The Whitefang Mountains

The Whitefang Mountains form the northern border of the World's End, running from the Huffel Peaks in the northwest, all along the Great Wood and the North Manmarch, to the Dread River and beyond in the east. Beyond them lie nothing but the Frozen Wastes.

The mountains are tall and jagged, steep and forbidding. Yet they hide almost indescribable beauty: waterfalls, deep pine forests, sweeping meadows. They also hide a surprising number of settlements. Barrier Pass is closest to Stonetop, but many more lie beyond.

Impressions

Always

• Snow-covered peaks, like mighty teeth
• Wind: howling, whispering, gusting
• Monkeys screeching and chittering in the valleys, leaping through the trees
• Prayer-flags fluttering in the wind
• The elation of reaching a summit; the despair of realizing it was just a ridge, and you're only half-way

Hooks

• Storms around Tor's Fist grow stronger; the colors shift to red and yellow
• A band of kyakaara slips out of the mountains and is eyeing Stonetop
• A southern merchant is intent on finding a mountain village, to trade for ivory and fine wool
• Mountain apes hold an artifact/scrap of lore in their hoard
• An apprentice shantyara needs help retrieving her dead master's sword from the bhoka who killed him

Tor's Fist

Almost straight north of Stonetop, this lonely mountain juts above its neighbors.

It's not the tallest peak in the Whitefangs, but it's tall enough. When summer storms roll up from the south and crash against the mountains, the worst of them swirl around Tor's Fist. They'll lash the peak with lightning, and in the aftermath, green and purple lights dance around the crown.

What's up there?

Clearly Tor's Fist holds some mystery, but its nature is for you to decide. Perhaps the mountain's peak holds…

• the tomb of Stormcatcher, or her son, or her lover;
• a cleft, from which the Stone itself was carved;
• one of the last thirteen Rime Lords, still in stasis, protected by powerful tulpas;
• a potent storm-spirit, corrupted by the Things Below, but bound there by ancient Rime Lord magic;
• the domain of a powerful, temperamental Fae;
• a shattered portal, torn open and ruined;
• a people of great stature, who worship Tor;
• the last of the Tempest Lords, grumpy and aloof;
• some combination of the above; or
• something else entirely.

Chart a Course

To reach the summit of Tor's Fist:

• You'll need to wait until late spring or summer to have any chance
• First you must travel to the Foothills or Barrier Pass
• From there, you must travel to the base of Tor's Fist
• It'll take at least 5 days (from the Foothills) or 6 days (from Barrier Pass), and a corresponding amount of supplies
• You need a knowledgeable guide or accurate map
• You need to bring warm clothes, climbing gear, and fuel for cookfires
• The terrain is treacherous; you risk injury
• The way will be grueling; you risk exhausting yourselves/your resources
• The way is perilous, filled with dangers
• From the base of Tor's Fist, you can attempt to reach the summit
• It'll take at least 5 days, lest you get altitude sickness
• You need to bring a skilled mountaineer
• The climb is treacherous and grueling; you risk injury, exhaustion, or both
• You risk drawing the attention of whatever it is that's up there
• You must brave the final ascent: a sheer climb in heavy winds

Terrain

Pick 1 or combine 2, or have someone roll the Die of Fate (d12).

Discoveries

For any of these, pick 1 or have someone roll the Die of Fate.

Mountain folk

The Whitefangs host a surprising number of settlements. Most are small farming valleys, even more isolated than Stonetop. But there are also a number of fortress-monasteries, like Barrier Pass.

Something interesting: The mountain folk's ancestors were disciples of the Rime Lords, and Rime Lord teachings still influence the culture. But time, isolation, and competing philosophies have led to vastly different local traditions. An idea or practice that is lauded in one village might be ridiculed in the next. And in the village beyond that? It might get you killed.

Something useful: Communities occasionally trade with their nearest neighbors, and folk in one settlement are familiar with the ways of the next—at least well enough to avoid offense or violence. But if you seek a guide or informant, find one who's actually been there, lest you have your ears filled with exaggerated nonsense.

Names

Nepalese- and Tibetan-inspired: Aandha, Araayin, Bisheej, Choden, Dawa, Dhaar, Dorji, Duga, Fayurma, Hopan, Jamya, Jyat, Keshhay, Ksali, Kundari, Kunza, Lhamo, Mitis, Nobu, Nyado, Passan, Pratar, Puyari, Radhaa, Ravar, Sajadr, Sonam, Supar, Tani, Tashi, Tenzi, Tseri, Wanchu, Yonta.

Questions

• Who among you have traveled here before? When and why?
• Who do you know (in Gordin's Delve, perhaps) who hails from the Whitefangs?
• Why do you think storms swirl around Tor's Fist? What do you think those strange lights are?
• Did you once live in a farm valley, or a fortress-monastery?
• What drove you to leave?
• What behavior in Stonetop is strictly taboo where you once lived?
• What practice is common where you once lived, but utterly baffling to folk in Stonetop?
• How is (are) the language(s) of the mountain folk different from those of Stonetop?
• Do they worship ___ up there? If so, how is that worship different than in Stonetop?

Farm valleys

The valleys of the Whitefangs can be surprisingly pleasant. Streams flow almost year-round, freezing over but still running throughout winter. Below the tree line, tall skinny conifers grow in abundance. Many of these vales hold steadings.

Steading names

Amchatala, Bhatand, Bhungadi, Dhulgad, Dhurankat, Ghumjun, Heledhan, Khutan, Methala, Naungadi, Potyata, Sakokoch, Thulalu, Thundind.

Size hamlet (~25 to 75 souls) or village (~150 to 350 souls)

Population -1 to +1

Prosperity -1 to +1

• Trade with...

• other farm valleys (food, spouses)
• mammoth herders (ivory, meat, dark ice)

Resources

• Farming: terraced fields, barley, lentils
• Livestock: goats, sheep, milk, meat
• Fine wool
• Timber
• Hunting/fishing
• Trades: weaving, dyeing, bronzesmithing, etc.

Defenses -1 for a hamlet, +0 for a village

• Some spears, slings, bows
• Some bronze tools/weapons
• Protection from a nearby fortress-monastery

For each steading, pick or roll what their neighbors say they are. Then pick or roll up to 2 features and up to 3 things that are true of everyone here and/or no one here. Imagine what a functional steading would look like with these traits. "Odd" behaviors make sense to the locals, and likely help the community survive/cohere/adapt.

Ask yourself how!

Fortress-monasteries

At least a dozen fortress-monasteries remain, scattered throughout the Whitefang Mountains. Barrier Pass is one of the largest and most powerful. Each is dedicated to preserving the teachings of the Rime Lords—or at least, preserving their version of them!

Size hamlet (~25 to 75 souls)

Population +0

Prosperity +0

• Trade with nearby farm valleys (food, livestock, wool)

Resources

• Tithes from nearby farm valleys
• Terraced gardens (barley, lentils)
• Livestock (goats, sheep, milk, meat)
• Fine wool
• Parchment, vellum, ink
• Trades: bronze-smithing, weaving, dyeing, tanning, scribing, etc.
• Rime Lord artifacts

Defenses +2

• Guardians
• At least one adept
• One or more tulpas
• Weapons/armor of bronze, maybe dark ice
• Defensible position

A typical fortress-monastery has 25-50 residents, split between monks and guardians, plus a handful of layfolk. Most receive food and material support from a nearby farm valley or two.

In turn, guardians patrol the region and monks (ostensibly) guide, teach, and serve as an example for villagers.

Place each fortress-monastery in a Rime

Lord ruin, and create the adept who presides over the monks there. Referring to the previous page, roll or pick what their neighbors say they are, a feature for the fortress-monastery, plus up to 3 things that are true of everyone here and/or no one here. Finally, pick or roll a trait:

Trade & Barter

Commonly available

The following are special items in Stonetop, but commonly available in the settlements of the Whitefang Mountains—PCs can acquire them here without having to roll for Trade & Barter. They do need to trade something of equal Value. Iron, glass, and southern fineries are usually in demand.

Special items

The following might be acquired in the settlements of the Whitefang Mountains, in addition to special items from the Moves & Gear handout. PCs must roll Trade & Barter to acquire them.

When PCs Trade & Barter in a settlement, they use the local Prosperity (with disadvantage if it's a hamlet). On a 6-, they don't mark XP; no one here can/wants to trade—maybe try the next settlement?

Services and favors

PCs don't need to roll Trade & Barter for the following, but they might need to Persuade people—even if they offer something of suitable Value. If the PCs are well-regarded by locals, they might get these boons for free, or without needing to Persuade anyone, or at a reduced price.

Dangers

Hazards

• Getting lost (maze of mountains, canyons, passes, and valleys)
• Sheer rock face to climb, and a reason to climb it
• Steep slopes, unstable footing (narrow paths, wet stone, scree, thin waterlogged soil, mud, crumbling rock)
• Flash flooding in valleys/on slopes
• An unexpected obstacle/hazard: go forward and risk it, or backtrack and lose half a day?
• Mudslides and rockslides

Harsh mountain weather

• Baking sun, dry air
• Fog banks/low clouds, blocking vision and soaking everything
• Wind: drowning out voices, threatening to toss you aside
• Rain and wind rolling up from below
• Rain and sleet: pelting you, soaking you, threatening to wash you away
• Thunder or lightning: making you flinch/jerk/jolt, triggering rockslides
• Snow: hiding a drop, burying a pass, making trails impassible
• Brutal cold, leading to hypothermia & frostbite (next page)

Monsters

• Predators: cave bears, cougars, and wolves
• Spirits of the wild
• Wraiths of those who died of starvation and want, or corrupted by the Howling Curse
• Tulpas, free-roaming or bound to something nearby

People

• Guardians, monks, or novices from Barrier Pass
• An adept
• A false adept, or their minions