Cairnwall Range

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**.

South of the range lies the infamous **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.

Gallery

The Cairnwall Range - A rugged landscape of scattered boulders.