World Pillar Mountains

The World Pillar Mountains, called Jibal al-Akbas in Midani, were the southernmost range of the mighty Yehimal Mountains, and the greatest mountain range in Zakhara. The World Pillars contained the center of power and majority of the Land of the Yak-Men.

Geography
The mountains formed the greatest barrier for entering Zakhara from Faerûn or Kara-Tur by land.

From their narrow northerly connection to the Wu Pi Te Shao mountains of Kara-Tur they stretched mainly in a southern direction. To the west the dropped toward the rugged lands outside the city of Utaqa and the Great Sea, to the east the Jungle of Monsters reached onto their foothills. Towards the southwest the greatest kavir (salt flat) of Zakhara separated the mountains from the rest of the Haunted Lands desert.

Inhabitants
While the evil yak-men were the undisputed masters of the Jibal al-Akbas, they remained a minority. Many humans, yeti, dwarves and dao were kept as slaves, while marrashi were the yikarias only open allies.

Fauna
In the mostly barren World Pillars moderate numbers of mountain goats, musk oxen and yaks could be found, hunted by snow leopards.

Climate
The harsh climate of these tall mountains was somewhat tempered by the warm and moist winds coming from the Great Sea, which also lead to heavy rainfalls on their northwestern edge. The bearable temperatures of Jibal al-Akbas' very center have been attributed to the direct influence of the yak-men's Faceless God.

History
The World Pillar Mountains were once controlled by dwarves, until the yak-men formed their empire in the middle of the 4th century DR.