Cairnwall Range
| Cairnwall Range | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Location | Southwest of Seh-Kal, bordering Zanarak |
| Realm | Terasil |
| Highest Peak | Tor-Karoth |
| Climate | Arid, with extreme temperature fluctuations |
The Cairnwall Range is a fragmented mountain range in western Zanarak, forming a rugged divide between the Vaelthar Plains and the shifting sands of the Zanarak Desert. Unlike the towering, unbroken peaks of other mountain ranges, Cairnwall is a land of fractured ridges, collapsed stone formations, and ever-shifting rock fields. The relentless desert winds carve through its exposed surfaces, grinding the stone into jagged spires and unstable slopes.
The range is uninhabited, save for a few scattered ruins and remnants of unknown origin. To the northeast, beyond the broken peaks, lies the Graveyard of the Fallen, a vast expanse of toppled boulders and eroded monoliths that mark the transition toward Terasil and the Yalta Expanse. The origins of the Graveyard remain a subject of speculation, with some viewing it as a natural collapse of the mountains, while others attribute it to an ancient calamity lost to time.
Though rarely traversed, the Cairnwall Range serves as a natural barrier between the fertile lands beyond and the encroaching sands of Zanarak.
Etymology
The name Cairnwall originates from ancient Orasian, referring to a wall of fallen stones. Orasian legend holds that the range was once a solid, towering wall of stone, but it has since fractured and crumbled, leaving behind a landscape of ruins shaped by time and wind.
Geography
The Cairnwall Range is a low, broken range, with no singular ridgeline, but instead scattered peaks, towering rock spires, and unstable boulder fields.
Major Landmarks
- Tor-Karoth – The highest intact peak in the Cairnwall Range, standing alone among a sea of broken stone.
- The Shifting Path – A hazardous expanse where boulders, loosened by erosion, frequently collapse or shift.
- Graveyard of the Fallen – A vast, chaotic boulder field south of the range, said to be the remains of an ancient Orasian struggle against the desert.
Geology
The Cairnwall Range is composed of eroded granite and sedimentary stone, gradually being consumed by the Zanarak Desert.
Rock Formations
- Stone Towers – Isolated stone pillars, remnants of once-greater peaks.
- Wind-Carved Hollows – Naturally formed caves and alcoves, sculpted by desert winds.
- Titan’s Rest – A single monolithic boulder, resting precariously on a narrow point, seemingly frozen in time.
Climate
The Cairnwall Range experiences extreme weather fluctuations, due to its proximity to the desert.
- Daytime: Scorching heat, with sunbaked stones radiating warmth.
- Nighttime: Frigid cold, with temperatures plummeting below freezing.
- Winds: High-speed winds funnel through the broken landscape, carrying fine sand that grinds at the rock surfaces.
Cultural Significance
The Graveyard of the Fallen
According to Orasian lore, the Graveyard of the Fallen is not a natural formation, but the remnants of a great battle between the Orasians and the forces of erosion. It is said that in ancient times, the Orasians stood against the desert, seeking to hold back the advancing sands. The massive toppled boulders are believed to be their fallen warriors—monuments to a war that could not be won.
Legends and Beliefs
- The Sleeping Titan – A legend claims that one of the massive boulders in the Graveyard is not stone, but an ancient Orasian in slumber, awaiting the day it will rise again.
- The Whispering Winds – It is said that if one stands among the cairns at night, they can hear the voices of the past, carried by the desert winds.