The Sentinel Range
- A mountain range in Taelgar
The Sentinel Range, also called the Sentinel Mountains or the Sentinels, is the extensive mountain range that separates the Green Sea and the surrounding lands from the west coast of Taelgar.
The Sentinel Range stretches 2300 miles from volcano mountains of the former kingdom of Pandar in the north, to the northern foothills of the Dunmari plains in the south.
Northern Sentinels
- The northern section, from roughly Pandar south past the Forest of Nightmares to the area northeast of the Blackwater Fens, is snowy, rocky, and volcanic, marked by pine forests on the western slopes and long, bitter winters.
- Real world analogs: This region is at approx. 52 degrees north, and probably has some similarities with the Canadian Rockies, especially Banff and Jasper national parks, including the flat plains to the east of the mountains (int he Far North). The volcanic mountains of Pandar share some similarities with the Pacific Ring of Fire, but with a much more magical vibe, and less moderating coastal influence on climate.
Central Sentinels
The middle section, roughly the area starting west of Zimkova and running south to the desolation west of the Western Marches, is rocky and very tall, with extensive underground development associated with the Dwarven Kingdoms, and more dangerous things. These are stereotypical high mountains.
- Real world analogs: This region stretches from roughly 40 degrees N to 50 degrees N. This is a classic high mountain range, sharing features with the northern Rockies, the Alps, and Patagonia, but even the tallest peaks are unlikely to reach the heights of something like the Himalayas in the real world.
Southern Sentinels
The southern section, covering the area that was once the dwarven kingdom of Ardith, from roughly west of Maseau or Refounded Alliance of Aurbez to the end of the Sentinel Range north of Dunmar, is full of high, barren peaks that rise sharply from the plains, and is generally dry, with arid regions to the west and south.
- Real world analogs: This is warmer and further south, from approx. 34 degrees N to 38 degrees N. Probably shares some similarities with the dry Andes, or possibly some of the mountains in central Asia, such as Hindu Kush or Pamir Mountains.
- The northern and middle sections are separated by a region of lower hills, a more habitable region with mixed forests and rocky slopes, but relatively easy passage between the west and east. This is likely the route by which the early northerners crossed into the Sembaran highlands.
- Real world analogs: Perhaps somewhat similar to something like the less mountainous Yellowstone / Montana, or even perhaps the Whites.
- The middle and southern sections are separated by the desolate of Urlich, created by Cha’mutte’s death. What this actually looks like is currently unknown, but it is dangerous and contains both random isolated mountains and vast chasms, and safe travel is impossible, not only because of dangerous inhabitants but because of unstable terrain.
- Real world analogs: None, although perhaps some bits of Mordor could be a reasonable mental model.
- Passes: the Sentinel Range is easily crossable only in a few places.
- To the north, the gap between the middle section and the northern section is traversable in all seasons, but lightly settled; the northern section itself is extremely inhospitable in the highest peaks.
- The middle section has passes around ~High Horn~, west of the Highland Kingdoms, and in the area west of the Western Marches. But the latter was disrupted by Cha’mutte’s death and is no longer considered passable.
- The south section has several routes that cross between the Refounded Alliance of Aurbez and northern Dunmar.
In the south, in northern Dunmar, the mountains are steep and rocky, with only a handful of passes. In the winter, they are snow-covered, but there is little permanent ice and few or no glaciers.
Further north, the mountains are somewhat less rugged, but high enough in places to be permanently snow-covered.
Major settlements of Dwarves and Stoneborn call the Sentinels their home, and historically this area was, and is, the center of Dwarven civilization.
The Sentinels have many names: they are called the Indalas by the Stoneborn, Labkhan by the dwarves, Beredri by the Deno’qai, and Tushara by the Dunmari.