Scarspire Range

Name	Scarspire Range
Location	Southern Terasil, bordering the Zanarak Desert
Highest Peak	Scarspire Summit
Climate	Arid, extreme heat and high winds
Inhabitants	Uninhabited, occasional wanderers, Orasian ruins

Overview

The Scarspire Range is a desolate mountain range located on the **southeastern edge of Terasil**, where the rocky spires slowly crumble under the relentless winds of the Zanarak Desert. These mountains, once a formidable barrier, are now **a withering skeleton of jagged peaks and crumbling cliffs**. Over millennia, the constant erosion has **fed the desert sands**, making the range a transitional zone between the **solid lands of Terasil** and the shifting dunes of Zanarak.

The Scarspire Range is largely uninhabitable, with its few remnants of civilization existing in the form of **a lone watchtower on the northern edge** and the **ruins of an abandoned Orasian settlement to the south**.

Geography

The Scarspire Range is a smaller chain of mountains and jagged hills, characterized by barren rock faces, deep-cut ravines, and shifting sands encroaching from th e south.

Major Landmarks

• Scarspire Summit – The highest peak in the range, a **windswept, broken pinnacle** barely resisting the forces of erosion.
• Vaal-Kurath – A solitary stone watchtower built on the northern border of the range, built to monitor the desert’s expansion into Terasil.
• The Ruins of Kathrak-Vaal – The remains of an Orasian settlement, now buried under shifting dunes.

Climate

The **climate of the Scarspire Range is unforgiving**, defined by **scorching days, freezing nights, and relentless winds**.

• **Daytime:** Extreme heat, with temperatures rivaling the outer desert.
• **Nighttime:** Sudden cold, with temperatures dropping rapidly after sundown.
• **Winds:** The most defining feature of the range, the Scarspire Winds, carry **fine sand and eroded stone**, constantly reshaping the landscape.

Ecology

The Scarspire Range is **largely barren**, though some species have adapted to the extreme conditions.

Flora

Vegetation is sparse, consisting only of drought-resistant plants that cling to crevices in the rock.

• Vaalk Cactus – A short, thick cactus that stores enough water to survive months without rainfall.
• Razorgrass – A wiry plant found in sheltered areas, its sharp edges a defense against grazing animals.
• Wraithbloom – A rare, pale flower that only blossoms after desert storms, absorbing moisture from passing fog.

Fauna

The creatures of the Scarspire Range are **stealthy, resilient, and often nocturnal**, avoiding the harshest conditions.

• Sandclaw Viper – A burrowing snake that emerges only at night, striking from beneath the sand.
• Rockprowler Scorpion – A heavily-armored scorpion known for its **stone-like exoskeleton**.
• Windreaver Hawk – A desert raptor that rides the powerful currents of the Scarspire Winds.

Cultural and Historical Significance

The Ruins of Kathrak-Vaal

Once a **thriving Orasian settlement**, **Kathrak-Vaal** was abandoned centuries ago. Though the reason remains unclear, some believe that **desertification forced its inhabitants to flee**, while others claim that **it was swallowed by a great sandstorm**, never to be rebuilt. Today, the ruins stand as **a half-buried testament to a lost chapter of Terasil’s history**.

The Northern Watchtower

The **Northern Watchtower** stands **as the last remaining outpost** in the Scarspire Range, built by **early Terasilians** to **observe the Zanarak Desert**. While no longer actively manned, it is sometimes used as a refuge for travelers attempting to cross the range.

See Also

• Zanarak Desert
• Terasil
• Orasians
• Citadel Mountains