Living and surviving in Aerhen
Welcome to Aerhen!
This guide here will help you in finding your way on the dangerous and cold continent of Aerhen, and hopefully in avoiding a gruesome death.
The first thing to know about this continent is that it being called a cold continent isn't just for show. It is truly, mercilessly COLD.
Whatever you do on this continent and wherever you plan to go, you should make plans for the temperatures you are going to meet. Going in the north area with just a fancy dress on you, will spell the end of your journey.
The continent of Aerhen has a vaguely circular shape. When combined with an abundance of water ways inside it, it makes this continent remarkably easy to travel, as long as you have the coins to spare for a boat.
The southern part of the continent has a less rigid climate, as you can see from it's dominant colors, but it is still quite chill during the night. The northern part gets significantly colder the further in you go.
The only exceptions to this rule are Coppery Range around the center of the continent, which is notably colder than the neighboring areas, and the volcanic area of Mount Ember in the west which is the hottest area on Aerhen, with temperatures hitting 40°C.
Now let us take a look at what you can expect from Aerhen inhabitants and resources.
The denizens of Aerhen
Aerhen is the land of humans, but in addition to those there's plenty of dangerous creatures to find around.
Good weapons, good friends and a good plan will be necessary to survive these lands.
Let's get to know them!
Animals
Aerhen has a no shortage of wild life. Most of it is innocous and will not try to harm you if you don't attack first. The most common type of animals found around are wolves, which do not pose too much of a challenge for a prepared traveler. They often travel in packs though, and they react together to aggressors, so be prepared. There are only 2 kind of dangerous wolves, which attack on sight. The dire wolves and the wargs. The dire wolves can sometimes be found in pack with other wolves, sometimes instead they are alone. They are a lot bigger than common wolves and a lot more dangerous. Wargs are even more dangerous but they are found only inside goblin camps. Other than wolves you may find some bears, and the grizzly ones can be a very though fight. If you travel into the colder areas, especially along the north western coast, you will find packs of the famous Mammoths of Aerhen. Their hides are highly valued, but if attacked they become extremely dangerous. As single blow from their massive tusks can be fatal. Do not try to hunt them without serious preparations and proper equipment.
Spiders
No, we are not talking about cute little buggers, the spiders of Aerhen can be as big as an horse. Some of them are even decent spellcasters. The most common species of spiders are the wolf spiders. They are the smallest variant found in Aerhen, and are notorious for jumping on their victims. Sometimes they are even found in packs. Another common species are the vampiric spiders. They love to cast life drain on their victims, hence the name. Another form of spellcasting spiders are the black widows. Needles to say, all spiders have venomous bites. By far the most dangerous kind of spiders are the undead ones, but we will talk about them when we talk about the undeads. Vampiric spiders are often hunter due to their curious habit of carrying around the valuable Will Stones.
Goblins
On Aerhen live 2 tribes of hill goblins. One inside the Coppery Range and one more in the Booming Hills. Facing a single goblin isn't a dangerous affair, but they are rarely alone. There are many types of goblins, but they are roughly divided in lesser and greater goblins. The lesser goblins are quite small, and use numbers and their trained wolves and wargs to best their enemies. Greater goblins command them and are definitely more dangerous. They are bigger and can either be shamans or warchiefs. Shamans are masters of their elements, be it fire, ice, storms or death. They also love to plant totems that aid them in combat. The warchiefs are the physically thoughest goblins around, and can be recognized by their skull helmets. They don't really know what to do with them, but goblins like to carry around some gold coins. Probably they find them shiny.
Bandits
Two bandit groups live in Aerhen, and they occupy the areas of Red Reefs and Raiders Den. They are capable fighters, and among their numbers there are many crazy spellcasters. It is not an area where you should dwell alone, always bring a friend or two. The strongest among them are for sure the Bandit Leaders. Heavily equipped and incredibly fit, they can be a challenge for even the best of the warriors. They usually carry their gold on them, which can be a nice reason to hunt a few of them. Turns out that when you live together with literal bandits, you don't leave your gold in your tent. Sometimes their bandit leaders carry around the precious Rogue Stones, while their archamages sometimes adorn themselves with the Will Stones.
Elementals
The most characteristic dwellers of Aerhen are for sure the elementals, creatures born out of the very embodiment of natural elements. In the Mount Ember in the south west, the volcanic heat has given raise to the fire elementals. The glacial north island has birthed the ice elementals and the aptly called Storm Islands in the East have generated the storm elementals. But it is in the very center of Aerhen where the most peculiar elementals dwell. In the center of the elemental influences, on Dawn Island, live the Crystal elementals born out of all the elements. While they are generated by opposite natures, all the elementals share some characteristics. The smaller ones are called primelings, and are usually no more than a nuisance to the prepared traveler. Then there are medium sized elementals which harness powers tied to their element, and shroud their bodies with the fury of it. Facing them requires proper preparation, and adeguate protection against their element. And then there are the greater elementals, similar to the regular ones, but bigger and with more fearsome powers. For some curious reason which still leaves many puzzled, these creatures have been known to carry around gold coins. It is said that deep within Dawn Island rests a huge Crystal Elemental whose energy stored inside his body is so great that it can be used to open portals to other worlds.
Jotunn
The giant race of the Jotunns are named after the mountains where they live, the Jotunn Mountains. This race of talented warriors represents one of the greatest dangers in Aerhen. Being able to take down a Jotunn in a one on one fight is a challenge only for the greatest warriors. Not only are they physically mighty, but many of them can harness the powers of the storms. Among them their leaders are called Stormborne, and they are the most powerful of them all. Extreme caution should be used when approaching these giants, but a capable hunter can be able to claim the Seer Stones that they carry.
Undead
Last and most dangerous of all of them, we have the undeads. These vile creatures like to occupy the areas near the cost. The most common types of undeads are rarely dangerous, like zombies and skeletons, but among their ranks lie true nightmares given form. Ghouls and the terrifying felghouls jump on their victims, chilling their bodies to death with their mere touch. Undead spiders like the Crawling Horror and the spider lich can harness the most powerful spells at their will, and their poisons have been only made stronger by their false life. Even skeletons can be dangerous if they belong to the formed bodies of trained fighters, retaining their skills even in death. Among them there are spellcasters of many kinds, knights, warriors and archers. When you spot a skeleton with a weapon in hand, that's the sign that this isn't going to be a trivial fight. Legends talk of creatures born of despair, the bone dragons. If such tales are to be believed, then these are the most powerful creatures of Aerhen, they should be avoided at all costs. Still according to the legend, these creatures are still in possess of their Dragon Soul, a very sought after trophy. Apart from the lesser form of undeads, all undeads are known to sometimes crystallize their negative energy inside their bodies, creating the Death Crystals, which are quite valued. The stronger the undead, the higher the chances that it will have one.
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