Mount Atal
| Mount Atal | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Parent Range | Anvil Range |
| Realm | Terasil |
Mount Atal is the tallest peak in the Anvil Range, rising 15,000 feet above the surrounding mountains. It is more than just a mountain—it is a fortress, a watchtower, and a sacred landmark of the Minthari civilization. Minthek, the northernmost Minthari settlement, is carved directly into the mountain’s core, its tunnels honeycombing the sheer rock face and extending deep beneath the surface.
From its high-altitude vantage points, the Minthari can observe the northern frontier, ensuring that Minthek remains a stronghold against unknown threats. Mount Atal is revered as a symbol of endurance, vigilance, and resilience, standing as a silent guardian over the Anvil Range.
Climate
Mount Atal’s surface climate is brutal, but its interior tunnels offer protection from the elements.
- Surface conditions
- Freezing winds whip across the exposed rock face.
- Rare snowfall, but persistent frost in shaded areas.
- Thin, oxygen-poor air makes prolonged exposure difficult for non-Minthari.
- Frequent rockslides due to unstable, jagged cliffs.
- Underground conditions
- Minthek’s deep tunnels are warmed by geothermal heat, keeping the settlement habitable.
- The Ice Veins provide a steady supply of fresh water for Minthari inhabitants.
- Air circulation through natural windshafts prevents stagnant, stale air in Minthek’s burrows.
Cultural Significance
Mount Atal is sacred to the Minthari, representing watchfulness, endurance, and survival in the face of hardship. The mountain is central to Minthari traditions, especially those tied to Minthek’s role as a defensive outpost.
- The Watchful Tradition – Minthari sentinels undergo rigorous training in Minthek’s observation tunnels, learning to detect vibrations in the stone and interpret distant movements in the highlands.
- The Echo Rites – A sacred practice where low-frequency Minthari chants are sung within the Windshafts, believed to resonate with the mountain itself and grant insight into the deep places of the world.
- The Trials of Atal – A rite of passage for Minthari scouts, requiring them to navigate Mount Atal’s tunnels alone, relying only on their ability to sense the mountain’s natural pathways.