157 rooms · levels 7–25
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A frosty wind sweeps over the lip of the ice volcano, whose opening is just to the south of here, a long drop into a pool of liquid ice. Long ago, that pool might have served as a conduit between the Prime Material Plane and the Para-Elemental Plane of Ice, but now it is simply a dormant volcano of another variety. To the east and west, narrow paths circle the rim of the volcano, covered by a heavy blanket of ice and snow, but still traversable.
This appears to be the leeward side of the ice volcano, the winds neither as fierce or as buffeting as they are elsewhere along this mountain. To the east is the insides of the volcano themselves, a pool of liquid ice and snow that just might be fatal for any who enter. To the north and south, a narrow path traverses the ridgeline along the lip of the rim, choked with snow and ice, as well as the remains of some carcass or two, but walkable. To the west, a sheer drop to the valley floor awaits those foolish enough to attempt that route.
A long fall to the pool of liquid ice... after plunging in, one finds that their body temperature has rapidly fallen below safe levels, and quickly enters a cryogenic state, except that the change is so rapid as to shut down the whole body... in other words, you have died.
A wintry blast of frigid air assaults one as they stand along this side of the great ice volcano overlooking the rest of the lands of the valley. To the east drops a massive cliff, ending in a large pile of rubble (and more than a handful of bones and corpses) way below. To the west of here, the crater of a massive volcano, clogged with ice, lies across the trail. To the north and south of here lie snowdrifts with narrow trails plowed through them, made by some large force that doesn't seem to mind the cold if it's out here carving trails through the cold and snowfall. No sign of the creature or creatures is visible however, nor does sound of them echo over the howling winds.
This is the south, and most climbable side, of the ice volcano that marks the northern terminus of the so-called Vale of Frost. To the east and west of here, a narrow and treacherous path winds around the rim of the dormant monolith, quite possibly carved out by some intelligent being in a preset pattern. To the north, the ground tumbles down into an icy pool of frozen death, while to the south, a narrow but clear game trail descends the mountain, dropping onto a tundra winding towards an encampment in the distance.
This is the upper third of the south face of the mountain marking the north end of the Vale of Frost, rather clear of brush and other obstacles that might make such a climb dangerous to the unwary. North and south of here, a game trail has been blazed out of the wilderness, providing easier travel up and down this monolith of stone. To the south, the land is generally flat once it leaves the slopes, lightly wooded as it makes its way between the sheer cliffs that border the valley. In the distance, plumes of smoke rise over the flats of this land.
This is the lower third of the great glacier that lies along the northern edge of the valley. A winding trail ascends and descends the mountain from here, leading north and south as it is. Most of the mountain is covered by a healthy blanket of snow, with some brush poking out and clumps of trees scattered across the rock. North of here, the mountain rises, while to the south is a lightly wooded plainsland, though a bit rocky in places. Along the edge of a glacier to the east is a path into a valley.
The foothills end here, on the lowest slopes of a grand glacier that lies to the north of here. That slab of ice and stone blocks off the north end of the valley from sight, rising into the sky like a frozen finger. A narrow trail winds its way up the mountain, permitting hunters to access the rich game that hides along the icy slopes. To the south, east, and west, the foothills lead onward, running between the sheer walls of the sides of the vale, while in the distance to the south a light forest is visible.
This appears to be a barren corner of the valley, snow covered to be sure, but otherwise nondescript. A large pile of rubble marks the skirts of the southwest slopes of the great mountain just north and east of here, unclimbable and entirely impassable. Small avalanches trigger in that region now and then, proving how dangerous this place can be. To the west of here is the sheer cliff walls of the west end of this valley, marking its terminus. To the south and east of here, meanwhile, the plainsland continues, lightly forested in places and serving apparently as a good hunting grounds for the village on the southern horizon.
This is a rather hilly region of the tundra north of the gnoll encampment in view nearby to the south, although rather barren in and of itself. Most of the land is rocky, though patches of forest abound. A couple of wandering humanoids tend to stay towards the forest, as if they know game can be found there to feed their loved ones. To the north, a majestic mountain rises up over the land, while to the west lies the rock wall of the end of the valley.
This is a slightly hilly region of the tundra of the Vale of Frost, covered in a blanket of light snow to be sure but otherwise rather bland. To the east, north, and west of here, the line of rocky land continues, with forested copses in spots concealing game that gnoll hunters are working to flush out even now. Those hunters must come from the encampment across the snowfields to the south, where smoke rises lazily into the air. In the distance to the north lies a large mountain, while to the west and east in the distance the valley walls are visible, towering well into the air and blocking passage at those points.
This is a snowy corner of the valley here, a bit rocky as a line of ridges intersects the wall of the valley to the north and west. Both are cliffs that soar thousands of feet into the air, all but impassable for practical purposes. The line of hills drifts away to the east, through a bunch of trees here and there but mainly over barren tundra, just like the flatlands to the south. In the distance in that direction as well (the southern route) lies a small village appearing to be home to the dog-like gnolls.
The broad snowfields of the Vale of Frost run into the natural barrier of the western cliffs here, rising thousands of feet into the relatively clear skies above. Most of the land is rather flat, though it does begin rising towards a mountain looming on the northern horizon. However, every piece of land in view is covered by a healthy dusting of white snow, broken here and there by the tracks of gnoll hunters. They probably range from the encampment to the south and east of here, smoke rising up above it and marking it clearly on the tundra.
The valley turns here, running out of this location north and east along generally flat snowfields, though some ridgelines and forested land is visible in one's field of vision. The snow in this region is mostly unbroken, except for the clawed tracks of great avian forms that land to rest their wings now and then. They probably lair in the caves overhead, along the walls of the valley itself, secure from intrusion by the gnolls who call this region home. To the southeast somewhat is the gnoll village, with lazy trails of smoke rising up above the land from various cookfires contained within. A hunting party or two also ranges out of the encampment, heading northward towards the distant glacier there to gather food for the women and young.
A broad snow-filled plain extends across one's field of view here, broken here and there by trees, a ridgeline, or a small party of hunting gnolls. Beyond this, there is little to distinguish this region of the Vale of Frost overmuch, other than to mention that it lives up to its name with the icy cold blasts of the north wind blowing off a large glacier. To the south of here is a small village of sorts, probably the community from which the gnolls emerge to hunt and gather.
A broad line of snow-covered ridges runs east and west along the floor of the Vale of Frost here, rising to the north as it approaches the great wall of ice that barricades the northern end of the valley. Most of this area lies under a thick blanket of the white powder, and is chilled both by that and the arctic blasts blowing in from all around. Other than the ridges, only small clumps of hardy evergreen trees break up the monotony here and there, strewn about almost in a haphazard pattern. To the south and east of here lies a small encampment bundled into a line of hills, with trails of smoke rising up into the clear skies above. Signs of passage by large humanoid creatures is rather evident as well.
The broad tundra of the northlands lies beneath a carpet of snow several feet deep here, on the south side of a ridgeline prefacing hills and a glacier to the distant north. A trail has been blazed through the wintry landscape, apparently by giantkin or gnolls wandering about between copses of trees on the hunt to feed their families who must lie in the village to the south. Pickings seem rather slim, however, as there is no sign of wild game. There seems to be little life to this area, just the endless howl of the north wind, and the extreme chill of winter descending upon this place.
The slippery, snow-covered ground rises a bit here as it heads from south to north, being the foothills of the great mountain blocking most passage further to the north. Other than that, the area is not overly remarkable, as the wintry steppes can be seen for quite a distance in every direction, at least until it reaches the sturdy rock walls of the valley's edges. To the south appears to be some sort of small town, populated and active if the smoke plumes are any indication.
Low hills lie under a thick blanket of snow here, just south of the skirts of the great ice volcano dominating this end of the valley. All around this area is broken and rugged land, trees spotting it here and there, and even a hunting party or two of some sort of giantkin or goblinoid. The rest of the valley is rather unremarkable, although a village does lie a ways to the south of here, easily visible by the smoke rising up above it. A shrill cry of some great bird splits the otherwise silent skies.
The walls of the valley slope somewhat here, blocking passage to the east despite the fact that they are not vertical like most of the rest of the area. North and south of here run snow-covered hills, dotted here and there with hardy evergreens, birds circling in the air above them. To the west runs a broad line of ridges, some with trails blazed across them by the frequent parties of gnoll hunters. Northwest of here lies a large glacier, probably the source of the icy winds, while a homey looking village is southwest.
This appears to be the northeast corner of the valley, the sturdy rock walls turning here along the southeastern slopes of the great glacier and becoming a formidable obstacle to eastern progress. Most of the land is covered in very deep blankets of snow, the only sign of terrain underneath the gentle rise and fall of hills beneath. To the south, the land flattens out a bit, though the snow is still quite a factor. The only remarkable feature about this region of the land is the village on the southern horizon; other than that the area is a blur of white.
The snowfields here are very similar to the rest of the snowfields of this region, just a flat plainsland covered in white. Trees are scattered here and there across the tundra in a haphazard pattern, but other than that nothing breaks up the region. A short distance east and south of here lies a small city of gnolls, apparently well garrisoned for some reason, as if they feared some threat from the nearby area. A hunting party appears out of it, heading north and east looking for game, but other than that there appears to be little life in this region of the world.
The plainsland narrows here into a narrow funnel as dictated by the sheer walls of the east and west ends of the Vale of Frost. To the south is only a narrow corridor of snow-covered land, before the northern edge of the gnollish encampment, poised on top of a low hill. To the north of here are vast reaches of snow-covered plainsland, rising slowly but surely into the distance. There are no signs of life, but a chill wind sweeps off the hilly land to the north.
The walls of the borders of the Vale of Frost soar well into the sky here on the east and south sides of this snowfield, casting long shadows across the flatlands of the region and bathing it in darkness and chill. Too, north winds bring subzero temperatures to the region, which might be one of the primary causes of the lifelessness of this place. Only the smoke rising nearby to the southwest implies anyone lives in this desolate place, probably the signs of cookfires also used to keep a small community warm. The plainsland spreads to the north and west of here, silent under a heavy blanket of powder.
The snowfields here are rather nondescript, although a stand of fir trees does sprout out of the soil beneath the carpet of powder. Most of the area around here looks relatively untraveled; in fact, there appears to be little or no sign of life along this stretch of wilderness at all. To the southwest of here lies a small village, a couple of trails of smoke lazily rising into the sky, although even there it appears few if any being stir.
A small pile of ice shards and rock fragments lies atop the snows of this part of the Vale of Frost, lying along the walls marking the outer edges of the valley itself. These seem to be the only distinguishing marks from the vast stretches of the snow-covered tundra that spreads to the west and north of here, although in the extreme distance it appears that there might be some moving party of intelligent beings. To the north of here, the land begins to rise as it approaches the horizon. The skies are silent, but a chill wind whips up out of the west, bringing temperatures in this shaded niche to bone chilling levels.
This region of the tundra lies in the shadows of the towering wall of the eastern edge of the Vale of Frost. The shadows only accentuate the extreme cold that permeates the region, further fueled by the frosty northwest winds and making standing here a real frostbite danger. Most of the tundra looks to be rather absent of life, although clawed toe marks do appear throughout the flat snowfields. The only potential landmark visible from here is a small camp lying on the southwestern horizon, lazy trails of smoke rising into the cloudy skies above.
This is a snowy hill, lying near the curve of the slate walls of the Vale of Frost just to the north and east of here. Those walls serve to form this part of the tundra as a shaded corner, as well as secure roosts for the eagles and hawks that call this desolate wilderness home. To the northwest, a glacier is visible through the swirling mists, quite possibly the source of all the chill in this region, though the theory is unlikely. Other than the circling birds, there is little sign of life in this wasteland, just the endless rolling of the snowfields into the distance.
One has a wonderful view of most of the tundra region of the northern Vale of Frost from these snow-covered ridges, displaying the landscape in all its splendor for leagues around. To the east, west, and north of here lies a hilly region, slowly rising towards the great glacier at the northern end of this place. To the south is flat tundra, a healthy layer of snow upon it, and the occasional gnoll hunting party flushing out game for return to their village to the south. The gnolls seem to take little notice of anything outside their immediate hunting needs here, so one could remain here relatively unbothered, but for the icy wind from the north.
The tundra lies very much still here, and bereft of life for the most part, as the blanket of snow has few prints to indicate something passing through. A chill northern wind cuts through the flatlands, freezing everything in its path, however, and makes one wish that they had a little more protection from the elements, say, a village like the one to the south complete with warm hearths and companions. The tundra itself spreads in all directions from here, rising slightly in altitude to the north, where a mountain looms out of the mist-enshrouded air.
Snow-covered plains dominate the landscape here from horizon to horizon, lying between a bank of ridges to the north and the gnoll encampment just a short walk to the south. Most of the terrain looks rather lifeless, though the tracks of a pack of wolves can be clearly seen, and those of gnoll hunters following or preceding them. Neither is in sight now, and no sign or sound of them remains on the tundra. Little else can be said about this region of the valley, other than the fact that it is very cold.
The Vale of Frost narrows dangerously here, the sheer cliffs of the sides of the valley curving into a funnel just north of the gnoll encampment that sits strategically uphill from here. In fact, this looks like a perfect place for an ambush to be triggered from, hundreds of warriors charging down into the gully and other gruesome thoughts. Other than that, a small village is visible through the swirling mist, lying along a sprawl of hills. To the north of here, the tundra is covered by a thick blanket of snow, and the occasional spot of trees. East and west are impassable, the cliffs blocking any further progress.
This crude roadway ends here, along the northern border of the gnoll village. To the south of here lies most of the town, mostly clumps of tents and other various structures haphazardly thrown about wherever space is available. Many a gnoll is out and about on this chill day, although a majority of them are females and young, as the menfolk are probably out hunting. A small nursery appears to be to the east, while a more permanent building lies westward.
This appears to be the gnoll barracks, mostly a crude assembly of training grounds, weapon and armor storage, and little more. Most of the inside walls are decorated with the heads of various creatures that roam the vale, being wolves, eagles, and even a mammoth polar bear. A doorway to the east leads out to the main road of the village, there are no other exits visible from here.
A large number of gnoll young are here, being watched over by some females who presumably are unmarried by the looks of it. This building itself is only a bare building, bereft of any luxuries as it appears to be where the kits and such are dropped off while the menfolk and women hunt or take care of other necessary work. A doorway is cut into the west wall, leading out onto one of the thoroughfares of the town. No other exits are visible.
The gravel circle that marks the center and main portion of the gnoll outpost runs east and west from here, and also allows a branching path off to the north leading to the edge of town. A couple of the dog-men are out and about, running errands through the city as their schedules demand. Outside of that, there is little sign of the peoples that inhabit this settlement. South of here lies a low blocky building, though the interior is dark and its rather hard to see what goes on inside.
This is a rather bare room in the middle of the gnoll encampment. Pale squares on one wall show where the notices used to hang, and a row of empty perches still smells faintly of pigeon (the few the couriers did not eat on the way). A number of gnollish couriers recline near the center of the room, grumbling that nobody writes any more. Exits lead in all four major compass directions out into the town itself.
The inner circular road of the gnoll town turns north and east here, running around the outside of the training houses for growing gnoll warriors and shamans and inside of the shops, taverns, residences, etc. that a midsized town always seems to have in abundance. The rest of the town itself is rather plain, most of the buildings looking to be a cross between tents and true constructed homes and workplaces, making for a rather unique architecture. A couple of gnoll kits wander by, taking little heed of what is around them.
The gravel circle reaches its western apex here, intersecting a minor road running towards the west end of town and beyond. A couple of buildings are scattered here and there, mostly residences where room can be found. To the east lies a small building, with a darkened interior, almost as if no one were within and the building abandoned. A handful of the gnolls walk by, but they seem to pay little attention to much of anything.
The gravel road reaches its end here, gradually wearing down to nothing as it heads westward from the main circle of the town. Buildings lie on either side of the road, a grocery to the north and some other type of shop by the wooden signs hanging above the structures. To the west, the land opens up, descends a hill, and heads towards the western end of the star-shaped valley. East of here is the rest of the gnoll city, and where most of the activity takes place around here by the looks of it.
This shop is rather musty, looking not to get a heck of a lot of use by the gnolls who live in the town. A small counter stands in the middle of the room, and behind it stands an aged, stooped gnoll selling foodstuffs. Other than that fact, there is nothing of note in the room. The exit from this structure is to the south, back into the rest of the gnoll encampment.
This is a small, musty shop lying along the western outskirts of the gnoll town. Along the few shelves evident for browsing are various sundry supplies to help out the casual adventurer, from bags to hold their stuff to light sources, and even an odd or end in between. Prices are not listed, but are most likely the domain of the shopkeeper standing behind the counter with a bemused expression.
This is the southwestern curve of the gravel circle that marks the center of the gnoll village. Outside of the rough rock roads lie small residences, scattered here and there in small clumps, and piles of snow lying between them piled there by the inhabitants clearing walkways. To the north and east of here the road circles the town common, heading towards various districts of the town. The smell of woodsmoke permeates the air heavily.
This is the southern rim of the circle marking the center of the gnoll town. From here, roads run east, west, and south, all heading to different quadrants of this place. To the north, a squat building houses the city's old message post, whose connection to the outside world was mostly pigeons. South of here appears to be a residential district, while the commercial parts of the city are east and west a ways. A couple of gnolls hurry by, on their way to their appointments elsewhere.
The gravel road dissipates gradually here, running between two small towers set on either side of the road and looking southward onto open tundra. To the north of here, the road runs towards the center of town, and that is where the overwhelming majority of the dog-man gnolls lie. To the east and west are squat structures, the inn of this place to the east and a tent with smoke coming out of it to the west. Nothing else appears to be out of the ordinary.
This is a woodsmoke filled cabin, heavy with the odor of incense. In the middle of the room stands an ancient gnoll, wizened beyond all belief and most likely incredibly learned in the ways of the gnolls and the area surrounding this town. A table lies before him, covered with a couple of parchments, one a map of the vale and one simply general information, which he presents in such a way that any growing warrior could read it. An exit lies to the east of here.
This is a musty room, filled with the odor of unwashed humanoids. The sounds of deep, guttural snores come from a ladder leading downward into a vast region of sleeping quarters. A counter bisects the room, behind which a gnoll sits, tending the inn and arranging sleeping quarters for all who desire them. An exit lies west.
The gravel road takes a turn here, leading away to the west and north to differing quadrants of town. The road itself is lightly traveled, with only the occasional dog-like humanoid wandering this way. To the northwest lies a low, blocky structure, unlike the residences to the south or the commercial shops to the east. A rumble of thunder echoes from the sky overhead, but that is the only sign or sound from the world above.
The rock-filled roadway of the gnoll village leads in all directions but west from here, leading off to different sectors of this township. To the east the road runs between shops, while to the north and south the road curves into a gradual circle, running around the building to the west. From this side, it is rather hard to see what takes place within, but a door allows convenient access.
The gravel road here begins and heads off to the west, towards the center of town. Bracketing it on north and south sides are shops, appearing to sell implements of war by the signs hanging over their doorways. The sounds of a blacksmithy overshadow even the wind, the thunder, and the grunts of the gnolls wandering about the town. To the east of here, the village ends and a light forest occupies the land.
This is a small shop, but stocked to the rafters with all sorts of crude gnollish armor. Much of it is leather, as there is little metal, coal, and other such stuff to work with in this region of the world. The shopkeeper in the middle of the room attests to the strength of the armor, claiming that it is also the official wear of the sentries and hunters of the region. To the south lies an exit into the open village, there are no other exits visible anywhere.
This is a blocky structure, lying just south of a roadway leading into the middle of the gnoll encampment. The room itself has a rather low ceiling, most likely to give a bit of an advantage to the proprietor of the shop, who is even now standing inspecting some of his equipment. The weaponry itself looks to be of rather impressive quality considering the normal workmanship and material that gnolls have to work with. A window is evident behind the long counter, but there appear to be no exits other than the one to the north.
The gravel road gently curves to the west and south here, leading off and around the blocky building that once served as a post office for this town of gnolls. The road itself is rather badly built, and in poor repair, but walkable if one takes a care while doing so. South and east of here lies a commercial district, while the path west and north is well guarded, as if from protection from some incursion from beyond the town's borders.
The snowy woodlands slope downhill slightly, from west to east, heading close to what looks and sounds like a creekbed of sorts. This spot here seems to be the western fringe of the forest, mostly sturdy fir and evergreen trees, tossed here and there in a general hodgepodge. The extreme beginnings of a rather crude trail lead off to the west, into an encampment of sorts, apparently populated by gnolls or similar creatures. The rest of the area is forest, still under the lack of a breeze.
A dusting of snow lies on the ground here in the light woodlands, although some patches of brown dirt show through here and there where the sun is focused. Most of the area seems rather normal for a forest, the smells, sounds, and even the sights are normal, although a couple of humanoid figures can be seen moving carefully from shadow to shadow. A slight breeze stirs the treetops, but does not very well reach the ground.
The woods here are eerily silent, although the sound of the winter winds reverberate through the trees. The forest itself curves along the inside of a sheer cliff, turning south and east from here. Most of the area between the trees is covered with a thin layer of snow, enabling one to see what creatures inhabit this lonely region by the footprints. Nothing seems to have disturbed the snow recently, so one just might be alone out here.
Snow-covered forest fills the landscape as far as one can see, which really isn't all that far considering the limited field of view one would have in such a place. The forest itself looks rather healthy, and also appears to provide shelter for a number of small creatures hiding away from any hostile intruders that might wander through, for example gnoll hunters that flit into and out of sight every now and then. The woods are generally quiet, except for the whoosh of the wind passing through, carrying with it the musty odor of ancient trees.
The woodlands of the Vale of Frost follow the curve of the cliff walls that mark its barriers, forcing the land to slope slightly downhill to the east and south of here. The forest is rather quiet though, as if some predator or other hostile presence were lurking within, scaring the wildlife into hiding. Other than that, the forest seems almost a normal forest in winter, with a number of bare trees and other evergreens that retain a semblance of color despite the layer of snow covering everything. The wind, however, is silent and still.
The forest of the eastern end of the valley enters a snow-filled bowl here, basically just a shallow depression where a meteor might have struck several millennia ago. The forest is rather light in this region, as there is quite a bit of space between clumps of trees. To the west and south, the terrain rises and the forest thickens, while to the north and east of here lie ice-covered walls of rock soaring thousands of feet into the air. The forest is generally quiet, though the sound of an icy breeze does rustle the treetops.
Patches of murky brown stick out through the snow-covered woodlands here, mostly on the leeward sides of trees. The wind itself is rather still, though it does blow out of the north from time to time. The forest is silent, as if some predator were systematically hunting the woodland creatures, and those creatures trying to remain still and quiet to avoid detection. The burbling of a small creek can be heard through the murky darkness to the east, but there is nothing else unusual about the whole place.
A crystalline brook flows through part of this woodlands region, skirting the cliffs lying just to the north. The forest itself is a healthy mix of both fir and evergreen trees, rising several dozen feet towards the sky above. Snow covers much of the ground, symbolic of the environment that seems to be almost a perpetual winter. South and east of here, the brook continues its wayward path, while the land slopes down a bit to the west, into a small bowl-shaped depression of earth.
This appears to be the northeast corner of this section of woodlands, as it runs into the sheer, ice-covered cliffs right about here, those cliffs rising many thousand feet into the air as an impassable obstacle. Most of the forest seems rather normal for this type of wintry environment, although it is very quiet, as if something unnatural were moving through and quieting the animals who live in the area. A brook reaches its end here, flowing in from the west and simply seeping into the earth at a point, forming a wide patch of ice. A slight breeze whisks in from the west, but is barely noticeable, nor does it do much to chill the already frigid air.
This is a sloping tract of snow-covered woodlands, heading downhill from the west to the east as it approaches the distant valley walls. The woods are rather quiet, as if either every animal was safely in hibernation, or keeping hidden from a predator lurking about between the trees. The only audible sounds are the burbling of a nearby creek, and the whistling wind blowing out of the northwest, chilling anything it comes in contact with. The trees continue in all four compass directions, fading into the mist where cliffs do not bar its further progress.
The snow-covered ground reaches the icy walls of the edge of the Vale of Frost here, and head uphill west and south towards light woodlands. The area is eerily quiet, as though the animals were all dead or hiding, probably the latter given the number of almost humanoid footprints embedded in the rough blanket of snow. A chill breeze flows through the area, but does little to affect the already icy conditions about.
Light forest, mostly fir and evergreen, covers this icy and snowy patch of land in the extreme eastern section of the Vale of Frost. The area itself is edged by glacier-like walls of stone, emitting both a faint blue light from the sun's rays, and a blast of wintry frost given the amount of thermal energy they must have stored up. The forest is amazingly quiet, only accentuating the almost palpable aura of menace exuding from within. The only unusual signs of any attention here are the clawed tracks of many wolves, probably the predators who are scaring everything else into hiding.
The forest runs along the northern face of a great rockface here, lying below thousands of feet of stone in a way. The woodlands are relatively light but sturdy fir and evergreen, spotted here and there with much room between the numerous clumps. Much of the ground is covered by a thick layer of snow, on which the prints of wolves and boots from some sentient hunter can be seen. Despite the apparent abundance of life, the woods are silent save the wind that moans forlornly through the emptiness.
This is more quiet forest, sloping gently downwards towards the northeast and towards the distant rock walls that border the edge of the Vale of Frost. For the most part the area seems deserted, at least by the sounds and smells of the place, and looking more like forest that has been untouched since the dawn of time. The myriad tracks crisscrossing in the snow, meanwhile, tell a tale of the hunter and the hunted, though how it finishes is anyone's guess. A creek is visible through the trees both north and west.
A low, snow-covered ridge lies here along the southeast rim of the Vale of Frost. To the south and east of here soars a monstrous rockface, covered in a thick layer of ice that even now exudes a great chill. The rest of the area around here is light forest, sturdy and vibrant despite the wintry conditions that abound. The only disconcerting thing about this area is the utter silence that seems to greet one's every step. There is little sign of life that one would associate with the woods, as if something had snuffed it out. It is more than enough to put one on edge.
The hilly region of the forested valley snakes somewhat into a niche in the glacier-like walls of the Vale of Frost here, hiding a lot of the area from plain view. The area not blocked by the walls themselves, to the north and east of here, are mostly snow-covered flats dotted with hardy looking trees. The woodlands are strangely silent, as if some predator had driven everything into hiding, allowing the sounds of a nearby creek to reach one's ears. It is rather cold as well, however, between the effects of the icy rockface and the chill wind blowing through.
The woodlands are rather quiet here, with any slight sounds being made easily drowned out by the rushing of the creek flowing past, heading off to the north and east. It runs between two stands of fir trees, hardy things that would seem to house animals in a more normal forest, but looks abandoned here. Most of the ground is covered in a layer of snow, probably there year round, and has numerous wolf tracks crisscrossing it, indicating the possible presence of a pack. Other than that, there is nothing of interest to even the most paranoid of travelers to indicate anything out of the ordinary.
The forest here runs along the north bank of a small but swift creek, cutting a path through the icy ground towards the northeast. The woodlands themselves are primarily trees of the evergreen variety, covered in a light blanket of snow much as the ground is. There is little sign of life, as none of the normal howls, hoots, and hollers reverberate through the emptiness. Only the rather fresh tracks of a pack of wolves passing through indicates that something might be out there. The forest itself continues in all directions.
A creek runs through this section of the woods, in a general northeasterly direction as it rises a small hill and tumbles down the backside in what must be rapids to a bug's view. The forest itself is quiet outside the rushing of water, lightly covered in snow as if that were enough to silence everything else about. Tracks are here and there about the snow, but what they come from is rather unknown. A swirling mist, probably from the extreme cold of the region, seems to hang everywhere, blocking view of the rest of the forest from this location.
The silence of the forest here is almost oppressive in its way, dampening the mood of any who might want to enjoy the wintry terrain and weather. Only the burbling of a nearby brook and the whistle of the frosty wind make noise here, the latter stirring the trees just a little and causing some snow to fall off their upper branches and down onto the ground. This snow serves to mask the footprints of the wolves and humanoids that have traveled this forest, hunting for sustenance to feed pack and family, and maybe those interlopers are the reason everything is so quiet.
A creek flows out of the rockface to the south, angling off north and east carving a narrow path through the snowy wastes of the forest. Most of the land is covered in a thick blanket of the white stuff, making the surface itself cold and rather unyielding. The woods themselves are very much silent, whether from the weather or from hunting predators it is uncertain. There is little else that appears out of the ordinary.
This appears to be a quiet corner of the woodlands, running along a wall that curves north to east and blocking the further path of the forest. A thin layer of snowy powder lies along the ground, broken up here and there by the trod of many feet, most of them humanoid or booted. This would probably account for the unnerving silence, as hunters must poach this forest for food to feed their families. To the east, a burbling brook can be heard through the trees, and a wind whips out of the north, but nothing else seems out of place.
This is an open field lying west of the gnoll encampment, in clear sight of its western sentry posts. Most of the terrain is unobstructed, flowing in all compass directions save back to the city. In the distance north and south, as well as a bit to the west, the cliff walls that mark the borders of the vale can be seen, although a canyon splits the western terrain. A cool breeze blows out of the northwest, but this area is not nearly so cold as it could be.
This area of the Vale of Frost appears to be muddy flatlands, lying just to the north and west of the gnoll encampment. The land is rather empty, although a number of muddy footprints indicates that an occasional gnoll patrol wanders through, keeping watch on their borders. To the north and east of here are a sheer cliff and a sheer drop respectively, understandably preventing one from continuing in those directions. The rest of the plainsland is flat and muddy, and a monotonous bore to the eye.
The mudflats of the western Vale of Frost make one's movement a most tedious affair, but the area is rather passable. Most of the land is flat, and the absence of obstacles allows one to see to the north, towards the gnoll village, and westward towards the break in the rockface there and the crevice that leads back towards warmer civilization. To the south and east, the path is blocked by walls of sheer stone.
The muddy flatlands west of the gnoll encampment run into the walls of the Vale of Frost here, a series of cliffs rising thousands of feet into the air and almost blocking further passage to the west. Only a narrow crevice allows further travel in that direction, vanishing into the murky darkness of a canyon. All about here is muddy earth, with patches of snow here and there, and even a gnollish patrol in the distance. The area appears well guarded, as if the gnolls feared an incursion from the southlands. The north wind puffs lightly here, bringing a crisp chill to the air.
The mud flats of the western Vale of Frost are rather sticky here, the goop almost trying to drag one down as he or she takes every step. This land leads to the south and east, with a distant tent village in the distance, probably inhabited by gnolls like the ones occasionally walking patrol out in this direction. North and west of here are sheer rockfaces, barring further travel, though a gap in the western rockface is just south of here. Most of the air is silent, although the shriek of a hawk can be heard over the breeze.
This is the southwest corner of the mudflats just west of the gnoll village in sight along the hills to the east. The land itself is a bit of a mire, fed by the melting snow and allowed to sit by the absence of wind. South and west of here are sturdy rockfaces, weathered with the passage of time but still impassable obstacles. The footprints in the ooze indicate the gnolls, or some similar being, passes through now and then, but no present sign of them can be seen from here.
This is a dark, dank, and narrow crevice in the rockface, with rather small corridors leading west and east, the latter one heading into broad daylight and seemingly open land. There is little sign of life here, as this crevice seems to tunnel into the ground, and under tons of rock. Little sound reaches one's ears in here, although each footstep echoes and reverberates until it is a literal cacophony of sound.
The faint light reflecting to this point in the crevice indicates that the stone corridor turns to the east and south here, narrow passages leading in each direction further into the rockface. There is literally no life in here, save the luminescent moss hanging along the walls, and emitting the faint glow by which one might try to see. It is also rather silent in here, except for the fact that every minor sound is distorted and amplified until it can no longer be recognized.
The narrow chasm here twists and turns, from north to west, as it runs between a pair of sheer cliffs. Very little light reaches the ground, making travel rather arduous and at times very dangerous, as assorted rubble lies on the floor of the canyon. The sound of shifting rocks, possibly pre-empting an avalanche, echoes throughout the region, the sound bouncing in such ways that tracing a source is not possible.
Long shadows drape over every surface here in the canyon, making the terrain quite gloomy looking in what little light remains. To either side of the narrow trail, which runs to the east and south of here, are towering rockfaces of sheer and unclimbable stone. Most of the canyon looks rather deserted, as there are no signs of animals and their passage. To the east, the tunnels darken, while to the south appears to be some source of light.
This appears to be the southern end of the dark canyon, opening up onto an old trail just to the south of here. To the north, shadows far darker and longer than the ones here plunge the canyon into inky blackness, preventing one from seeing further into the tunnels. For the most part, the only access out of here is the trail leading north and south, although the cliffs are jagged enough that an expert climber might stand a chance of climbing up. A couple of birds circle lazily overhead, riding the breezes that must be blowing at that altitude.
This north-south trail runs between rising walls of granite heading into a dark and eerie canyon just to the north of here. The trail for the most part is rather abandoned, but somehow is well maintained by some unseen force. A couple of birds ride the skies overhead, sailing along the warm western wind that blows through even down at this level. To the south, the land opens up some more, heading to the civilized parts of Faerun, while anything could lie to the north.
The shadowy trail rises a low hill here and turns to the north, heading towards a dark canyon a short distance to the north. The lands here appear to be well populated by the wildlife, as in the distance in grasslands are all sorts of woodland creatures, out playing in the warm weather. A western breeze serves to moderate the temperature some, making the climate very comforting to any who tarry here. To the west, the trail leads towards more civilized lands, while no end is in sight of the northern path.
The trail turns to the east here, heading gradually towards a hilly region and then into a crevice of sorts in the northern mountains. The trail is smooth and unobstructed by brush and the like, making travel rather easy and a more leisurely affair. To the south, the trail leads into the distance, heading off towards more civilized and populated lands. A slight breeze disturbs the air out of the west, bringing a bit of warmth beyond that offered by the sun.
This is a straight and narrow path, running through a grassy meadow and then heading further south towards the Wastelands of Thar. To the north, the trail gradually approaches a sharp series of mountains, and probably heads either into it or through some pass, though neither is visible from the great distance that landmark is from here. A calm breeze blows in from the south and west, warming the area a bit. A couple of birds chatter to each other over the rustling of the grass, but there appears to be little sign of hostility.
This is a region of light forest just south of a mid-sized gnoll encampment. The snowy wastes of these woodlands are rather quiet, having all the feel of a war zone, where one mistake or wrong step spells disaster. To the east, west, and south, the forest continues, the warming southern breezes helping to slowly turn the snow into a pale, white mist. The forest is also strangely silent, as if the animals have fled before what might be attrition-like warfare, making one wonder how safe this place truly is.
This is a light forest lying in the southern reaches of the Vale of Frost, just south of a gnoll encampment that strategically occupies a low hill. That town blocks further travel to the north and west, and without a back way in simply prevents further travel in that direction. To the east and south, the sound of footsteps crunching in the light snow indicates that the gnoll sentries for the region are alertly keeping watch for encroaching gnomes, the terrors of the southern end of the valley. A fine mist prevents one from seeing through the trees for very far, but the lack of battle sounds probably indicates that this area is safe for the moment.
A light blanket of snow covers this region of woodlands, lying just downhill and southeast of the gnoll encampment. The encampment placement from here bars passage to the west, as a heavy wooden building without back doors or a way around lies along that path. Most of the woodlands are generally silent, but the footprints in the snow would indicate that unoccupied would not be a good description of this area. A fine, snowy mist, driven by a southwestern wind, blocks visibility and distorts sound, so anything out there has the element of surprise.
The forest is rather light here, sloping gently downward from north to south. A fine mist hangs over everything, obscuring sight and distorting the sounds of the nearby gnoll warriors who watch eagerly for a chance to crush the gnomes of the southern end of the valley. The large number of footprints in the blanket of snow attests to the size and courage of the gnolls, and indicates that it might not be a wise idea to anger them. A slight breeze blows through from the southwest, playing with the mists just a little.
The snowy woodlands fall on the back side of a hill here, sliding east to west away from the gnoll encampment on the top of said hill. The forest itself is rather typical of a light forest in the middle of a mild winter, with a healthy blanket of white powder covering everything and little animal activity moving about. Mist rises from all directions, blocking vision overly too much, and likely masking the movements of the gnoll warriors who patrol the area. A slight breeze blows out of the southwest, further feeding the mist by melting a bit of the snow.
The woodlands climb along the slopes of a low hill here, just a spear's toss from the gnoll city on top of it. Most of the woods are rather silent, as either the blanket of snow or the proximity to so many brutal and hostile beings tends to put a damper on things. To the west and south, the forest continues through the mists rising as an effect of the warm southwestern winds, while the other directions are firmly blocked by barricades and buildings.
The snow-filled forests become easier to walk through here, as a clear path has been purposefully made for those walking patrol. As a result, there are few signs of footprints, and thus an inability to tell exactly how many gnolls might be about. The woodlands are still rather silent, although some guttural chatter in a goblinoid tongue can be heard echoing throughout the region. A light breeze blows in from the west, warming the area a slight bit, but does little else to affect this place.
The forest meets up with the sloping eastern rockface of the Vale of Frost along here, barring further travel in that direction. Most of the land is rather tame looking, and even snow has been cleared a bit that gnollish guards might be able to more swiftly and carefully walk their sentry routes. To the west and south of here, the woodlands continue, some of it covered in a fine white mist rising from melting snow, and bandied about by the breeze until it obscures most anything beyond a few hundred yards. A cliff blocks passage to the north.
The snowy woodlands continue to follow the eastern wall of the Vale of Frost here, sloping a slight bit upward to reach it but continuing no further. To the north, south, and west of here, light forest covers the land, a thin blanket of snow covering it despite the best efforts of wind and weather. A mist of sorts fills a lot of the air, cutting down visibility quite a bit as well, and masking the sounds of encroaching gnomes and warlike gnolls. The only sounds that reach here are the burbling of a nearby brook, but the path of echoes from the mist makes it impossible to tell where that might be.
The snowy woodlands run up towards the north bank of an ice-choked river along here, that river flowing west to east into the rock walls of the valley edge that is also just east of this location. Most of the area is rather silent, save the rush of the river and the rustling of trees under the breeze that blows through. The combination of this and the sun overhead melts a bit of the snow at a time, most often condensing it into a fine white mist that fills the air and obstructs vision. It makes for a most unsettling feeling.
This is a narrow and treacherous path along the north bank of the river that bisects this region of the Vale of Frost. The trail is a bit icy, leading to uncertain footing that might take someone plunging into that ice-filled water. The forest itself is rather light here, and silent under a light blanket of snow as well. Only the rush of the west wind and the sounds of the river echo through the emptiness. The only other thing of note is the pale, white mist that seems to hang in the air, blocking sight and sound from progressing.
A thin layer of snow covers this region of the forest, masking any trails the gnolls might have made to enable their soldiers to pass easily through the forest. For the most part, the forest is quiet, with only the rustle of the wind disturbing the peace. A light mist lies over the area, obscuring both sight and sound past a couple of yards, but seems nonthreatening at the current time.
A thin pall of mist hangs over the snow woodlands here, dampening sight, sound, and also most people's spirits, making the forest take on a ghostly and almost ethereal appearance. Despite this, there are clear signs of materiel beings around, as the tracks in the snow clearly indicate a recent patrol of gnolls, probably watching over their territory. A slight warmth blows in, courtesy of the western winds that do little overall to this place. Gaps are in the treelines in all four directions.
The forest is relatively light here, almost forming a bit of a clearing beneath a gap in the treeline. Most everything is covered in about three or four inches of snow, making this area look like a bit of a winter wonderland. This is further fed by the swirling mist hanging in the air, pushed a bit by a favoring breeze from the west, but also cutting one's line of vision to a short distance, and distorting any sounds that might be coming out of the forest. No life seems to be around at the moment, but the varied footprints in the snow dispel any notions that this region of the woodlands is abandoned.
The forest takes on an ethereal and eerie feeling here, between the utter silence and the hazy white mist floating in the air. The mist appears to be little more than moisture rising from the snow-covered ground as a result of the warm breezes sifting through, but it blocks vision and hearing after a few hundred yards. The forest looks rather abandoned here, although that can't be the case since several boot prints can clearly be seen in the snow if one cares to take a closer look.
The forested ground here slopes north to south, heading downward as it leads away from the gnollish barricades and village along the low hills to the north. A steep cliff also blocks progress to the west, and is most likely the western end of the valley itself. To the south and east, narrow trails have been blazed through the snow and brush by some intelligent being, their sturdy boot prints clearly evident in the surrounding terrain. Little can be heard from this spot, however, and the lack of any animal presence makes one wonder if the gnolls actually patrol here, or simply imply it to keep enemies out.
The sloping terrain of the snowy woodlands runs along the western end of the valley here, skimming the rock wall itself but generally leaving a relatively clear, if snow-filled, path for gnollish patrols to use. Most of the area is silent and seems abandoned of life, but that probably is a deliberate myth that the gnolls spread in order that their gnomish enemies to the south take less caution in their incursions. East of here, a mist rises off the ground and shrouds view of the rest of the woods, so anything could lie out there, unknown and undetectable.
The mist enshrouded forest covers the land here, and extends both to the east and north as far as the eye can see. The mist itself seems rather harmless, consisting of little more than moisture, although it effectively blocks both sight and sound. To the west, a rock wall, with the occasional frozen trickle trailing down its side, blocks further travel, marking the edge of the valley itself, while to the south appears to be a rushing river, its sound drowning out any birds, patrols, and the like that might be nearby.
The forest wanders along the north bank of a raging river here. The forest itself is relatively silent, although the eyes of the gnolls seem to be almost everywhere watching for intruders into their territory. That forest continues to the north, and trails skim it to the east and west of here. To the south, the river rushes west to east, choked by melt off and floes of ice, making it a most dangerous place to travel at times. The river itself is sufficient to drown out all other sounds, even the wind blowing through the area from the west.
The evergreen and fir trees here cast long shadows over the ground of the forest, giving it a bit of a sinister look, even given the quiet and the snow dotting the ground in patches here and there. Most of the woods are quiet, but for the wind, almost too quiet as if an ambush were likely to happen any minute now. Sight too is rather low, as the darkness and the floating mist in the air conspire to drop visibility to a low level. Narrow gaps through the trees exist in all directions, but what lies beyond is anyone's guess.
The north bank of the river is a bit slushy here, as the western winds warm the area enough to start the snow to melting. A good deal of the forest remains shrouded in mist, however, a result of moisture filling the air. That moisture serves only to block sight and sound from reaching here, making one wonder what or who lies ahead. To the north, a trail seems to lead into the rest of the forest, and somewhat traveled by the myriad of boot prints upon it. No sound, save that of the river, reaches this locale.
The river continues to flow west to east here, choked with ice and slush and moving rather rapidly. To both the north and south, muddy forest covers the banks of this river, a bit covered in snow, and shrouded in an unusual white mist that masks any sounds from reaching here, as if it could be heard over the rushing here. A warm breeze blows in from the southwest, moderating the temperature some, but not doing enough to offset all the chill in the air.
The river continues to flow towards the east here, fed a bit by the melt off of the snow on either bank. Both the north and south banks are snow-covered, preceding a forest that fades into the distance and the fog in the distance. A warming breeze blows in from the southwest, although the sound of it cannot be heard over the river. Humanoid forms gaze at each other from cover on either bank, each almost testing the other for hostility before disappearing into the brush.
A river flows out of the western rockface here, almost in its own way serving as an artificial border between the gnolls of the north and the gnomes of the south end of the valley. Specimens of both wander their respective banks, trading glares but not taking any immediate hostile actions before disappearing into the woods that line both banks. Little else is apparent from here, as a fine white mist permeates the air, distorting both sight and sound, and making it difficult if not impossible to tell what lies ahead.
This appears to be the west end of the south bank of the river that bisects the southern stretches of the Vale of Frost. Most of the area has been trampled into a quagmire by a number of bipeds, as indicated by the footprints visible in the soil. A light mist hangs over the snow-covered woodlands, lowering visibility and sound to dangerous levels, at least for the unwary. A slight breeze blows in from the west-southwest, warming the air slightly, and stirring it to move at least a little.
The forest meanders along the western edge of the Vale of Frost here, brushing up against the rockface in places and shying away from it in others. Much of the forest has a thin layer of snow lying on it, in some places trampled into nothingness by the passing of many feet. A thin mist hangs over everything, setting a kind of pall over the woodlands and masking anything beyond it, sound included. A breeze blows in from over the cliffs, stirring the air some and warming up the region, and also feeding the fog by melting more of the snow.
This appears to be the southwest corner of the valley, as the wall runs both north and southeast from here. The forest slopes slightly down to the north, fading into the mists rising up from the melting snow as the breeze and the air warm the area enough. Little of the surrounding woodland can be seen from here, and nothing can be heard, although the presence of many gnomes is about. Whether or not they are hostile cannot be told, so the only thing to do seems to be to boldly stride off to new adventures.
A small clearing is here, between gaps in the treeline of evergreen and fir trees. Paths cut through the brush in all major compass directions, although a fine, white haze shrouds what might lie down them. Here and there, patches of snow remain, although the bulk of it has melted and since seeped into the ground, turning it into a swampy morass. A slight breeze blows from the northwest, warming the area a bit, and also serves as the only audible sound.
The woodlands part here, along the southern wall of the Vale of Frost. Large snowbanks lie here and there, mostly cleared by the industrious gnomes who even now are tilling some of the land, trying to coax crops out of the unyielding land. The woodlands fade away to the north, sloping slightly down as it fades into the distance. East of here, the rockface continues, curving back to the south in a short distance, probably where the gnomes have a settlement by the sounds of it. None of the gnomes has yet made a hostile gesture in this direction, but by the looks of them, this may not stay the case for long.
The woodlands end here, fading away into fields and the like, and then continuing south towards a cavern of sorts through a gap in the rockface that is both southeast and southwest of here. Most of the snow has been unceremoniously piled to the side, allowing the gnomes to work some of the land to coax food out of it. Warriors too walk the area, searching for any signs of the hostile gnolls to the north. A slight breeze disturbs the air from the northwest, warming the area even more and providing some relief to the gnomish workers.
The cliffs of the Vale of Frost soar into the air both south and east of here, blocking further passage with their imposing height. All about, gnomes work the semi-forested land, clearing areas to plant the seasonal crops that they depend on for their very survival. Among the farmers walk a couple of sentries here and there, watching the woods for signs of their ancient enemies, the gnolls of the north. Most of the woodlands are covered in snow and mist still, and as such not much of them can be seen. A breeze blows through, but does little to affect anything about.
This appears to be the fringe of the forest, which only heads east, west, and north from this spot. Much of the wooded area has a thin layer of snow on everything, with gnomish boot prints visible in spots, probably from their wandering sentries. A light mist permeates the air as well, blocking both sight and sound, and making one wonder if they are truly alone in this place. A slight breeze blows through, but fails to dispel the fog from the air, just shifting it slightly.
The snow-covered woods lie along the land here, sloping slightly from the south to the north, as if it were descending towards something in the distance. What that something might be is unknown, as a fog-like mist covers the land, reducing vision to a scant hundred yards or so. A slight breeze pushes through, rustling the trees and the brush, and masking any slight noises the woodland creatures might be making in the area. Trails lead off in all four directions, including an almost unnecessary one to the south, where the land clears and approaches the south end of the vale.
The sound of a distant river rushing heedlessly into the distance reaches this location from somewhere within the forest, bringing some sense of reality into this region of woodlands. Other than that, little can be seen or heard beyond a bow's range, as a mist clouds the skies and blocks both vision and hearing. Most of the land is covered in a light dusting of snow, left over from the previous winter but covered in the footprints of the gnomes who call this area home. What they are doing out and about is quite unknown, and not likely to be found out unless they make their presence known and explainable to strangers.
The woodlands of the southern Vale of Frost cover much of the land here, darkening the area under the long shadows of ancient evergreen trees. A lot of the area also lies under a blanket of snow, undisturbed but for a trail of smallish footprints passing through as if the owner knew the area well and did not pause for long, if at all. The sounds of a nearby river compete with that of the western breeze for one's attention, as such effectively masking any noise that other creatures might make. Paths cut through the brush rather efficiently in all four compass directions, allowing for faster and easier transit.
This appears to be the forested southern bank of the river that bisects this region of the Vale of Frost. Much of the snow lying about has melted, and flowed down into the river itself, choking it and making it a most dangerous place to travel through. The bank now seems almost deserted, as not even the gnomish footprints evident elsewhere in this area of the woods can be seen here. Barely audible over the river is the western breeze, causing some movement in the treetops as birds shuffle to find safer spots to roost, most likely on the leeward side of their homes, but nothing else seems to be amiss.
The southern bank of the river is a bit of a swampy morass here, with rather treacherous footing where it even exists in the mud. The river is to the north, an ice-choked waterway flowing towards the east. Both banks are forested, and covered in places by patches of snow. A fine white mist also covers much of the area, blocking sight and sound, not that one could hear much over the rush of the river in the first place. A narrow trail leads south into the trees.
Much of the south bank of the river is a large pool of muddy water, but despite this fact, footprints of some sort of humanoid wearing boots are visible here and there, dispelling any notion that the area is abandoned. Much of this place is forested, and patches of snow from the previous winter still remain in the shadowy areas between the trees. From the west, the wind blows through, serving to warm the area a bit, and melt more of the snow to feed both the swamp and the river.
The river picks up a bit of speed here, dropping about a dozen feet and continuing to race to the east, where the rockface of the valley edge comes into sight. Small ice floes dot the water here and there, swept in from the forested riverbanks where they lie discarded like the playthings of a god. The area is generally silent beyond the roar of this river, although whether it is from lack of life, or denizens of the region simply hiding, one cannot tell.
The river intersects the valley wall here, flowing into a narrow opening that would be impossible for a humanoid or in fact any non-water breathing creature (and even some of those who can breathe water) to follow. A massive whitewater is visible where the river crashes into the rocks, and it could be that more than one of the gnolls and gnomes who occupy this valley have met their fate here. To the north and south, the banks of the river are forested, although a hazy white mist hangs over them, blocking any signs of what might be further ahead in the forests. The wind whips in from the west, warming the area quite a bit despite the frigid river and snow lying about.
The forest runs along the west side of a low hill that edges the Vale of Frost here, just beneath a monstrous cliff that soars thousands of feet into the air. Most of the forest is rather thick considering the rest of this area, and large heaps of snow lie here and there, unmelted as the sun is unable to reach them. The trees also serve to block the wind from warming up this place, and as a result one literally shivers with cold as they stand here. The nearby river overshadows any noise coming from elsewhere within the woods.
A small clearing exists here in the forested area of the Vale of Frost, sitting just west of the eastern borders of the valley. Much of the snow here has either melted or been shoved aside, as gnomes can be spotted here and there either walking patrols or preparing land for the seasonal crop. None of them make a threatening move towards this area, so it seems likely that they do not mind intruders as long as they are left alone. A warm breeze passes through the area, lifting one's spirits, and competing with a distant river for audible supremacy. Paths lead west and south, and gaps in the treeline exist to the north.
This appears to be the middle of the woodlands region, as trees extend for a distance in all directions, although the mist hanging in the air blocking vision might have something to say with that inference. Narrow trails, mostly blazed by humanoids stalking them repeatedly, lead in all four major compass directions. Snow lies in low piles here and there, probably cleared aside by whomever made the trails. A gentle breeze pushes the air from west to east, and also warms up the area a bit. Little can be heard of the surrounding environment.
This appears to be the southeast corner of the Vale of Frost, at least as indicated by the curving rockface. A couple of niches have been carved into the cliffs over many years, though whether by intelligent hand for ambush holes or by the elements of millennia it cannot be told. Most of the area has been cleared, however, and has the organized look of fields built to sustain many dozens of lives with valued crops. A breeze reaches this remote location, although by now it has lost much of the warmth it must once have carried.
A small copse of fir trees provides a bit of cover for anyone standing in the narrow corridor of land between the main forests and the subterranean caves just south of here. The area is largely unoccupied, just a couple of rather industrious gnomes hustling back and forth on their daily tasks. Other than that activity, the area is silent, and little is there to catch the eye of any wanderers.
This appears to be the sentry point and choker of the gnome city lying in the caverns to the south of here. As the only obvious entrance to the place, it becomes an ideal area to repel invaders and the like, and from old and nearly faded bloodstains, looks to have been used that way more than once. Barely a gnome can pass through the portals without being stopped and questioned, most likely for security if nothing else. A well lit corridor is to the south of here, while to the north lies the outside realms.
This is the north end of the basic hallway that doubles as the main concourse of the gnomish city. East and west of here lie squat structures, nestled into corners of the caves that this city occupies. Gnomes wander about, on their daily business or just to visit others of their kind to chat and reminisce, and pay little heed to what else goes on. The roadway continues to the south.
By the looks of the bags of grain strewn about in a most unorganized pattern, this must be the granary of the gnome city. Relatively few of the bustling little people are about, as watching grain tends to take little effort and as such really isn't worth the time. A doorway lies to the east, the only exit from this room, most likely leading back to the main concourse of this realm.
As one enters the room, the cries of gnomish young almost assault one's ears, leaving little doubt that this is a nursery room. A couple of nursemaids and the like try to calm this chaotic scene, but obviously are meeting with little success, as elder gnomish females drop off or pick up their children as needed in their daily or nightly routines. To the west is the only exit from this room, leading back into the rest of this underground city.
The road continues north and south here, running through what appears to be a residential district of sorts. Small barrow-like homes line either side of the road, and many have left their front doors open, as if they had little to fear from anything that might be around. Some of the little people wander past on their way to whatever has caught their fancy, hardly sparing a second glance for either their fellows or for any strangers that might be wandering about.
This appears to be the inside of a typical gnome dwelling, just two rooms in all. A bedroom for the adults lies off this main room, but looks no more interesting than this room. This room is rather empty, save for a couple of crates that serve as menial furniture, and mats for the young to sleep on. An exit lies to the east, back into the city proper.
This appears to be the dwelling for a small family of gnomes, given the varied bedrolls lying about. This structure, unlike many others, is only one room, serving multiple purposes as needed. A couple of gnomes mill about, talking quietly or napping, and take little notice of anything else about. To the west, through the open doorway, lies the main avenue of the town.
This appears to be the middle of the main roadway leading through the gnomish city, a north-south job that is just wide enough to accommodate the hordes of humanoids that traverse it all the time. To the east and west of here lie residences, probably belonging to some of those people walking by right now. Further to the south, the road is more well lit, probably indicative of growing importance of the buildings down there.
This is simply another simple gnome residence, lying just west of the main concourse of the gnomish city. This house is a one-room job, dank and a bit musty as if it hadn't been cleaned in a little while. No one is here right now, but the place has a feel of home, so it shouldn't be long before someone returns.
This is a short and squat residence, difficult to stand in because it has rather low ceilings. Other than that, there is little difference between this home and any of the other homes throughout this district of the gnomish city. Both the open doorway and a couple of windows look out west onto the main boulevard, which even now is growing crowded with traffic, as gnomes move out and about for their daily chores.
This is a continuation of the north-south thoroughfare that runs through most of the gnomish town. To the east and west lie squat, well built structures that appear to have at least a modicum of importance to the town, as a steady stream of the little people file in and out at all hours. To the north and south, the road continues, although a majority of the humanoids remain north of this location.
This appears to be a small but well-lit chamber lying just off the main road of the gnomish town. The room is rather full considering the way that gnomes typically decorate their places, as a large, round table and several chairs, ostensibly for council meetings, sit in the center of the room. There are shelves along one end of the room, holding parchment scrolls that probably represent the edicts that the city has passed over the years. The only exit is a darkened doorway to the east.
This isn't quite a building as far as those things go, but more like an open air (open cavern?) structure within the gnomish town. All about the room lie weapons of inferior make, generally used by the young and middle-aged gnomes scattered about to train in the warlike arts. A battlemaster of sorts watches over the gathering, making sure no one hurts anyone else very badly. To the west the rest of the gnomish town lies.
A road starts here and leads north through well-lit districts of the gnome town, serving as a major conduit for traffic in this town. From the looks of it, buildings dot either side of the road in a semi-regular pattern, at least as far as the eye can see. To the west and east, this holds little exception, as small structures are on either side of the road. A couple of gnomes walk about here, but most of them seem to be concentrated to the north of here, as if these buildings had little public use.
This is a small, dimly lit room, and not well kept by the looks of all the dust flitting about. Most of the room is taken up by large racks of armor and weaponry, all gnome sized and therefore rather unusable. None of the gnomes who might have need of said equipment are around, implying that it's open only when common defense requires it. To the east is the southern end of the road that runs through the gnomish city, but no other exits are visible.
This appears to be a small chamber, built almost as an afterthought in the complicated city about. The room is unfurnished, simply cobblestone flooring and walls in a blockish pattern. To the west, an exit leads into the city proper, although no other obvious exits exist. However, an outline in the east wall seems to draw attention, as if it were a hidden escape route in case it were ever required in this town.
This is a narrow and ice-clogged path leading east along the frosty edge of a glacier. Most of the path is rather dangerous to tread, although it is passable, enabling travel to the valley to the east. Little else is visible, since the glacier south, and a towering mountain to the northwest block out most of the rest of the terrain nearby.
The trail dips into a valley here, slightly warmer than the exposed trails on the mountains to the west and east of here. Cliffs rise on the other two sides of this place, boxing one in except for returning to the exposed trails that lead onto each mountain. The air is slightly warm, and misty, here, but this is probably not a place one wants to tarry in for long anyway, as there is little protection from the elements.
This is a narrow east-west trail, descending west into a misty valley and starting to rise a bit to the east, heading towards a distant mountain to the east. Most of the trail is nondescript, simply winding back and forth along the foothills here. A brisk wind springs up out of nowhere, although its direction would indicate the mountains to the southwest as the source for its almost unnatural cold.
Blood drips from the walls, piling high upon rows of corpses, some of them blasted out of recognition. You recognize some of them as former associates, punished by the gods for their misdeeds.
This is a comfortable looking room floating in a void visible through the crystalline clear outer walls that shield this place from the Great Beyond. This place is very well decorated, with a large polar bear rug taking up the center of the room before a warm and crackling fireplace. A small table is set up in a shaded alcove, with an exquisite looking chessboard lying on top of it. Dalamar's treasured kitten can be seen dozing in one corner of the room.