Thousand Cities:North
The North[edit]
- Sharp mountain peaks part the icy northern winds, and glaciers wind their way towards the ocean. Few people live in the north, for the northern villages are first to suffer Tardrace's changing tempers. Those that survive hide their homes in mountain passes, and make devoted sacrifices to the mistress of storms.
Cinnador[edit]
- Unlike the granite buildings of most Northern cities, the palaces of Cinnador are carved from unmelting ice mined at the hearts of glaciers. Its people are pale, lithe creatures who do not feel the cold. They produce moonsilk and ice-blue crystals gathered on the slopes of the floating peaks.
- Moonsilk is produced by the larvae of the Alabaster Moths, found in caves around Cinnador. One subspecies, adorned with red and gold wingtips, grows to immense size. The largest of these can be ridden by humans, using cunningly constructed silk harnesses. Moonsilk is used to produce clothing and rope, and sails that are renowned for their great strength.
- The crystals are used as essence batteries, and are in great demand by the cities and armies of the Central Islands. Warlike nations like Carakas and Ildur frequently raid the southern towns of Cinnador to steal the gems, or disrupt trade routes that would supply their enemies.
Dawn Mirror[edit]
- The Dawn Mirror is a frozen lake in the far Northeast, near the headwaters of the river Aletschis. The lake’s icy surface is polished to a perfect mirror by Tardrace’s winds, so that the sun can remind itself of its past glory at the beginning of each day. The name is also shared by a crystal daiklave carved from the lake’s surface by the Twilight hero Stalich. The blade was first drawn in battle against the armies of Regolus in 565AF, when the reflected sunlight drew Klesthes’ attention and inspired Stalich’s troops to drive the invaders from their lands.
