View source for Cairnwall Range

{{Template:Mountains
|title=Cairnwall Range
|subtitle=The Shattered Stones of Terasil
|image=[[File:Cairnwall_Range.jpg|thumb]]
|caption=A rugged expanse of shifting boulders and fractured peaks, marking the edge of the Zanarak Desert.
|label1=Name
|data1=Cairnwall Range
|label2=Location
|data2=Southwest of Seh-Kal, bordering the Zanarak Desert
|label3=Highest Peak
|data3=Tor-Karoth
|label4=Climate
|data4=Arid, with extreme temperature fluctuations
|label5=Inhabitants
|data5=Sparse wildlife, remnants of Orasian ruins
|label6=Significance
|data6=Massive boulder fields, Graveyard of the Fallen, desert erosion frontier
}}

== Overview ==  
The '''Cairnwall Range''' is a fractured and shifting mountain range in southwestern Terasil, forming a natural boundary between the Zanarak Desert and the stable lands of Terasil. Unlike the towering, intact peaks of the Citadel or Khargaath Ranges, Cairnwall is defined by massive boulder fields, scattered rock formations, and unstable terrain. The range is constantly shifting, with stones eroded by the relentless desert winds.

East of the range lies the Graveyard of the Fallen, a vast expanse of colossal, toppled boulders, believed by the Orasians to be the remnants of an ancient battle between stone and erosion itself.

== Etymology ==  
The name Cairnwall originates from ancient Orasian, referring to a wall of fallen stones. Orasian legend holds that the range was once a solid, towering wall of stone, but it has since fractured and crumbled, leaving behind a landscape of ruins shaped by time and wind.

== Geography ==  
The Cairnwall Range is a low, broken range, with no singular ridgeline, but instead scattered peaks, towering rock spires, and unstable boulder fields.

=== Major Landmarks ===  
* [[Tor-Karoth]] – The highest intact peak in the Cairnwall Range, standing alone among a sea of broken stone.
* The Shifting Path – A hazardous expanse where boulders, loosened by erosion, frequently collapse or shift.
* [[Graveyard of the Fallen]] – A vast, chaotic boulder field south of the range, said to be the remains of an ancient Orasian struggle against the desert.

== Geology ==  
The Cairnwall Range is composed of eroded granite and sedimentary stone, gradually being consumed by the Zanarak Desert.

=== Rock Formations ===  
* Stone Towers – Isolated stone pillars, remnants of once-greater peaks.
* Wind-Carved Hollows – Naturally formed caves and alcoves, sculpted by desert winds.
* Titan’s Rest – A single monolithic boulder, resting precariously on a narrow point, seemingly frozen in time.

== Climate ==  
The Cairnwall Range experiences extreme weather fluctuations, due to its proximity to the desert.

* Daytime: Scorching heat, with sunbaked stones radiating warmth.  
* Nighttime: Frigid cold, with temperatures plummeting below freezing.  
* Winds: High-speed winds funnel through the broken landscape, carrying fine sand that grinds at the rock surfaces.  

== Ecology ==  
Despite its barren nature, the Cairnwall Range is home to a few resilient species that have adapted to the harsh conditions.

=== Flora ===  
* Thornspite Shrub – A hardy, low-growing plant that burrows deep into rock crevices.
* Sandvail Moss – A thin, wind-resistant moss that clings to stone surfaces.
* Kharrok Bloom – A rare, purple-flowered plant that emerges only after desert storms.

=== Fauna ===  
* Shale Serpent – A long, camouflaged reptile that slithers between boulders.
* Cairnbeast – A large, rock-colored predator that moves silently through the stone fields.
* Windstriker Hawk – A raptor that hunts small creatures navigating the shifting terrain.

== Cultural and Historical Significance ==  

=== The Graveyard of the Fallen ===  
According to Orasian lore, the Graveyard of the Fallen is not a natural formation, but the remnants of a great battle between the Orasians and the forces of erosion. It is said that in ancient times, the Orasians stood against the desert, seeking to hold back the advancing sands. The massive toppled boulders are believed to be their fallen warriors—monuments to a war that could not be won.

=== Legends and Beliefs ===  
* The Sleeping Titan – A legend claims that one of the massive boulders in the Graveyard is not stone, but an ancient Orasian in slumber, awaiting the day it will rise again.
* The Whispering Winds – It is said that if one stands among the cairns at night, they can hear the voices of the past, carried by the desert winds.

== See Also ==  
* [[Zanarak Desert]]  
* [[Seh-Kal]]  
* [[Terasil]]  
* [[Orasians]]  
* [[Citadel Mountains]]
[[Category:Mountain range]]