The Reach was a trail that ran from Vaasa through the Great Glacier to Sossal.[2]
Geography[]
The Reach originated in Vaasa, where it diverged from the road between Nigel's Ford and Palischuk. The trail went west through the Cinnabar Wastes and then north through the Lugsaas Chain mountains via the Ice Run.[1] During the mid-to-late 14th century DR, this was where the trail entered the Great Glacier;[3] however, this area was free of the ice as of the late 15th century DR.[1]
Beyond the Lugsaas Chain, the trail forked. A western path led to Etuabe on the shores of Mirror Lake while the main trail continued north through the giant kingdom of Kultaakarr and passed the Surykyk Range. This was where the route entered the Great Glacier as of the late 15th century.[1]
The trail then ran northeast across the frigid and snowy region of Alpuk, necessitating the crossing of the Makkorok Stream, to arrive at the southern spur of Novularond and then traverse those mountains' central valley.[4][5] From the northeast tip of Novularond, the trail continued through the Angalpuk basin, necessitating the crossing of the Forrok Stream, and exited the Great Glacier by crossing the Angsaas Chain to arrive in Uldfest at the base of the Armridge Mountains in Sossal.[5][6]
Geographical Features[]
The Reach traversed some of the most unforgiving and harsh landscapes in all of Faerûn. In the south, even before entering the Great Glacier, the Cinnabar Wastes were cold and arid badlands[7] and the passes through the Lugsaas Chain were known to be treacherous,[8] especially the labyrinthine Ice Run prior to the 15th century.[9] The Glacier itself was a harsh arctic environment throughout both Alpuk and Analpuk,[10] and crossing the regions' rivers was especially dangerous given the risk of falling through the ice and freezing to death.[11] A brief respite from the cold was to be had as it passed through Novularond, which was fairly free of ice thanks to the preternaturally warm granite of the area, but which was otherwise bleak and barren.[12]
Appendix[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Brian R. James (April 2010). “Realmslore: Vaasa”. In Chris Youngs ed. Dungeon #177 (Wizards of the Coast) (177)., p. 81.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Karen Wynn Fonstad (August 1990). The Forgotten Realms Atlas. (TSR, Inc), pp. 6–7. ISBN 978-0880388573.
- ↑ R.A. Salvatore (1989). The Bloodstone Lands (Map). (TSR, Inc). ISBN 0-88038-771-8.
- ↑ Karen Wynn Fonstad (August 1990). The Forgotten Realms Atlas. (TSR, Inc), pp. 6, 173. ISBN 978-0880388573.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Rick Swan (1992). The Great Glacier (map). (TSR, Inc). ISBN 1-56076-324-8.
- ↑ Karen Wynn Fonstad (August 1990). The Forgotten Realms Atlas. (TSR, Inc), pp. 7, 175. ISBN 978-0880388573.
- ↑ Brian R. James (April 2010). “Realmslore: Vaasa”. In Chris Youngs ed. Dungeon #177 (Wizards of the Coast) (177)., p. 82.
- ↑ Rick Swan (1992). The Great Glacier. (TSR, Inc), p. 84. ISBN 1-56076-324-8.
- ↑ R.A. Salvatore (1989). The Bloodstone Lands. Edited by Elizabeth T. Danforth. (TSR, Inc), p. 41. ISBN 0-88038-771-8.
- ↑ Rick Swan (1992). The Great Glacier. (TSR, Inc), pp. 10–11. ISBN 1-56076-324-8.
- ↑ Rick Swan (1992). The Great Glacier. (TSR, Inc), pp. 12–14. ISBN 1-56076-324-8.
- ↑ Rick Swan (1992). The Great Glacier. (TSR, Inc), p. 66. ISBN 1-56076-324-8.