STRIKING

One of the great mountain ranges of Karadas. The Aradine peaks loom tall, rising from a wide, flat valley close to the farming district of Silverfields, before curving south, then east, to run parallel with Solar Beach. The Aradine Mountains come to an abrupt halt overlooking the Bay of Blood. Here, an imperious, almost vertical rock face juts half a mile into the air, pitted with dark caverns and monumental rifts large enough for a steam train to pass through.

With twelve snow-crowned peaks to overcome, it would take an experienced hiker almost a week to traverse the entire length of the mountains. Intermittent gusts sweep down the slopes all year round to make any journey here a miserable and hazardous experience. While trees and scrub grow freely across the lower foothills, higher up, vegetation is scarce. Twisted grey trunks are bent almost double by the wind. Hardy bushes and weeds hunker low around rock outcrops and ridges.

INHABITANTS

Wildcats, Hydaks, and Grand Mountain Owls are the dominant predators living among the peaks, all competing for mammals, small lizards, and insects. Most creatures prefer to remain on the lower slopes of the Aradine Mountains, where spruce and pine groves dot the landscape. The groves offer food and shelter and are a perfect location for the Borini scouts to set up camp whenever they are out foraging. Natural tunnels beneath the rich soil and bedrock connect several groves. This secret cave network allows the Borini to travel unseen for miles around.

HAUNTED

On the far side of the mountains you will find a large lake known as Dead Waters. It is the second-largest body of water in the realm, and despite its name, the lake is abundant with life. Small hamlets were once a common sight along its shores, attracting Narook fisherfolk to the area to harvest the endless supply of fish, eels, freshwater mussels, and lobsters. However, the Narook did not account for the eerie, wraith-like beings living in the nearby caves. Their haunting whispers are said to be truly spine-chilling. The wraiths appear at night, emerging from the darkness in shabby black shawls to abduct settlers by the dozen. The Narook quickly fled, leaving their boats, equipment, and homes abandoned. Not one ever returned.

MYSTERIOUS

Another place to avoid is the Aradine Path. Thankfully, the southern entrance to this curious tunnel is extremely hard to locate. The prospect of accidentally wandering inside remains highly unlikely. While many caves and passageways lead into the mountains, the Aradine Path is the only one to have a specific exit. The tunnel emerges onto the mountains’ northern slopes beneath a towering granite archway. It is not known how the Aradine Path came to exist, nor is it known who actually created it. The extraordinary passageway is one of the most mystifying locations in all of Karadas.

The main tunnel runs more or less directly through the rock, changing elevation regularly. Smaller caves and passageways veer off from time to time to head blindly into the bowels of the mountain. Doorways and window slots are carved into several of the larger caverns, confirming that a civilisation once existed here. Ceremonial tombs can also be found throughout the Aradine Path.

TRIAL

All attempts to map the Aradine Path have failed due to the unpredictable way in which the walls and chambers move and reposition at will. The Aradine Path is one of the major challenges a Borini warrior must face to prove their worth. It is far from straightforward. While many sections appear undemanding, numerous pitfalls and subtle traps lie in wait, with each one more perilous than the last. A few brave recruits have made it all the way through. Many more were never seen again. Scouts out on the foothills after dusk often report hearing the screams of their lost comrades calling out into the wind, pleading for freedom.