Mount Scourge

General description

Mythology

The volcano, Mount Scourge, originally went by a different nomenclature.  In the old days, there was a godlike being named Aestir, who was said to be able to manipulate fire.  Unlike pyromancers, he could create the element from nothingness.  They named the volcano after him during the earliest eruptions.

 

Entymology

The volcano is called Mount Scourge now because of more recent events.  After one of its later eruptions, black ash coated the mountains and the area nearby.  Nothing was able to grow in that poison, lending name to the place.

 

Physical Appearance

Mount Scourge stretches high into the sky of northeastern Raleigh.  It is covered by a layer of frost which insulates it, and often sends out a fine mist because of the duality of its nature.  It is one of the more easily traversable volcanoes of Draconis, which led it to be a very popular attraction for cults.

The land around Mount Scourge and the range it belongs to has become somewhat broken over time.  It is said that entire mountains fell in upon themselves, and avalanches have ripped the land asunder.  Long bridges connect various places around Mount Scourge, fighting against the tumultuous weather patterns that frequently assault the area.

 

 

History

Early Eruptions

The mighty Aestir was a powerful being that felt scorned by the world around him.  He ravaged towns and ransacked castles and fortresses, and withdrew to his sanctuary somewhere in the vicinity of the volcano.  People began to associate the two, considering the man as the personal manifestation of the giant landmark.

Whenever Aestir felt threatened, it seemed that the volcano erupted.  Historians are skeptical that these events were anything besides coincidental, however.

 

 

Major Eruption

Aestir’s vile acts knew no bounds.  Over the course of months, he made his name painfully known to all within Raleigh.  His actions had even become known to Cracius and Daltain, yet always, he seemed to return to the volcano in northeastern Raleigh.

Finally, a group of stalwart adventurers set out to bring him to justice.  The truth has been lost to history, but legend has it that a powerful knight sacrificed his life to cast them both into the caldera.

The magma inside began to churn, and the mightiest explosion of all rocked the surrounding area.  Black ash cast down upon the land, destroying any chances of life finding a foothold there.

 

War Beneath the Ash

The formidable eruptions of Mount Scourge have not always been completely disadvantageous.  During the latest of Raleigh’s civil wars, one of the armies had access to a mighty diviner.  He correctly predicted the upsurge of an ash cloud, and convinced his leader to equip his men more properly beneath it.  It was a deciding factor in the Raleigh family keeping the country as more than just a namesake.

 

Winter’s Hammer

Mount Scourge remained a bitter, terrible place for generations.  Blinding ash obscured the sky without refrain, and nothing could grow upon the battered soil.  Breathable air was scarce, and the heat was unbearable.

An orc shaman named Gol’Tarosh was reaching the end of his days.  Knowing that he wanted to give his body back to the land, he made a pilgrimage to Mount Scourge.  With his enchanted hammer, the Crystal Tear, he struck down his energy, invigorating the land once more.

The volcano spat forth hot ash, but when it rained down upon the ground, it had become snow.  Neither Gol’Tarosh or the Crystal Tear have ever been found, but his desires were rewarded.  New life began sprouting upon the mountains and the surrounding area.  Even beneath the blankets of snow, nature has begun to rejuvenate.

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Michael DeAngelo

Michael is the creator of the Tellest brand of fantasy novels and stories. He is actively seeking to expand the world of Tellest to be accessible to everyone.