Coast

With its high mountains and the low valleys, the last traces of old glaciers, the fjords are a stunning landscape. Most valleys are nowadays submerged under water and the mountain slopes are no longer covered in snow and ice, but overgrown with coniferous forests. Prey is relatively abundant and most predators hunt grouse, deer, wild hares and reindeers. Summer days in the fjords are generally long, warm and sunny, though the weather can change quickly into a raging rainstorm. In winter, the great mountains are covered in a thick blanket of snow and most lakes are completely frozen over. The temperature stays below zero in the multitude of the shortest days, still making it a rather rough place to live.

Straight through the forests of the fjords, the river cuts between the mountains. At the top of the waterfall, the river deposits most of its sediment and creates multiple smaller streams. The shallow parts are easy to cross since the water doesn't flow fast at all. But once it reaches the ledge, it plunges into the depths and mixes with the salt sea water of the fjords. In the pool underneath the Elk's Leap waterfalls, the water is brackish. Further into the fjords, the water is salt again.

At the bottom of the mountains, on the shores of the fjords, there are various beaches. No one really knows what creatures lurk in the depths of the chilly water, though there are occasional sea lions, sea otters and killer whale sightings. Birds from the sea search for delicacies under the rocks that litter the beach, and even resourceful wolves may be able to find a nice meal. Fear for sudden floods is unnecesary, considering that the fjords are not heavily influenced by the tides. Still, unless you have a warm pelt and are resistant to cold, it is not recommended to swim in the icy waters.

On the shore of one of the beaches in the fjords, one can find a shipwreck. No one knows who it belonged to and how it got there, but it appears to be stranded for ages. The smell of rot is strong in the air and it keeps away most animals. Not the real adventurers, though: they live for a place like this to investigate. There are many treasures left by the humans, though it is impossible to say what the purpose of those objects were. Nonetheless, the shipwreck is an interesting sight against the mountains in the background.

In a cave in the north of the tundra, one can find a cave which is filled with ice. The phenomenon is rare and beautiful, although dangerous. The many corridors and holes, in addition to one's own reflection, can make it easy to get lost. In summer, some of the ice melts and creates small streams of ice water inside the cave itself. An animal won't die by dehydration - hypothermia is the number one cause of death. Once one's fur is completely soaked, it is nearly impossible to preserve or regain body heat. Many creatures found their end that way, so be warned. Albeit stunning to the eye, the Frostbite Cavern is a force to be reckoned with.

The caldera serves as a silent reminder of how powerful Mother Nature can be. The enormous volcano lost most of her lava during the last eruption, resulting in her own destruction. The slopes collapsed and formed a valley in the middle. Over the millions of years, the valley gradually filled up with water. In the middle of the lake, there's a small island. Only the most adventurous creatures venture up the slopes of the caldera. The rocks are ragged and can cut in one's paws if they are not careful. Most creatures have much respect for the caldera, feeling the power it once possessed. Of course the question remains, will she ever rouse from her slumber?