Magdurus

Shadows drape the perilous peaks, rising from the blistering sands as they tower over the surrounding desert. For many eons these ancient mountains have stood, a silent witness to the endless cycle of war and peace.

From the cloudy highlands of Micfortress to the impoverished outskirts of Blackwatch, the Magdurus mountains define the borders between the Coquo Desert and the Raiteran Rainforests, separating cultures and dividing nations. Despite its modest appearance however, a veritable labyrinth of tunnels, caves and caverns lie hidden beneath the mountain’s surface, rich with minerals, metals and Cierite deposits. Though it does not quell the extensive efforts of explorers and miners, there have been numerous cases of people going missing in the darkened maze of the mountain’s depths. Several claim to feel nauseous and uneasy when traversing the tunnels, while others recount the passages shifting and changing in an almost eerie and supernatural manner. Darkness is a deadman’s venture, keep your torch close.

Geography

Snaking from the Sea of Caelum to the Black Iron Gulf, the rocky and jagged exterior of the mountain makes Magdurus a formidable range to traverse. Loose rocks and sheer cliffs have been known to claim many ill-prepared travelers, but such has done little to dissuade their attempts to explore the mountain depths. Although a difficult terrain, within these mountain ranges hide valuable metal deposits, minerals, and various types of Cierites.

Architecture

Along the southern tip of the ridge, long, snaking tunnels meander under the mountain, remnants of the ancient Blackwatch mines. Abandoned miners’ camps litter the range, hosting a complicated network of man-made caverns that can be baffling to any trespasser. With most of the precious resources and metals stripped away in this area, only old wooden supports and pillars remain within the mines.

On the north side of the Magdurus mountains one will stumble upon caves and crypts that seem to be more ancient and supernatural in design; remnants of a time long forgotten. Unintelligible symbols and abstract designs can be spotted along the walls of these crypts, hinting at the existence of an intelligent civilization. Many travellers that have attempted to explore these systems have never returned; other reports have stated the crypts somehow shift and change within the mountain, blocking off exits and trapping people within. Much of the mountains remain unexplored, leaving the possibility of secrets still further below.

Technology / Wealth / RICE

A bountiful source of natural resources and important minerals, the Magdurus Mountains are commonly seen as a mining region by much of Western Cier. Cierites, in particular, are of increasing importance and relevance, as their powerful attributes are a commodity throughout the region. However, with Bijou having been recently discovered deep below Magdurus, mining practices have become less relevant as more trading routes were established to this bountiful city.

People and Culture

The Magdurus Mountains remain to be a desolate region with most of the people being passing travellers, miners, or trade caravans. It is known however, that there exists small pockets of diverse, close-knit groups formed by outcasts or runaways of the many regions nearby. Rogue adventures are still known to venture deep within the ancient crypts of Magdurus in hopes of finding rare artifacts and materials.

History

During the ancient times of Cier when the Seraphs and Somnians were at the tailend of the war, the Seraphs pushed up towards Somnus, occupying the Magurus Mountains as a strategic stronghold. It was during this time where the Seraphs created the Bijians and hid them away deep within the Magudurus. After the disappearance of the Seraphs, the enchanted crypts have kept the Bijians hidden for most of Cier’s history.

Throughout most of modern history, the Magdurus was extensively mined for its rich mineral deposits. Blackwatch was one of the first, claiming most of the southern mountains and setting up mining establishments that fueled its industrial boom and development. After the Aether-Blackwatch War, Blackwatch relinquished control of Magdurus and embargoes were put into place by the Alliance to better allocate resources and territories between regions.

Recently the Bijians were finally discovered and revealed to the outside world providing new sources of wealth and trade to the neighboring regions.