Up to the north, far from the southern civilizations, lays a natural, bountiful land known as the Highlands. It is an enormous region that houses several different terrains, from rolling hills to dense forests, to the mighty mountains that encloses it all. Much of the land remains untouched by man, allowing for its natural beauty to captivate foreigners. One will commonly see deer, elk, pheasants, eagles, wolves and other worldly creatures thriving. Both Highland ponies and wolfhounds are native here and are equally sought out; the ponies for their strong built bodies that possess stamina and endurance superior to commonly known breeds in Canelux, and the wolfhounds for powerful companions and fearless hunters.

The climate is strangely temperate for its location, and many times one can awaken to see areas encased in a light fog that lasted throughout the morning. The mountains, with their sharp peaks and occasional rockslides, are also inhabited by giants who have dug into them, forming massive caves. They prefer to keep to themselves but are fiercely protective of their homes should trespassers come hiking up into their territory. There are warnings to never venture into the woods at night; it is said to be the favored time for witches to gather and concoct eerie and bizarre rituals and magic in front of roaring fires. There are also sightings of banshees: ghouslish female spirits that deliver to those that meet them loud, ear piercing screams that sentence the listener to an early grave.

Those who live here are descendants of the first people to lay claim to the region, having formed a united and mighty clan that was a force to be reckoned with. Over time, infighting had all but left them divided for centuries. It remains unknown as to how the conflict had started, but it has been left unresolved ever since, even though some still cling to some hope that one day that they will be reunited once more. One will find many villages scattered throughout the Highlands, crops and farms are a fairly common sight, and the proud people are skilled hunters and are known for gathering large amounts of game to not only feed their families, but to trade meat, furs, feathers, and other parts that they can scavenge. It isn’t rare, however, to see settlements and harbors built near the seaside where fishing is the preferred choice among them. Many of them do not like outsiders and can be hostile towards them. It is unwise to challenge them, for etched in their bloodlines are that of warriors and heroes that do not easily fear death.

Tenebrim Dungeon, Additional Area

Carved deep into the side of a mountain is a gaping maw beneath a carved, monstrous face of stone. Some say that it was carved by humans, others by orcish hands. The remaining residents of the Dungeon are very close-lipped as to what they know. There are a few things known. The mouth of the carved face serves as the entrance into a maze of twisting passages, all leading down into the mountain. Orcish spellcasters took over the area in centuries past, claiming they had found the ruined keep deep within the mountain. The twisting halls were once used as a prison, as the many cells scattered throughout the deeper parts of the halls demonstrate. Runes line the cells, though their magic is long-spent. The language is unknown, though the few scholars that have ventured into the depths have suggested it is an offshoot of the trade language of Adeluna.

The passages from the mouth of the Dungeon pass through the mountain, continually descending. Orcs patrol the halls, but there are many passages into the deeper parts of the dungeon. But they all eventually come together again in the deepest part of the mountain. In millennia past, it was a volcano, but the only sign now is the lava which surrounds the keep like a moat. The keep itself is mostly a ruin, but there is an eerie glow coming from the shadowy areas. The same runes from the cells above line the walls of the keep as well, though these have kept their magic. Orcish necromancers work towards two goals: uncovering the secrets of the ruined keep, and keeping their brethren alive. Some of the most powerful casters are resurrected as liches, and they are the most dangerous inhabitants of Tenebrim.

There are still many secrets within the deeps of the Dungeon, and rumors of treasure persist, especially with the presence of the orcish liches. Books of powerful spells, as well as the armor and weapons of the adventurers who seek them, provide a powerful incentive for those brave enough to explore the depths. Rumors of hoarded artifacts persist, though the questions arises as to why the orcs have not used them to try and claim more territory.