Enderal:Landscapes of Enderal
For Travelers and Traders
The Farmers Coast region is a lush, bountiful area situated between the lake of Ark and the great capital in the South, and Enderal's northern shore. The land predominantly consists of flat hills and rich green meadows, although a mountain range rises in the East - the natural border with the Goldenforst region. Due to the accessible terrain and fertile soil, the lower valleys are excellently suited for agriculture. The majority of the food consumed in Ark and its hinterland is produced on the Farmers Coast, and a lot of the raw materials, such as lumber, found in Ark's marketplace have their origins here as well.
The Farmers Coast can be reached by leaving Ark through the northern gate and crossing the bridge, after which you will encounter a fork in the road. The path branching east leads to the icy mountain pass where the ruins of Old Uskasarak are located. The Golden Sickle advises against taking this route unless one is well-armed and prepared for the cold clime. Following the western road and crossing a second bridge will lead you to the Farmers Coast and Bridgehead Farm. The farm is owned by the Hafner family, and they operate a store by the roadside as well. Travelers wishing to purchase goods straight from the land should certainly consider paying a visit. For stronger brew or a hot meal, one will have to seek out the only tavern in the area: the Red Ox. The cider that is served there is delicious and - within reasonable quantities - quite digestible. On an interesting side-note: the Red Ox did not receive its name by chance. In the inn you get to meet the Ox in person.
The western road from Bridgehead Farm leads to the large fields of Grain Farm. Continuing even further west and across a bridge will take you to the deep forests of the Heartlands. It is also possible to cross the fields from Grain Farm and go north to the beach, which is inaccessible from anywhere else due to the steep cliffs surrounding it. Be wary when leaving the inhabited parts of the Farmers Coast: it can be dangerous for unarmed travelers. The shoreline is long and without risking a difficult climb, the cliffs offer no other traversable paths away from the beach. Arm yourself well before heading there, and prepare yourself for a long march.
The eastern road from Bridgehead Farm into the rising hills will take you past the other farmsteads in the region, including Landlord Borek's Farm. In addition to running what are possibly the most profitable fields of Enderal, Landlord Borek is entrusted with supervising the inhabitants of the Farmers Coast. Should one feel the need to pray to Malphas or receive His blessing, a shrine can be found near the Landlord's farm and Pater Aiakamaton will be more than happy to be of service to any Path-abiding traveler.
Near the Farmer Coast's north-eastern border a large cave can be found, commonly referred to as Glowstone Grotto - beware of exploring it. Several adventurers have been reported to have gone missing after heading there. Based on local sightings of activity in the vicinity, it is presumed that both the grotto itself as well as the people lurking there are actively hostile towards everyone who dares to enter. Any traveler in this area should, however, consider visiting the old Farmers Throne located in one of the Upper Farm's fields not far from Glowstone Grotto. According to legend, the Throne has stood here before humans ever set foot in this region. It is customary among the farmers to have the new landlord sworn into his holy duties here every four years.
After passing the honey brewery at the Upper Farm, there is a narrow path that takes one further east toward the mountain range. Following the steps to the Autumn Pass, you will eventually come upon a small, abandoned fortress known as "Ark's Last Watch". It used to guard the icy pass and ensure safe passage to Goldenforst during the winter months in times long past, but since no travelers have ventured into Goldenforst for centuries, the fortress has fallen into disrepair. Nowadays one will encounter lawless rabble in this location at best. Continuing past Ark's Last Watch, will eventually bring you to Goldenforst Vale, where the ancestral castle of the Dal'Mareks stands. However, as has already been hinted at in this paragraph, the Goldenforst region has been abandoned by civilization for a long time and is considered extremely dangerous. The Golden Sickle strongly advises against approaching this area. For those interested in more information about the region, we recommend the volume devoted to Goldenforst in the Landscapes of Enderal series.
To experienced adventurers most of the Farmers Coast might seem calm and uneventful, yet increasingly bold and aggressive Vatyrs have recently threatened the peacefulness of even the inhabited parts of the region. Malphas will surely bless you, should you free a cellar or two from these beasts.
Goldenforst is a sprawling mountain forest located east of Ark and the Farmers Coast. It consists of a northern and a southern valley, connected by a canyon. The region owes its name to the unique foliage growing there: the trees and shrubs carry golden and auburn autumnal leaves all year long. This type of vegetation is not found in any other area in Enderal, and the cause of this extraordinary color palette has yet to be discovered. There is some ongoing debate between scholars as to whether to consider the northeastern strip of the Farmers Coast part of the Goldenforst region, due to it - despite being geographically separated by a mountain range - displaying similar flora.
As was already discussed in the first volume of the "Landscapes of Enderal" series, which focused on the Farmers Coast, the Goldenforst region is accessible on foot from the Farmers Coast in the West via the Autumn Pass, past fortress Ark's Last Watch. From there one can find Wellwatch Valley to the South. Alternatively one can traverse the icy King's Mountain Pass northeast of Ark, or approach from the South through the Powder Desert. Both these routes will take you straight to Wellwatch Valley. The Golden Sickle stresses that the entire Goldenforst region should be considered hostile and is not recommended for travelers, and Wellwatch Valley is no exception. The known list of dangers lurking here may well be inconclusive, but sightings of Vatyrs, Lost Ones and Pathless Ones who have taken up refuge in this desolate area have been reported, as well as the presence of other, unknown monstrosities. Despite this, brave myrad riders continue to operate the Wellwatch Myrad Tower under Malphas' watchful eye, so the region can still be visited by myrad as well.
Wellwatch Valley is higher situated than Goldenforst's other valley. Most notable about this area is the river which originates from a rocky crevice and carves its way through the landscape, around the mountain range, to eventually flow into the Lake of Ark at Bridgehead Farm. In earlier times the river had a name, but nowadays the old name has been lost and opinions differ on what it should be called, as it is of hardly any significance anymore. Probably the most common current moniker for the river is "Thunderfrost". This phrase refers to the large amounts of ice and snow the river transports from the mountains down to the valley by the end of winter, causing a great deal of noise in the process.
Fortress Wellwatch and its cannon walls still stand in the valley as a testament to former times, when the region was inhabited and ensured the safe transport of powder and other goods from the Powder Desert to Ark. It was mainly erected to protect against potential threats from the desert, but after the disaster of the Sun Fire at Thalgard, Fortress Wellwatch became an essential safeguard against danger from the East as well. Although the fortress itself is of modest size, it possesses one of the highest towers in Enderal to this day. Remarkable is also the bold stone overhang of the old quarry on the other side of the river. The mountainsides are streaked with the legacy of the settlers who followed Dal'Marak here.
The eastern road from the Wellwatch Myrad Tower leads to Thalgard, but even the most hardened adventurer would be wise to never set foot there. Unlike for Goldenforst, no accounts of travelers who have returned from this region exist. The brave who wish to continue to explore can follow a narrow path on the eastern river bank going north. This will eventually take you past the old residence of the Dal'Maraks: Fortress Goldenforst. It should come as no surprise that it has long been abandoned and can only be assumed to have turned into a dangerous place. The Dal'Marak family crypt is located nearby as well. Both are roughly across Autumn Pass, so one can opt to leave the Goldenforst region at this point for the safer Farmers Coast.
It is also possible to journey even further north, all the way to Enderal's northern shore, by continuing to follow the path from Wellwatch. The coastal region is dubbed "Firerock" and features the ruins of a small, old castle and a deserted lighthouse of the same name. There is no consensus about the origin of the name Firerock. Possibly it is a reference to the fiery hues of Goldenforst's trees, which grow on the rocky coast here as well. Firerock's mountains enclose Goldenforst's second valley, in surviving records of the Dal'Maraks referred to as "Gravespath Sanctuary". According to these documents, Arcanist Dal'Marak himself explored this secluded location via an elaborate system of caves and tunnels, an entrance of which was located not far from his ancestral home. If their descriptions are to be believed, Gravespath is an ancient, unholy place that used to serve as a burial site for the Pyreans. Though the historical value of such a location is no doubt tremendous, caution is advised for those intent on following in Dal'Marak's footsteps and making their way to the Sanctuary. Even in the time of Dal'Marak, Gravespath supposedly possessed a strong magical aura. There is some speculation that it was here where Dal'Marak found inspiration for his cursed invention of the Sun Fire, dooming the entire Thalgard region to destruction.
The most inhospitable, yet simultaneously most thriving region of Enderal would have to be the Powder Desert. This large region spans across the most southeastern part of Enderal and shares borders with King's Mountain Pass, Goldenforst and Thalgard. It is named after the Powder Mines in the center of the area. From their deep shafts a powder is extracted that can be used to craft an explosive substance commonly utilized for cannons and demolition charges. First-time visitors might be deceived by the region's name, which - while apt for the hot, sandy heart of the area - does not prepare for the variation seen in the landscape. The dry dunes, interspersed with jagged rocks, are certainly present, but the Powder Desert also harbors lush sections filled with palm trees and very thick undergrowth with tropical blossoms blooming all year round.
Ships depart regularly for the desert from Ark's port. Travelers looking for an easy, safe form of transport can opt to arrange passage. More experienced adventurers, however, may prefer the available route on land. The quickest and least dangerous path can be accessed directly from the harbor in Ark and follows the southern coast. Note that "least dangerous" in no way means "safe" and that the Golden Sickle only advises to undertake this journey if one is in the possession of an armed escort, or is properly equipped and experienced in the art of combat themselves. The trail is unpaved and leads through an uninhabited part of Enderal, which naturally comes with the risk of running into Pathless ones and other monsters.
Readers of volume II in this Landscapes of Enderal series, which was devoted to the region Goldenforst, will likely remember the path through Wellwatch Valley connecting Goldenforst to the Powder Desert. This route requires crossing the icy King's Mountain Pass as well as the southern half of Goldenforst and is not recommended. For a more detailed discussion about this road and its history, the reader is referred to the aforementioned tome.
Upon reaching the Powder Desert, you will soon be confronted with the multitude of trails leading through the region, many of which are not easily discernible to the inexperienced eye. Although the desert is known for its near-constant blue-skyed weather, frequent sandwinds add additional challenge to navigating the area. This guide will therefore refrain from attempting to offer specific directions and instead advises to look for signposts to aid in reaching your destination. Alternatively one can try to find a caravan willing to take on a fellow wanderer, as they are bound to know all available routes as well as their potential pitfalls. Should you feel that you have lost your way, do not panic. As long as your endurance suffices, you will come upon one of the desert's many landmarks sooner or later, which should help you determine your position on a map. Remain alert while roaming, however, because the desert is home to many large predators which do not shy away from attacking humans. Bonerippers strike fear even in the hearts of the hardened nomads with good reason.
Those looking to trade or stock up on supplies will have to visit Duneville, a remarkable village by the southern coast and the beating heart of commerce in the Powder Desert. It can easily be reached by myrad: the only myrad tower in the Powder Desert is conveniently located nearby. When approached above ground, Duneville may look rather unimpressive, but most of the settlement is actually hidden beneath the surface of the infertile desert dunes. To enter, you have to descend into a pit in the sand. Once you do, the reason for this peculiar choice of location will immediately become apparent, for Duneville has not only been built underground to shield it from the harsh environment and perpetual sandstorms that plague this part of the desert. The cave it is located in also houses a large lake, ensuring a constant supply of freshwater in an otherwise very dry area. To make the most of limited space, wooden scaffolds reaching all the way to the cave's ceiling have been erected in the lake, providing more room for homes and shops. The scattering of platforms are connected by walkways and ladders; be mindful when navigating them. It can be a long drop if you happen to lose your footing at an inopportune time.
Silvergrove - a modest village on the eastern coast - used to be a second spot of civilization in an otherwise desolate area. Yet nowadays no one dwells there any longer. By all accounts it has been deserted for years. For those who are nonetheless interested in exploring this part of the coast, it is only accessible via the most northern path in the Powder Desert, the same trail that will take you past the Powder Mines.
The western part of the Powder Desert's coast is a true shelter of life, with palm and fruit trees in abundance. The wild plantations here form the main source of food for Duneville. Oranges, dates and coconuts, as well as small quantities of Peaceweed - a herb known for its intoxicating effect - are loaded on supply vessels for transport directly after harvest. Some of these shipments go straight to Ark; tropical fruits are in high demand there.
One of the desert's most extraordinary sights are the Moonstone Dunes, where light blue stones glow like stars amidst the sand. From some of the dunes rise eerie pylons, which send mysterious beams of pale blue light into the sky. Though most archaeologists consider these to be Pyrean structures, some hypothesize that their construction dates even further back. Regardless, what purpose they served remains unclear. It should warrant no further explanation that one should not attempt to enter these ancient devices under any circumstances.
All in all, the Powder Desert may be an attractive destination for well-equipped treasure hunters and adventurers. Less fearsome travellers stand little to gain and much to lose from a trek through this harsh land. The Golden Sickle therefore advises most travelers to limit their visit to Duneville.
