South central is where Maniitloq connects back to Greater Agea (The Outside, as the inhabits call it), this region is formed by six mountain ranges (Maniitloq, Illornaq, The Smokies, Kuummanaq, Kapisup, and Nutaarqortoq) with sparse forests and shrublands across the interior and the coast. It sits along the gulf of Maniitloq. It includes the Tikahtnu inlet, the Good Peninsula, and the Warrior's sound along it's coast. These areas contain many glaciers, mountains, volcanoes and small islands.

**The Illornaq range** runs just below the northern border of the south central region, 160 km in length. These mountains are gridled by the Trails End and Sandy River valleys in the west, with swampy, lake scattered lowlands to the east. The interiors of the mountains are tall and coated with grand glaciers. It's highest peak is known as Sovereign One, and stands at 2.69 km tall.

**The Smokies** are a small, volcanic range in east. Most peaks are over 4,000 meters tall. The Blackened One is the tallest peak (4996 m) and is the fifth tallest volcano in Agea. However, it is inactive and completely covered in icefields. The Smokey One is an active shield volcano in the east, standing at 4,317 m, it is prone to frequent, small scale, smoky eruptions. Some tribes believe it to control the weather.

**The Kuummanaq range** is the Maniitloq part of the Coatimoata range, and is around 402 km long. It is bordered by the Tikahtnu inlet on the west and the Athacola river on the east, to the north is the Trails End river. These mountains get more snow than anywhere else in the world, and are rarely climbed. It's tallest mountain is The Holy One, standing at 4,016 m.

**The Kapisup range** is a small and insignificant range, only 97 km long. It is mostly made up of volcanoes, and is a patch of mountains sandwiched between the Nutaarqortoq range in the north and the Maniitloq range to the south. It's tallest peak, The Frozen One, stands at 3,479 m. The One who Burns is the most prominent stratovolcano in the region, and has erupted multiple times.

The interior is the central region, and contains all of the non-coastal land. It's contained by the Maniitloq range to the south and the Spirit Ridge mountains to the North. It has a contained mountain range, the Tonazoc mountains, who's tallest peak reaches 1,682 m. Most of the interior is pure, untamed wilderness.

The southwest contains the last parts of mainland Maniitloq, before it splinters into the Nutaarqortoq islands. Most of the land here is coastal, but does include many forests, swamps and mountains. The mountains in this region are part of the Nutaarqortoq range, and it is home to many of Maniitloq's volcanoes. Much of the southwest is a part of the Valley of 10,000 smokes, this barren wasteland is full of smoke and ashes leftover from the countless eruptions of the volcanoes that border it. Notable volcanoes in the southwest include The Newborn (lavadome, 841 m), Mount Blackfish (Startovolcano, 3,053 m, mostly inactive), and The Venerable (Forms an entire island, stratovolcano, 1,260 m).

Islands of the southwest include the Fur Seal islands, a favored hunting and trade spot, and Saarpaluk island, which is home to a Qaqurluk village. The Saqluk River and the Slow Moving river's deltas both form in the southwest. It's coastline includes the Goodnews bay, Meeting Place bay, and Ittoluk archipelago.

Meeting Place bay has tidal extremes of 10m and is full of shoals, sandbars, and shallows. It is an extremely dangerous bay, especially for aquatic travel. The Ittoluk archipelago is the home of the second largest island in Agea (Ittoluk island), it is mostly forested and is home to many glaciers. Southwestern Maniitloq has some of the highest salmon density in Ilaria.

The northern slope is the northernmost region of Maniitloq and is mostly made up by the Spirit Ridge mountains. It runs along the Ikagaarsuit sea and the Saarpaluk sea. This is the arctic region of Maniitloq, and is home to a sparse number of Hiuralik tribes, who are the most active in trade with southern tribes and fur traders.

The Nuutarqortoq islands are a chain of islands (14 major, 55 minor), they bridge the gap between Agea and Sisune, beginning in the Maniitloq peninsula and ending in the Krykin peninsula, separating the Sioloq sea from the Coatimoata ocean. The islands are prone to earthquakes and are nearly always covered in thick marine fog. Niaqormijit, in the far west of the chain, is the largest uninhabited island in Ilaria, while Umiak island is the largest overall. Kapisilrasak is home to the only geyser field in Maniitloq, but is mostly uninhabited. Active volcanoes on the island include Mt. Chuginadak, fire-breathing mountain, and The Guiding Mountain.

Major rivers include the Saqluk, Slow Moving , Porcupine, and Trail river. Saqluk is the longest river in Maniitloq (3,190 km), and beings at Marsh Lake in greater Agea before fraying out into many different channels at it's coastal delta and emptying into the Sioloq sea. The Slow Moving River (1129 km) is formed by various tribunes that culminate in the Dichinanek mountains (named after the river), it then flows through the forests and is fed by the many lakes until it reaches the Dichinanek bay and empties into the Sioloq sea. The Porcupine river is the oldest settled place in Agea, and is th elargest tribune of the Saqluk river (916 km). Trail river forks off from the Culialapa river, then flows latterly down the Maniitloq mountians before turinging into a large marsh called the Tene No valley. It sees extremely thick ice cover in the winter, and is about 940 km long.

Major Lakes include Blackfish lake, the largest (and third largest in Agea, at about 2,622 km2), Sisimiut lake, Chilivik lake, Lake Lagoon, the largest arctic lake, and Iginniarvik lake.

## Climate

The southern regions of Maniitloq are quite mild, with clear weather, light rain and moderate snow. Strong winds blow from the southeast every winter, but this is by far the most pleasant area of Maniitloq. The average temperatures for the seasons are as follows (Win-autm); 15 degrees, 40 degrees, 63 degrees, 35 degrees.

The western region is moderate, but extremely rainy. It's weather is mostly dictated by the bays of the region, making it a foggy, stormy place. The average temperatures for the seasons are as follows; 5 degrees, 20 degrees, 50 degrees, 30 degrees.

The eastern regions are where the weather becomes its warmest, reaching up to 90 degrees in the summer. Nearly all of it's precipitation occurs in autumn. The average temperatures for the seasons are as follows; -10 degrees, 29 degrees, 80 degrees, 20 degrees.

The northern regions match the arctic climate of the rest of northern Agea. With it's extreme sunlight patterns, constant snow and permentantly below freezing temperature. The average temperatures for the seasons are as follows; - 15 degrees, 5 degrees, 40 degrees, 15 degrees.

The Nutaarqortoq islands see rainfall and fog year round. It is by far one of the rainiest places, with rain falling nearly every day of the year. The average temperatures for the seasons are as follows; 30 degrees, 36 degrees, 50 degrees, 45 degrees.

Winters are long and cold, while summers are rather short and cool. Storms typically occur in autumn, with the summer being almost always clear.

Wildfires, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, landslides and severe storms all pose threats to Maniitloq. Historically, a few cyclones have formed in the Sioloq sea, but these are uncommon.

## Phenomena

In the arctic region, the Aurora Borealis can be seen during the night. These magnificent lights are only visible at night in the arctic and are truly the most beautiful thing the ecosystem has to offer. They take many different forms, either as cloud-like patches, grand arcs across the sky, many rays of overlapping color, or as sun-like coronas of light. They can be any bright shade of red, green, blue, yellow, or pink. As the night progresses, the lights tend to form into Coronas.

Alpenglow, the reflection of light on ice crystals, can be seen amongst the mountains during sunrise and sunset. Making the peaks glow an ethereal pink. On cold days, the sun will gain a ring 22 degrees outside of it. This is called a Sundog, because it is like a pack of dogs is running around the sun to catch it.

Some Rivers can gain waves up to 3 meters tall, these happen twice a day and typically only occur on western rivers.

A not so beautiful phenomena is what Elothians refer to as the Maniitloq Triangle. This triangle reaches from the very tip of the central north, down to the end of Tikahtnu Inlet, and finally tapering at the archipelago where Greater Agea begins. Within this triangle, a large amount of people (both Elothians and Ageans) will seemingly disappear without a trace. No bodies nor equipment will ever be found when searched for. There are many theories to why this may be. The native Ageans blame it on monsters and extreme weather, while some Elothian magicians will claim dimensional rifts. Others claim it to be extra terrestrials or the work of gods and demons. The bottom line is, no one knows what causes these disappearances, nor how to stop them.