The Eanothi

A mountain range seated along the edge of the Rift.

In the northern reaches of the West, well beyond the borders of Jenzir, lies a range of mountains known as the Eanothi. This imposing range, with peaks perpetually crowned with snow, stretches north to south along the western edge of the Running Valley, forming a natural barrier between the ore-rich plateau and the Rift. Though nowhere near the size of the Black Mountains to the east, the Eanothi still dominate the portion of the world they inhabit, extends for nearly five hundred runs of stark, breath-taking majesty.

The name “Eanothi” comes from the ancient Hruan language, where it meant “the Broad.” This makes sense, as the mountains themselves tend to be wider rather than steep, with steady-slopes as opposed to the sheer plummets of the Black Mountains. Some cacuar say that the two ranges were once one, long ago, before the cataclysm that created the Rift struck the world. If this is true, then “the Broad” would have comprised a fourth major chain of the Black Mountains in that era, and the smallest.

Despite their smaller stature, the higher elevation of the Eanothi ensures they remain snow-capped throughout the year. Toward the end of the Bite, storms that form in the Silverwood or over Cullerin travel southward, producing heavy snowfall. Unable to veer into the Rift, the storms follow the peaks of the Eanothi, dumping fresh snow onto the range to maintain them through the Thaw and into the Whip.

Due to this cold, harsh environment, the Eanothi is sparsely populated, though a variety of wildlife has adapted to survive. Mountain goats nimbly traverse the rocky crags, while algrin soar the cold air above, their keen eyes scanning the valleys below for prey. In the lower elevations, the fauna is more diverse, with bears, wapiti, and various ground squirrels making their homes among the sap forests and ice-carved vales.

The range is largely uninhabited by humans, save for the very southern end where Kalodar, the remote school of Soulcraft, stands perched atop Mount Salus, and the northernmost valleys, where a few Tholnar hunting camps and a lone outpost exist.

The primary denizens of the Eanothi are the Areth Ulthar, one of the four ordren kinds. They keep several holds throughout the range, the largest and most prosperous being Nak’ko’crk, which roughly translates to “dig here.” Nak’ko’crk is renowned for its deposits of barvirem, an ore highly prized for armor-making. In addition to barvirem, the Areth Ulthar mine iron ore and other precious metals for transport to the Running Valley and beyond.

Unlike the Black Mountains, there is only a small presence of oradji in the Eanothi. The clans that do exist are too few in number to pose a significant threat to the ordren holds.

Beside the caverns of the ordren and oradji, there are no permanent settlements within the range. Ruins of a prior civilization are scattered about the peaks, though very difficult to find. For those who have located them, their footprint and architecture closely matches ruins found within the western ranges of the Black Mountains, lending credence to the theory that two chains were once one. As to what civilization the ruins belonged, few now remember.

Travel through the Eanothi is difficult, if not impossible. The frigid weather and rocky slopes make for treacherous conditions, and sheddings are a common threat to anyone traveling by foot. Two passes exist—one in the upper middle of the range and one at the very bottom, near Kalodar. At one time, they were frequented by ordren on ventures to and from the Rift. Now, they are all but abandoned, save for the rare Relgraff caravan coming up from the Silver Mountain.

Of the many rivers that flow down from the range into the Running Valley, the three largest are the Ersk, Dzedka, and Arda. Both the Ersk and Arda rivers eventually join with Hasnel Lanhas, the Running River, but the Dzedka empties into a lake of its own name. A small number or rivers flow westward, into the Rift, ending in spectacular cataracts that plummet downward into dark oblivion.