The story of Erudus - From first light to today
The Silverback Mountain Range - General Information
Happy Sunday, everyone! I’ve been working on refining my understanding of the mountains I call the Silverbacks. Instead of an article on the tools I use, I am going to go into more depth about the planet Erudus. A series of posts will include descriptions of the people, animals and fauna of the distinct areas of the planet.
Today’s post gives a general overview of Erudus, and discusses some of the information on the Silverback mountain chain.
Where is Erudus located?
Erudus is located on the outer rim of the milky way, where the nights are dark, and fewer stars are visible. If we were to go there, we would be comfortable. It is different, but the atmosphere, although slightly thinner, is breathable, and the gravity is comfortable.
It’s the length of the day, and the darkness, that we would need to adjust to. There are thirty days in each month, and with few stars around the planet, the nights are very dark.
Where are the Silverback Mountains?
The Silverback Mountains are located in the Northern hemisphere of Erudus. They are on the western edge of the continent the Windswept Divide. It is bordered by a small ocean, the Fractured Sea. To the south, the Dragon Ryders live high up on the peaks. To the East, the people’s of the valley live.
Land formations
The mountains are ancient, well-worn and towering. Snow and ice are frequent visitors, especially on the top where it is the coldest.
The mountains are rich in minerals that can only be found on Erudus. Because of this, ships are sent from other star systems to barter for them. The Erudites fear destruction of their ecosystems, and only allow the ships to arrive twice per year. The Erudites demand that the ships land in specific locations, and only dock there.
The valleys below the mountains, have micro climates and tend to be warmer. These warmer areas, have become the natural locations to live.
Because the valleys of the mountainous area are cut off from other civilizations, the predominant language has developed into something no other culture on Erudus understands. Only the bartering language remains similar.
The Climate on the Silverback Mountains
The climate on the mountain chain is cold. During the day the normal temperature only rises to 5 degrees Celsius, and at night the temperature is usually less than -5 degrees Celsius. The higher you go in the mountains the colder it gets. When the Bitter Shift comes it is almost impossible to survive on the peaks.
The Bitter Shift
During a week or two of the year, a sudden drop in temperature occurs. The temperature at the top of the mountains is -40 degrees Celsius, but really is much colder, as the wind whips the ever-present snow around. On the ridges below the temperature is about -20 degrees Celsius, and down in the valleys between the individual mountains it is around -10 degrees Celsius. With preparation, and understanding that the winds can shift abruptly, people can survive.
Cultures are distanced because of this cold event. People are afraid to go very far in case the weather changes abruptly. There are one or two safe passages where the cold never comes. These passages are guarded fiercely by the civilizations that surround them.
The Ancient’s say that Cold Comes because of Discord
The people of Erudus do not know why the bitter shift occurs. Quietly though, people whisper about the myth of Discord, the God behind the wind. In the few ancient texts that remain, stories indicate that Erudus once had a much more temperate climate. When Discord appeared, he used his magic, to twist and turn the wind around the planet making it much colder. One year, he caused the Bitter Shift to come. It has returned every year since.
The Cosmic Gateway
No one knows why the ancestors created the fabled “Cosmic Gateway”. It was rumored to have moved beings quickly among the stars. It is believed that Erudus was a landing spot for one of the portals, but even though there are stones still standing that look like a door, and people imagine being part of the gateway, no one in recent memory has gone through. Instead, the stones have stood silent, framing the Silverback Mountains, for centuries.
It is rumored that somewhere on the range, there is another gateway, but no one knows where, and no one believes it works. Only a few on the planet still hear the whispers of its presence, but the whispers say that it is somewhere up Mount Hollowcrest, and that it’s magic remain strong. No one goes there. It is rumored that the God destroys anyone who tries to climb the mountain, and that the Bitter Shift, which plunges temperatures without warning, prevents people searching. No one wants to be caught on the mountain when the winds whip, and the temperature is -30 degrees Celsius.
Next week
This series continues with an article on the the mountain people of the Silverback mountain range.
Do you have any comments on the Silverback mountains? Use the comments below if you want to make suggestions.
Good-bye for now. Have an amazing Sunday!
Seems really immersive! Have you grown up in the snow or mountains?