BujiTowns/Fackler's Valley
Fackler's Valley is feared by all who live in the area. The valley has such a reputation for death and misery that even the local animals make efforts to go around it even when hunted. Few have ventured into the valley and returned to speak of it and those who have dared not to venture far into it.
The valley is roughly 70 miles in diameter and takes a slight crescent shape to it around the Yu-shan gate #30. Most travelers don't even know they have crossed into the valley until it is too late. Through the harsh climate and years of solice the ice and snow has built up a false layer of ground. The valley doesn't even appear to the naked eye unless someone has recently fallen through exposing a hole inthe ice. Many tribes have marked the edges periodically with a form of totem. These totems are not upkept though unless used by hunters to scare prey back towards them, otherwise many of the totems have fallen to harsh winter storms or decayed from rot.
The hazards of the valley are simple ... above the ice. Traversing the ice is a delicate matter. Any weight over 150 pounds will cause the ice to break. Any movement beyond a slow walk will cause the ice to break, unless an applicable Charm is being used. Loud noises can cause the entire ice shelf to fall in upon itself, but has yet to ever do so. If at any point the character(s) fall through the ice they will fall for 40 feet and hit numerous icicles as they fall and upon impact. (Insert damage here)
Surviving that, they now have things to worry about. The reason the animals can sense the area without seeing it is due to the smell. The air is stale and wreaks of death and damp molds. Any character who uses advanced smell may detect the valley from (successes x15) yards away. Normal characters cannot smell it until standing upon the valley due to the winds and bitter cold.
Beneath the ice is a large labyrinth of ice walls, icicles and ice covered stalagtites. Movement is treacherous as the ground here is covered in at least two inches of ice in any given spot. Periodically you will see piles of bones form animals and humans, obviously those not lucky enough to survive the fall. What seems odd are the random pox upon the ice, scattered about every 6-8 feet. It would appear that someone had been throwing rocks at the ice in an attempt to break it, for whatever reason that might be. Any material possessions that are here are most likely encased in ice or decomposed so greatly they will provide no use to you.
The ice creates a dizzying array of depths as it all blends together, if there is any light from above it bouces around with blinding clarity about the ice. There is even a few small patches of rainbows forming in the distance. As you focus better you see the rainbows are imbedded into something with a whitish-blue fur. A leftover treasure from another poor soul perhaps? As you edged your way closer the fur shifts slightly, but there is no breeze? That's when you realize that it is not a treasure and somehow you feel like the poor soul now. Before you rises up a Valley Strider, an almost forgotten lore form the north used to scared children into bed at night.
Comments
I plan on having this filled out before Christmas rolls around. The circle is heading to the north soon so I need to have the towns ready for them. -Buji
