100 Cold Wilderness

Locations

Azukail
Games
 100 Cold Wilderness
Locations
Credits
Design, Editing and Layout: Adrian Kennelly

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 Introduction they never dissipate, and some travel-
lers have claimed to have seen creatures
This is a collection of 100 different wilder- moving just at the edge of vision, mostly
ness locations that can be dropped into a hidden in the mists. Other travellers have
setting to enliven a journey. The locations simply disappeared.
are of many different types, from moun- 3. Basalt Creeks: Sheets of basalt cov-
tains to oceans, from large plains to small er the ground, deposited by a long-ago
locations. Each location has been named volcanic eruption. A network of shallow
and is described, and many could have creeks has cut their way into the hard rock
potential adventure and encounter hooks over the centuries. The creeks are gradu-
as well. ally widening and deepening as the water
in them freezes and expands, gradually
All the locations are in cold regions, rang- cracking and wearing away at the basalt, a
ing from the coldest almost-temperate re- process that is incredibly slow.
gions through sub-arctic and to arctic con-
4. Basilisk Crags: These hills, even
ditions. Snow and ice will be common, and
though they have many cliff-like slopes
will even be year-round in some locations,
and surfaces, would be easy to climb if it
and local denizens will be similarly adjust-
wasn’t for the thick layer of ice that covers
ed to the cold.
almost every surface, making them treach-
erous. Added to this is the fact that the
Using the Locations crags are also home to a cold-loving breed
of basilisk that is adept at climbing around
Locations can be rolled randomly, but given on the ice with their thick-clawed feet. The
that this could result in unexpected oceans basilisks’ presence can be determined from
and mountain ranges, it is a better idea to the many, often shattered, ice-swathed
manually select suitable results. stone statues that litter the crags.
5. Bewildering Prairie: This cold prairie
1. Acolytes’ Forest: This oak forest is,
is flat, and not that large, but somehow
during the winter months when the trees
travellers commonly get lost when travers-
have lost their leaves and snow likes thick
ing it. The usual explanation is that per-
on the ground, a training area for the ac-
haps this is because of a lack of landmarks
olytes of a druidic group. The acolytes are
but given that this is not a prairie that
sent into the forest to see if they are able
stretches on for many hundreds of miles,
to survive when nature is at its most bleak.
some feel that there is some sort of mag-
Surviving in summer is easy; to truly prove
ical influence that confuses most travel-
themselves the acolytes must survive
lers. Whether this influence is deliberate, a
when food and resources are slim. Every
leftover magic from a former civilisation or
year, some fail and their corpses nourish
something naturally occurring has no defi-
the trees. Travellers will sometimes stum-
nite answer.
ble over the bones belonging to those who
failed. 6. Blackguard’s Marsh: This icy tidal
marsh is named for the bands of bandits
2. Baffling Mountains: These mountains
operating out of the marshes. They strike
are swathed in constant icy mists and it is
at merchant caravans using the nearby
easy from a traveller to lose their sense of
trade routes, and occasionally as pirates
direction. The mountains, if they are not
against passing ships, using small boats at
covered with snow, are covered with ice
night, stealing what they can and destroy-
and, combined with the mists, this makes
ing what they can’t before fading away
traversing them rather dangerous. The
back into the marsh.
mists seem to be unnatural, by the way

2
 7. Bladed Tamarack: This predominate- rest disturbed. Chemicals and other, less
ly larch forest is named for the strangely savoury, substances have leeched from the
sharp edges possessed by the leaves of the coffins into the surrounding sump, and the
larch trees. Larch trees may be the most plant life has become rather strange from
common but there are other trees present, the tainted waters, especially when com-
and no other species has this. The leaves bined with the often-icy weather.
are sharp enough that carelessly touching 11. Dolorous Island: The island is situat-
them with bare skin can be enough to open ed close to the coast, with a narrow, albeit
up a cut. The reason for these leaves is deep, channel separating it from the main-
because the larches were once part of the land. The channel often has floating pieces
perimeter defences of a long-gone elven of ice in it and, during the harshest win-
realm and were changed with magic to be ters, the channel has been known to freeze
this way. In the centuries since the realm over completely, with a layer of ice solid
disappeared the larches have gradually enough to walk out to the island on. The
spread out to form the majority of the for- rocky island itself lacks much in the way of
est. vegetation and always appears grey, even
8. Caged Wood: This pine wood is filled in the brightest sun, and the wind makes
with many small clearings, where the snow a mournful sound as it blows through the
tends to settle deeply in winter. Each of rocks that comprise it.
these clearings has, at its very centre, a 12. Duke’s Mire: A cold, muddy mire that
single iron cage that has been treated to is often covered in a layer of ice ranging
protect the metal from the weather. The from paper-thin to several inches thick.
cages have a single locking door and many Within the mire are the preserved corps-
of them hold the remains of a creature in es of a duke’s army that perished when it
various states of decay. some are appar- became trapped in the freezing mire and
ently empty, but remains can still be found was set upon by its enemies, who had led
in them and there ae usually a couple with the army to its doom in the first place.
recent occupants, although they do not last These corpses, if disturbed, will animate
long in the cold conditions. Removing the as undead and attack those who disturbed
cages simply results in another appearing them; the dead believe they are fighting
shortly afterwards. Should an occupant their enemies once more.
be rescued, they will have been abducted
from somewhere a long way away. 13. Egg Crevice: Cutting deep into a
mountainside, this crevice is the lair of a
9. Chthonic Nunatak: Rising from the ice large number of giant spiders and many
sheet is a single peak of craggy stone that more small ones. The crevice is often filled
is free of snow but is still coated in a thick with snow or ice, underneath which can
layer of ice. A cave in the rock of the nun- be found the plentiful eggs for which it is
atak can be easily reached and goes deep named, eggs of the various breeds of spi-
into the ground. It is believed that the cave der dwelling here. The spiders are of a type
continues a long way before finally leading that has adapted to cold climes and those
to cavern systems deep below the surface. parts of the crevice that are empty of snow
10. Coffin Sump: Nestled in a low-lying are choked with webbing. Some webbing
area, this swampy lowland is the site of even exists under the snow, and the spider
a former graveyard which flooded many silk has also adapted to the cold; it will still
years ago. Most of the headstones have prove adhesive even with a layer of snow
since sunk into the ground and can be ex- on top of it.
cavated with enough effort. The ground is 14. Enchanted Ice of Legend: The ice
full of coffins, many of which contain un- here is oddly transparent, or at least it
dead who are unhappy about having their seems that way, and radiates magic. Be-
3
 neath the ice appears to be an enormous, small holes, which lead to a vast under-
monstrous being, frozen and dormant. ground warren of small tunnels. These
Rumour is that, many centuries ago, a vile tunnels are inhabited by strange, rat-like
creature from another realm was defeated creatures that can survive both the cold
by the gods, but they were unable to kill it and the periodic flooding. The creatures
and it was put to rest under the ice. Some avoid direct confrontation. but they are
of the legend is true and this is that being, definitely both malicious and intelligent.
but it isn’t under the ice. The ice shows a Any beings passing through their realm will
pocket realm where the creature is impris- be attacked and hassled, most commonly
oned, as it is a window into another dimen- when they are sleeping.
sion. 19. Forest of Lamentations: This cold
15. Faerie Spires: These unusually, im- forest covers several maintains and is of-
possibly thin and steep mountains are ten covered in snow and ice. The forest is
snow-covered at all times of year. The treacherous and many travellers have died
spires do not appear to be natural and they in it over the years. The sound of the wind
are said to be a gate to the faerie realms. through the trees is said to be the laments
How the gate works is not known, but un- of the dead or their loved ones.
usual lights have been seen in the area and 20. Fury’s Highlands: The highlands are
there has been an occasional disappear- a plateau that stands above the surround-
ance from the spires. If they are a gate to ing lands on steep cliffs that are dangerous
faerie realms, it would appear that the gate to traverse, both because of how sheer
is to the realms of the darker, more ma- they are and because of the layer of ice
levolent type of faerie, one that is perhaps that often encrusts every surface. The
connected with cold. highlands are known for the constant wind
16. Fanged Flats: This area of river tidal that blows across them, scouring away any
flats would be true mudflats in a warmer snow and sending it pluming over the cliffs.
clime, but the constant cold of the area A sheet of ice covers the plateau, polished
means that they are more truly iceflats to a high sheen by the wind and making
than mudflats. There is usually a film of ice the surface extremely hazardous to walk
on the water’s surface. The level periodi- on.
cally rises and lowers and, when the water 21. Ghostly Cataracts: The water in
level is at its lowest, the flats freeze solid, these cataracts is extremely cold and they
forming icicles and pillars of frozen water are violent enough that travel through
reminiscent of fangs, and which can do them by boat is impossible. A portage path
almost as much damage to the unwary as leads around the cataracts to the next safe
true teeth could. point, but the icy spray rising up from the
17. Fjord of the Gnome Laird: The water makes the cataracts, and the path,
ice-covered fjord is named after an experi- hard to see. More than one individual has
mental gnomish icebreaker sank in it after blundered off the path and into the water
proving less than efficient at breaking ice. and their doom as a result. The name of
For most of the year, the ice on the fjord is the cataracts comes both from the spray in
thick enough to easily walk on, only thin- the air that creates a ghostly ambience and
ning out in the summer months with a cen- for the number of spirits of those who per-
tral channel opening up where a river flows ished that are rumoured to haunt the area.
into the water at the fjord’s landward side. 22. Giant’s Wilderlands: This dense pine
18. Floodland of the Rat-Things: This and spruce forest is so named because of
frigid plain floods every year after the river the huge trees that dominate the region,
that flows through it melts in the summer pines growing far taller than is normally
months. The ground is riddled with many the case. The trees are ancient and the
4
 ground beneath and between them is a beach feel any warmer than it should but,
tangled mess of undergrowth. The forest somehow, they keep water from freezing.
is inhabited by beasts that are also larger 27. Heresiarch’s Hogbacks: These high,
than normal, but are otherwise unchanged. stony and very cold mountains are where
23. Glimmering Valley: Three sides of the leader of a heresy and his closest ac-
this cove valley are surrounded by steep olytes fled after he was defeated in a con-
walls of rock, with only a narrow gap flict with the adherents of the mainstream
between the protruding ridges allow- religion and most of his followers were
ing access in the fourth side. The rock is wiped out. The cold, stony mountains have
frequently covered in snow and ice, and very little in the way of game or edible
when the sun rises in the morning the light food, and it is believed that the heretics
catches the ice on the sides and minute died out quickly after they arrived, as none
ice crystals in the air, causing the valley to were ever seen again.
look as if it is filled with glimmering motes 28. Horn of the Deceiving: This steep,
of light. A beautiful show, but one that can ice and snow wrapped mountain peak is
be dazzling if stared at for too long. very dangerous to attempt to climb, al-
24. Graven River: This river is usually though the level of the danger is not im-
dry and water only fills it when the winter mediately apparent. Despite how steep
snows start to melt. When the river is dry, the horn is, it should be possible to climb
the rocks on the bed can be more easily without excessive danger, but the icy winds
seen. Most are normal but the river takes that howl in from the frozen lands have
its name from the unusual boulders that do tugged more than one climber off the side
not appear to match the other rocks of the of the horn.
area. These boulders have strange mark- 29. Hrimthursar Reservoir: This icy lake
ings on them that appear to have been of freshwater is clearly artificial in con-
carved into the rock rather than formed struction. Immense rocks have been used
naturally, although if they are a language it to wall of a now-flooded valley, provid-
isn’t one easily recognised. ing an enormous expanse of water that
25. Gypsum River: The water of this river is often frozen over. There are no extant
has a strong mineral taste that is unpleas- civilisations around the reservoir who could
ant on the tongue but not dangerous to have done it, but the occasional ancient,
drink. There are usually small bits of ice on giant-sized ruin in the area has led to the
the river’s surface but the mineral content belief that the lake was carved out and
means that the river only tends to freeze built by the giants before the ages of man.
over in the coldest of winters. This makes 30. Impious Cavelands: Many caves
it a popular water source for animals, both riddle the small hills in this land, most
predator and prey, and travellers, as it is quite shallow but a number going much
one of the few places almost guaranteed to deeper into the earth. Drifts of snow fill
have water. the mouths of the caves, more snow than
26. Hell’s Beach: This beach is covered in might be expected, and it goes far deeper.
several layers of cobbles. The cobbles are As the caves are explored, a layer of snow
blackened and cracked, as if they were ex- covers the ground inside, and many tiny
posed to extreme heat. The beach and the clawed footprints can be seen in it. The
nearby water, always remain free of frost, caves are home to many imps, and the
ice and snow, no matter what the tem- deepest caves do not go within the earth,
perature and even if everything else in the but instead to a frozen plane of Hell from
area is buried several feet deep in snow. which the imps come.
The cobbles do not feel noticeably warm to 31. Labyrinthine Hogbacks: This high,
the touch, nor does the temperature of the
5
 snow-capped range of ancient moun- 34. Luckless Rapids: These rapids take
tains forms a veritable maze to the un- their name from how dangerous they are
ready. Over the years, rock has eroded and how many have come a cropper as
and tumbled down from the peaks, filling they have tried to traverse them. Ice coats
in many of the gaps and passes between many of the rocks sticking out of the water
the mountains, soil has covered the debris and floating chunks of ice are not uncom-
and plants have grown over them. It is still mon. Only the turmoil of the water keeps
possible to travel through the range, but the rapids from freezing over completely,
the combination of snow, dead-end passes and the water is icy cold as a result. Many
and partially full valleys makes it a good have died in the waters over the years.
place to get lost and die of exposure with- 35. Marsh of the Sect: This frigid peat
out a skilled guide or an accurate map. and moss marsh was rumoured to be the
32. Lazar’s Crevasse: This crevasse in home of a strange sect, though none have
the ice remains perpetually open, although seen any evidence of such still existing in
it is not known how. It is assumed that many years. The marsh is often icy and
magic is involved. The crevasse is where there are places where the peat has been
those infected with leprosy were cast into cut from the ground. No inhabitants in the
to die, away from others, as it was be- neighbouring areas use the muskeg land
lieved that leprosy was a sign of the gods’ for peat, and this is cited as evidence that
disfavour and those who had it had of- the sect once lived here - the peat has not
fended the gods in some way. The bottom been dug recently. The sect were strange
of the crevasse is filled with the remains worshippers of nature who sought to ex-
of those who died. Strange creatures that tend life using the peaty conditions and
fed on the lepers before they died dwell were known to create peat mummies from
amongst the remains, and these creatures their dead.
are infected with a peculiar form of leprosy 36. Monolithic Peatland: The flatness
that causes their bodies to be perpetually of this icy peatland is only interrupted by
rotting, a disease that can be passed onto many standing stones which are gradually
those attacked by them. Mixed amongst sinking into the peat. When the weather is
the lepers’ remains are some valuable not as cold, the ground under the mono-
possessions; with them being cursed by liths softens and, over the years, some
the gods, no-one wished to take any items, stones have completely vanished into the
no matter how valuable, for fear that the peat. Strange inscriptions are carved into
curse would be passed to them as well. the monoliths, and some of these inscrip-
33. Looming Highlands: This plateau is tions glow at certain times of the year. The
noted for the number of small rock cairns time that the inscriptions glow can change
stacked in various places across its upland depending on which monoliths are exam-
area. It’s said that if the cairns are ever ined, but they seem to relate to astronom-
all removed, something long-imprisoned ical events such as equinoxes and full and
beneath the plateau will be released to new moons.
wreak havoc. Due to the plateau often be- 37. Mountains of the Mad God: These
ing deeply covered in snow, the cairns are cold mountains are named after an insane
frequently hard to even see before they deity who is believed to haunt them still.
are stumbled on, for they can be buried The god, whose name is long-lost, was
beneath the drifts. Fine particles of snow apparently driven mad back in prehisto-
blow off the plateau, depending on the ry when all of his worshippers were wiped
wind’s direction, creating a white plume as out. Some travellers claim they can hear
they do, from which the highlands can sud- the god’s mad cackling but others claim
denly loom unexpectedly. the sound is just the wind howling through
6
 the peaks. below the peaks to rebuild their civilisa-
38. Myrmidon’s Copses: These copses tion, in caverns warmed by lava vents. If
are used as boreal training grounds for a such happened, either the realms similar-
martial religious order. The order ensures ly failed, or the lizardmen decided to fully
that its warriors are prepared to fight in retreat from the surface, for nothing has
any conditions and the combination of the been seen of them since.
grasslands without cover, the dense cov- 42. Peryton Valley: This small, U-shaped
er provided by the copses and the regu- hanging valley overlooks another much
lar deep snow provides useful training in larger valley, with the entrance hundreds
moving in adverse conditions. This is not of feet above the main valley floor below.
a good or charitable order and trespassers A stream runs through the valley’s cen-
are not welcome. Such will be accidentally tre and spills over the edge in a waterfall
or intentionally attacked; accidentally if the which dissipates into spray well before the
copses are stumbled on during training and bottom, coating the rocks below in a slip-
intentionally if trespassers are actively dis- pery layer of ice. A flock of perytons nests
covered first. Given the training, trespass- in the valley and they swoop down on crea-
ers are unlikely to escape attention. tures in the main valley below, bringing
39. Ocean of the Zombie Master: Apart their prey, whether it be animal or person,
from some drifting icebergs, this ocean back to the hanging valley to dine on. As
appears no different to most that can be a result, many broken bones from former
sailed. Many years ago, a lich set up a for- meals cover the ground, and there are a
tress on one of the islands, and from there few possessions as well.
started launching attacks on passing ves- 43. Scarlet Spurs: Jutting from a near-
sels with sea creatures it had turned into by mountain range are a series of steep,
zombies. Although the Zombie Master is snow-covered ridges. Sunlight catches the
believed to have been destroyed, many of spurs in the morning, reflecting off the
its creations still continue in unlife, and still snow and dying them scarlet.
attack passing vessels and oceanic life, but 44. Sea of Corpses: This frigid sea is
no longer is there any purpose behind the named for the many bodies that have ac-
attacks. cumulated in it over the years. The cur-
40. Panther Hills: These snow-covered rents act to bring bodies that have fallen
hills are the haunt of a cold-loving species into the sea over a wide area to bring the
of thick-furred white panthers. The pan- remains to this sea. The cold water pre-
thers usually hunt alone but sometimes serves the bodies and they may rise as
are found in packs. With their thick fur, undead if disturbed.
they like to hide beneath the surface of the 45. Shielding Crags: These crags are
snow and leap out at unsuspecting prey. difficult, but not quite impossible, to cross.
An attacking pack of panthers is dangerous They shield the lowlands beyond from
to most creatures, although they will rare- the worst of the weather coming down
ly attack humanoid beings who might be from the frozen regions, but are not high
armed, preferring easier prey. A lone trav- enough to block it all. The side of the range
eller is fair game, especially at night. closest to the cold regions is commonly
41. Peaks of the Lizard Kings: These buried under snow and that facing the low-
tall mountains are wrapped in ice year- lands is usually free of snow, but the rock
round. Legend states that buried beneath surfaces are coated with ice.
the peaks are lost lizardmen realms, ci- 46. Shoggoth Tundra: These grasslands
vilisations that retreated from the surface are high-altitude and nothing but grass
as the lands above froze and their realms covers them, no trees and not even large
died. Some of the surviving lizardmen went
7
 rocks. The wind makes the alpine tundra walls. At this time, anything shouted within
even colder, as there is nothing to block the valley echoes back to the caller, but the
the gusts as they come howling down out echo is strangely altered, becoming deeper
of the frozen regions. It isn’t known wheth- than might be expected with the echoes
er or not the shoggoth the tundra is named reverberating for much longer. During the
for definitely haunt it, but huge tunnels can brief summer months, when snow and ice
be found burrowed into the ground, tun- don’t cover the valley, there are no echoes.
nels big enough for a creature tens of feet 51. Swamp of Lost Treasures: Many
across. have perished in the icy waters of this
47. Slug Peaks: Continually covered in frozen wetland, and few of their bodies
snow, these peaks are notorious for their have been recovered. This has led to tales
avalanches. The snow builds up on the tops of there being vast treasures lying deep
of the peaks, rearing over like a giant slug. within the icy waters, which has resulted in
When the weight of the snow grows too treasure seekers going in search of them
much, the slug-like head breaks off send- and also perishing. The combination of the
ing a tremendous avalanche down to the cold and the damp proves to regularly be
lands below. This danger area is steered fatal, especially to those lacking experience
clear of and there are no roads that go in such conditions.
nearby. 52. The Alcoved Morass: The “alcoves”
48. Smoky Fjords: This series of fjords of this frigid swamp are areas of ice-cov-
feeds out into the sea. Carved out long ago ered mud and quicksand that can entrap
by glaciers, these glaciers have since re- the unsuspecting traveller. These alcoves
treated some distance, in part because of are often covered in a layer of ice, but
the active volcano that stands at the head this easily breaks beneath the weight of a
of the inlets. The volcano is always smok- human-sized creature, and the mud and
ing, and as a result of the local weather quicksand are liquid beneath. There have
conditions the smoke and ash settles into been reports of the ice quickly forming
the fjords, making it very difficult to see. again once a creature has fallen through.
The water of the inlets is also noticeably 53. The Battlefield of the Wasps: This
warmer than usual for the area, due to ex- region is named after a long-ago battle
tensive geothermal activity below them. that was, according to legend, fought by
49. Snaring Scowles: The ground under- mages on giant wasps. Remains and frag-
neath the trees of this pine forest is con- ments of armour and weapons can still be
tains many shallow pits of unknown origin found if the land is dug into. Nothing grows
that often fill with snow, disguising their in the frozen soil, and apparently hasn’t
existence and snaring the unwary. The pits ever since the battle. It is believed that
are notorious for breaking the legs of hors- the various magics used poisoned the land
es and sometimes of larger creatures too. afterwards.
Given the cold, more than one creature or 54. The Ceremonial Foreland: This re-
being has died of exposure thanks to their gion, from which the ice has only recently
mount or themselves breaking a leg and retreated, is located just in front of the gla-
stranding them. Skeletons of the lost can cier, between it and the moraines. The area
be found beneath the snow and most trav- has a number of clearly ceremonial con-
ellers either avoid the forest or ensure they
structions as it is used as a site by some
stay on well-travelled routes. of the local nomadic tribes to placate the
50. Sonorous Valley: This valley is named gods of winter to stop them from sending
for how sound behaves in it during the forth the glaciers again. This placation in-
times of the year when it is covered with volves holding sacrifices, and outsiders are
snow and ice covers the valley’s sides and definitely preferred for this, as it means
8
 that valuable animals or other members it dried up, the tentacles and body of the
of the tribe will not need to be used. The kraken were the deepest areas left.
sacrifices are tied down and have water 58. The Defended Isthmus: There are
poured over them, then left overnight to old, long-ruined forts stationed on the
perish from the elements. Some corpses isthmus. Long ago, they protected the sea
of previous sacrifices, both humanoid and approaches of a now-lost and forgotten
animal can be found in the area. city which vanished beneath the ice many
55. The Constricting Moss: The surface centuries ago. The upper works of the forts
of this cold swamp is covered in layers are simply piles of shaped rubble by now,
of thick moss that almost seems to wrap but each had underground works as well
tightly around any creature trying to ven- that may be in better condition. There are
ture through it, as if the moss itself was rumours of underground harbours that
alive. Once a creature is enswathed in the connected to the sea via passages and hid-
moss, they are unable to keep above the den sea caves.
surface of the frigid water, and many have 59. The Dire Malpais: Sharp peaks of so-
been dragged down into the swamp to die. lidified lava stick through the enshrouding
56. The Crystalline Forest: The “trees” snow and ice and yet more lurk beneath
of this forest resemble pines made from a the surface, ready to slice open the foot
green crystal. The crystals look very similar of the unwary traveller. Strange creatures
to trees, and are stunning when they catch roam this area, who seem to have been
the light. Whether this is a natural phe- affected by both the fire that caused the
nomenon, where the crystals grew into this lave and the ice that covers it, in an unnat-
shape, or the result of magic being used ural pairing of two elements that are alien
to either create the crystalline trees or to to each other. The creatures are thought to
turn an existing forest of trees into crystals be the creation of an insane mage.
is not known. The crystalline branches of 60. The Doline Fountain: One of the
the trees are highly prized for use in both sinkholes in the region’s limestone karst,
jewellery and magic, but they are both it is about 50’ across. The bottom of the
comparatively fragile and extremely sharp. sinkhole is filled with water that for an un-
Harvesting the crystals requires great care; known reason spurts up in a fountain that
protective gauntlets will damage the crys- can be seen from some distance away at
tals and lighter protection is easily sliced irregular intervals. The area surrounding
through. The crystals also need packing the sinkhole is slippery where the water
very carefully for transport. has turned to ice and those who walk too
57. The Dead Kraken’s Sea: This frig- close to the edge risk slipping and falling
id enclosed sea of saltwater has a shape down to the water 20’ below. Unbeknownst
that is reminiscent of a kraken, although to most, there is a water-filled tunnel lead-
no such creatures live in the sea as the ing down from the sinkhole’s pool into the
salt content is too high for anything to depths. Sometimes water is rapidly forced
live. It is rumoured that the reason the through this due to a subterranean event,
sea is shaped like a kraken is that it was blasting water from the sinkhole high in the
once the dead body of a gargantuan mem- air. If the water is checked just after one
ber of the breed. One the kraken died, or of these events, it is found to be warmer
was killed, it became entombed, and the than expected, suggesting that the event is
corpse formed a hollow in the ground that related to vulcanism in some way.
then reached the surface as the land above 61. The Elementalist’s Glacier: This
eroded, leaving the sea in the shape it glacier has an unusual property in that it
currently forms. When the sea was larger, enhances any spells related to ice that are
the kraken shape was not as visible, but as cast on it, or with ice that is removed from
9
 the glacier and kept frozen. This property themselves. The occasional broken pot-
makes the glacier popular with spellusers tery shard or toll can still be found, hidden
who favour ice magic, and it is not uncom- beneath the rocks and snow, and there are
mon to find such roaming the area, either rumours of powerful artefacts hidden away
preparing spells or collecting ice. Nor is it somewhere.
that uncommon to find creatures related 65. The Forest of the Homunculi: This
to ice that have been summoned by such ancient pine forest is filled with mandrag-
spellusers. The enhanced magic has meant ora plants, many of which, perhaps due to
that more than one caster has accidentally ancient residual magic as it is rumoured
summoned a creature he then proved un- that some faerie enchantments linger in
able to control. the area, have naturally become homuncu-
62. The Enclosed Flats: This icy plain li. These homunculi are hostile and attack
is well above sea level and is surrounded any who enter the forest, often gaining
by peaks on every side. The flats are very surprise in winter, as they leap out of the
difficult to get to on foot, with only one snow where they have buried themselves.
known trail and pass leading through the Mages, alchemists and their hirelings do
encircling peaks. Snow is very common, still regularly enter, for the mandragora are
often dozens of feet deep, as the flats act highly useful in a number of creations.
as a trap for snow that falls in the region. 66. The Forsaken Desert: This freezing
There are a few snow-dwelling creatures, stretch of scoured stone and soil is devoid
mostly not a threat to human-sized beings, of any snow or ice, and of plants or much
that are slightly different in appearance to in the way of fertile soil either. A constant,
the norm due to inbreeding. howling wind pours over the desert from
63. The Excavated Swamp: This is not a the polar region, making temperatures feel
natural swamp, despite its appearance, as far colder than they actually are. The wind
it was dug out at some point many years often has ice and snow on it, but these are
ago, perhaps for peat. The holes that were quickly whipped away rather than settling
dug into the ground eventually flooded, but on the ground. The sub-zero temperatures,
how this happened isn’t known for cer- constant wind and wind chill and scouring
tain, as the swamp is far from the sea. The from the snow, ice and tiny particles on the
most likely theory is that waters came from wind make this a thoroughly unpleasant
melting glaciers. Even today, the waters place to visit and one where it is easy to
of the swamp are frigid at best and frozen quickly freeze to death, as the wind makes
over at worst. A peculiarity of the swamp fires impossible.
is the number of shrubs that can be found 67. The Frozen Lands of the Jack-
in it, many in unusually regular lines, sug- al Man: Sheltered by distant mountains
gesting that they may have been deliber- from the worst of the winds, these frozen
ately planted. lands are dotted with the odd pine tree or
64. The Fading Desert: Large rocks twisted spire of stone. Strange formations
and boulders litter this desert landscape, of snow and frost cling to the trees and
with snow piling up besides the largest spires, formations that somehow take the
rocks and hiding the smaller ones from shape of a humanoid figure with a jack-
sight. Treading on one of the smaller, hid- al’s head. Long ago, back before the lands
den rocks can cause the unwary to lose froze over, the lands were sacred to a jack-
their footing. This icy desert was once the al-headed god of the underworld. Even
heartland of an ancient empire, one that now, millennia after ice and snow claimed
gradually faded away as the farmlands the lands, the god’s influence lives on.
disappeared and turned to ice, leaving the 68. The Gibbering Fens: Mad laughter can
cities unable to get enough food to support be heard coming from deep within these
10
 frigid fens at night. It is hard to pinpoint the crystals would appear to indicate. After
the source of the laughter and those who a heavy snow, the smallest crystal clumps
attempt to do seek it out often get lost in can be hidden beneath the surface, where
the fens and many have died as a result. they can slice open even the leather boot
Whether this death is from simply getting of an unwary foot if trodden on by acci-
lost in freezing fenland or from the source dent.
of the laughter is not known. Those who 72. The Groaning Uplands: These
do survive often go mad themselves from snow-covered uplands border the nearby
spending too long wandering around the plains and shelter them from the worst of
fens hearing the crazed, non-stop laughing the freezing winds, although snow is still
and it is possible that some of these survi- common near to them. The uplands are so-
vors, albeit changed, may be the source of named from the groaning noise that can be
the laughter. heard for miles around, which is caused by
69. The Glacier on the Edge of the the wind blowing through the rocks.
Void: This glacier is situated in a flat area 73. The Guardian Sand Sea: The sand
with frozen mountains on every side, mak- sea is comprised of cold, low-lying dunes
ing it hard to gain access to. The glacier is that do nothing to stop freezing winds
riddled by deep crevasses in the ice which howling down from the polar regions. The
are seemingly bottomless and nothing that winds themselves have little effect on the
has fallen into them without a tether has dunes, as the sand is usually coated in ice
ever returned. It is claimed that the cre- that freezes it in place. Only rarely does
vasses lead to an endless void from which the ice melt enough for the dunes to shift.
nothing returns, and this is where it gets Once, the sand sea was the border of an
its name from. ancient empire, a guardian against hostile
70. The Gloaming Waste: Biting cold forces from the cold zones. The defences
conditions keep this waste at a far lower were breached when the sand swept in,
temperature than even the surrounding covering the defences, and the empire was
areas, with the soil and rocks always fro- made vulnerable to attack.
zen and covered in a layer of ice. Rarely 74. The Hallowed Mounds: This land is
does it snow and when this happens the covered in mounds which are oddly reg-
snow is small, hard pellets that are either ular in shape. The mounds are the burial
blown away or become part of the ice later. mounds of a long-forgotten people and
The waste is close enough to the pole that are now hidden beneath the snow and ice.
it spends much of the year in conditions of The interiors of the mounds are lined with
almost perpetual twilight. The lack of food, thick rock, making entry difficult other
water or places to shelter make the region than through the single, buried entrance.
rarely travelled. Even gaining access in this way is not easy,
71. The Godling’s Crystal Gorge: The given the frozen soil. The interiors of the
ground of this gorge is filled with clumps mounds are even colder than the outside
of hexagonal quartz crystals of all types and most are inhabited by cold varieties
and sizes, and the sides are cloaked in ice. of many types of undead, spirits of those
When the sun shines just right, the light buried that will not be happy to have their
from the quartz crystals is split and re- rest disturbed.
fracted around the gorge, bouncing off the 75. The Insectile Ice Sheet: This ice
ice on the walls in a display that is literally sheet is riddled with small holes, which are
dazzling and even blinding to see. Some- the lairs of strange, insectile creatures that
times, the coloured patterns shift around like the cold. It has been theorised that
in a way that is hypnotic, or so the occa- the creatures may be partly ice in nature,
sional skeleton that can be found amongst and possibly extraplanar in origin, al-
11
 though they appear to have made a home the lands, and that seeing it is a sign that
for themselves on the glacier. The insects any who view the ghost will also soon per-
are a hazard, though, as not only are they ish.
comfortable in cold, they radiate it, drop- 79. The Mildewed Ria: This glacial in-
ping the temperature substantially. More let wasn’t always filled with water. As
than one traveller has been frozen solid the ice sheets melted, the water levels
after setting up camp in the wrong place. rose and the inlet gradually drowned un-
76. The Legion’s Wasteland: Once, de- der the frigid water. Poking up from the
spite the cold and snow, this wasteland now-submerged ground are several parallel
was a comparatively fertile land for the drumlins, formed by the glacier as the ice
area. It was home to a city that rebelled retreated. The drumlins are home to an
against the empire that ruled the region unusual species of mildew that thrives in
during that period. The empire sent a le- the near-freezing conditions, which is only
gion in to deal with the rebels, and the found in a handful of places. The mildew is
city’s walls were breached, its inhabitants rumoured to have unusual properties.
put to the sword and the buildings raised 80. The Nepenthe Barrens: Beyond the
to the ground. Not content with that, the occasional melted snow or ice, these bar-
emperor ordered the legion’s commander rens lack a source of water and are dry and
to destroy everything. Everything artificial dusty. The soil itself is strongly acidic, and
was smashed and burned and the ground plants are unable to grow in the cold, acid-
was sown with salt. Now it is a barren ic, dry ground, and no animals graze here
wasteland where few creatures or plants due to the lack of food. The only thing alive
survive, avoided by most travellers for fear that can be found in this frozen region are
of the unquiet ghosts of the city’s mur- varieties of strange, and sometimes prized,
dered dead who are believed to haunt the lichen. The most prized lichen has proper-
area. ties that induce forgetfulness and it can be
77. The Lightless Spires: Standing on made into potions that have a similar, but
the edge of the arctic, these, narrow, steep far stronger, effect.
mountains are infrequently lit by the sun, 81. The Octopus Delta: Named for the
which sits below the horizon for almost half shape of the delta, rather than for being a
the year. They are covered in ice and at- haunt of octopuses, the delta consists of
tempting to ascend them is dangerous in narrow channels snaking through the sand.
the extreme, so few have travelled beyond. The lack of decent channels combined with
There are rumours of everything from the frequent freezing over of many of them
strange, frozen realms to geothermally make the delta unsuitable for any craft ex-
heated utopias in the lands beyond. cept flat-bottomed ones.
78. The Lost Captain’s Drift Lands: 82. The Once-Garden Desert: Legends
These are plains where the weather condi- say that millennia ago, before the glaciers
tions continually blow the falling snow into moved in, this frozen land that is filled with
drifts, some of which are only a few feet silty outcroppings formed after the glaciers
deep but others are several tens of feet. melted and retreated again, was once a
The drifts are rarely firm enough to walk pleasure garden belonging to a powerful
on, and pose a hazard for any travellers. ruler. Evidence of this is hard to find as the
The drift lands are named after an expedi- glaciers scoured the land down to the bed-
tionary captain who left his men to go and rock, including the topsoil, and only the silt
check on something, but never returned. left from their retreat now covers the land.
It isn’t known if something killed him, or if However, the faintest trace of residual
he simply plunged deep into a snowdrift. plant-based magics can be found and per-
Rumour says the captain’s spirit still haunts haps there will be the occasional subterra-
12
 nean cache of seeds for unusual plants. every crack. These cracks have grown as
83. The Ruined Wasteland: This waste- the water has frozen and expanded, shat-
land was the location of a former city, a tering the hills in the process. The ground,
powerful city-state, until ice sheets de- even without the crevices, is very uneven,
scended from the pole and destroyed much with broken rock littering it, the floors of
of the city, grinding it into dust before the chasms and the surrounding land.
retreating again. The rapid advance of the 87. The Shedu’s Peaks: Bordering the
glaciers and then their retreat was unusu- civilised lands, these high, cold and steep
al and may have been artificial in nature. mountains are believed to be impassable
The glaciers’ advance was perhaps a mag- by mortals. The temperatures are always
ical attack of some sort on the city by a below freezing and vicious cold winds
rival power, or divine retribution for some threaten to pluck any climber off the side
unknown transgression. Even though the of the mountains and send them to their
glaciers have since retreated, the ruins doom far below. Nature is not the only
are still covered in snow and ice. Most of thing that is believed to prevent travel
the former buildings have been crushed to through the range; they are also said to be
powder, but some parts remain intact and guarded by one or more shedu who take
are believed to house ancient, powerful the form of winged, human-headed moun-
magics somewhere within them. tain lions. Shedu are normally known to
84. The Sacred Narrows: A small stone be protectors; the fact that they are pre-
temple dedicated to the god of the sea venting passage through the mountains
overlooks the narrows, which often partial- suggests that there is something deadly on
ly freeze over. The temple is infrequently the other side. Possibly so deadly that even
visited but is well maintained, and those disturbing it could be disastrous.
traversing the narrows often give an of- 88. The Silted Source: This mound of silt
fering to ward off accidents caused by the was once the source of an important lo-
floating ice. Those who desecrate the tem- cal river. Several extreme winters, during
ple in any way often encounter extremely which the river froze, resulted in berms
poor sailing conditions the next time they being built up in its bed. These berms then
travel at sea, and more than a few souls caused silt to form around them, reducing
have gone to the bottom as a result. the river’s speed and flow and eventually it
85. The Screaming Fan: An outwash fan froze solid. When the thaw came, the fro-
of gravel and sediment that radiates out zen water melted but the river had stopped
from a nearby glacier, this appears quite flowing, presumably making a new path
ordinary to look at. It is only at night that underground. Now only piles of silt mark
it becomes bizarre, for screaming can be where it once was.
heard apparently coming from the fan 89. The Soulless Machair: These grassy
itself, although none have ever managed plains lie along the coast of a frigid sea,
to pinpoint the source, or identify what covered in a hardy grass that survives
might be causing it. The noise does make despite the icy conditions. The grass is
the area very disconcerting and there are normally coated in a thin layer of ice that
no nearby residences and travellers rarely crackles as it is travelled through. Legend
frequent the area. has it that those who spend too long roam-
86. The Shattered Foothills: Many ing the machair will have their souls come
chasms tear rents in these hills, and small- loose from their body. These homeless
er ones can often not be seen until they souls then roam the grass during the night,
are blundered into as they are usually full looking for a body to call theirs once more.
of snow. The hills are made of soft rock 90. The Spawning Coppices: These pine
and water has, over the years, seeped into forests are maintained and lumbered from
13
 several camps around the outskirts. There narrow free of ice throughout the year.
are no camps, nor any permanent habi- 94. The Twisted Taiga of the Stone-
tation inside the coppices themselves, for cutters: This forest of spruce was once
during the winter months they become a pleasant place, and in the midst of it is
the spawning grounds of a species of ice a large quarry where stone was cut and
worms, making the area very dangerous shipped back to more civilised realms
to be in. The woodcutters and lumberjacks during the summer months; in winter, the
abandon the woods, and their temporary quarry fills with snow and is nearly impos-
spring to autumn camps, for the perma- sible to work. One day the quarriers cut
nent camps on the outside, spending much too deep and broke through into an ancient
of the winter carousing and spending the tomb. This released a horde of undead,
money they earned during the harvesting who slaughtered the stonecutters and now
seasons. prey on anything else to enter their realm.
91. The Spectral Corrie: This round, Vile magic was also released from the
deep valley was once home to a village tomb, twisting the spruces into disturbing
and various outlying settlements, from shapes that are reminiscent of screaming
farms to hamlets. Now it is only inhabited humanoids.
by the dead. Something, long ago, wiped 95. The Undead Clutches: The ancient
out all those who lived here, and all that trees in this dark, cold forest have the tan-
remains of their dwellings is broken, vege- gling roots and low-hanging branches that
tation-covered walls. At night, though, the trip or snare the unwary that are common
buildings can be seen once more, but in a to clutches. In this case the trees deliber-
pale, spectral version of what they used to ately attempt to tangle and ensnare those
be. The inhabitants, both people and an- foolish enough to enter, for the trees are
imals, can also be seen going about their infested with undead spirits. Bound to the
everyday tasks. There doesn’t seem to be trees by dark magic long ago, the spirits
any way of communicating with the for- are believed to have once been woodland
mer inhabitants, and those living souls that spirits, back when the forest was a far
spend more than one night in the corrie friendlier place. The evil magic that trapped
quickly become uneasy, feeling as if some them twisted the forest and the spirits, and
disaster is imminent. now they seek to trap the living and kill
92. The Steel Slough: This shallow them. The death of the body provides sus-
swamp is ringed by low hills that if they tenance for the spirits and the rotting flesh
are not muddy are covered in ice, making sustenance for their trees.
traversing them treacherous. The oft-fro- 96. Umber Lough: This deep, cold lake is
zen water of the swamp seems to be re- fed by snowmelt from the nearby hills, and
flecting the sky above, which is often grey has the brown colour that gives it its name.
and overcast, and this is what gives the The lake is only barely above freezing at
slough its name. Oddly, the steel colour re- the best of times and sometimes plunges
mains even when the sky is blue, although below it, although it remains clear of ice for
clear skies rarely happen. longer than might be expected. The umber
93. The Tumultuous Narrow: A deep but colour comes from deposits of umber in the
narrow gap between the mainland and a area, both within the lake and carried down
large island, water flows through it at great to it by its feeder streams and rivers. The
speed as the tide goes in or out. The di- amount of umber suspended in the water
rection of the water flow can change very keeps it liquid at colder temperatures than
abruptly, and the narrow is dangerous to normal.
cross. The speed of the water’s flow and 97. Volcanic Farmland: The soil here
the changing direction of its flow keeps the comes from a long-extinct volcano and is
14
 very fertile, but the cold makes it difficult capable of snipping through frozen flesh.
to grow many crops. The farmland is of- 99. Warped Hills: What were once gen-
ten covered in ice in the early mornings all tly rolling hills, smoothed down by glaciers
year round, and snowfalls of up to sever- millennia ago, have formed strange, twist-
al feet are not unknown. A few deserted ed shapes. It is believed that the glaciers
farms dot the land, their buildings collaps- freed, either partially or fully, something
ing with neglect. These farms are from that had been kept imprisoned in the area
those who, every so often, determine to by grinding that prison away and releasing
make a living using the fertile farmland, a powerful being whose influence has since
but sooner or later every would-be farm- warped the land itself.
er gives up, the cold proving too much for
them and their crops. 100. Werewolf Lake: This lake is frozen
over year-round, although liquid water can
98. Vulture Ponds: This series of small, be found below the ice. The thickness of
often ice-bound lakes are the breeding the ice does depend on the time of year.
grounds for a rare breed of vulture, one Most avoid the location, as it is the haunt
that thrives in cold conditions. Viewed from of a pack of werewolves, of a winter wolf
above, the shape the lakes form on the breed. The werewolves lack any manner of
ground is also vaguely reminiscent of a civilised behaviour, living in a state of con-
vulture. The vultures who dwell around the stant violence, and have a pack of winter
lakes are carrion feeders, as most vultures wolves that they have brutalised into sub-
are, but given that their food is often at mission. The area is extremely dangerous
the very least cold and sometimes actually for the average traveller, and piles of skull,
frozen, this species has developed the abil- bones and frozen body parts are a common
ity to eat and digest food when it is frozen sign around the lake.
solid, and also have very powerful jaws
More Encounters and Things to Discover Outdoors
100 Chaotic Happenings to Experience
100 Curiosities to Bamboozle Players to Find Outdoors
100 Encounters for a Fantasy Desert
100 Encounters for a Fantasy Jungle
100 Encounters in a Fey Forest
100 Fantasy Islands to Encounter
100 Landmarks for a Fantasy Setting
100 Pieces of Flotsam and Jetsam To Find On A Beach
100 Random Encounters for on the Road or in the Wilderness
100 Sights and Sounds to See and Hear after a Battle
100 Snow and Ice Encounters
100 Things to Find, See and Hear in a Forest

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