As the only place of warmth in an otherwise frozen land, the Firehole River is, or was, the central point for life in, on and around it. Sadly, this is starting to change...
Found in the frozen southern continent of Erishkagan (which would translate in our language as 'Frozen Hell') this river is thought to be unique in the whole of Acqua. Large sections of the river bottom are coated in amethyst, and the magical emanations from such a large concentration has melted the ice above, creating a fast-flowing and warm river, with it's own weather system. When the heat of the river meets the cold dry polar air, it forms great clouds of mist and when the clouds grow big enough they rain, thus providing the river with the water it needs to keep on flowing.
The Canbu tribe once lived here and worshipped the river as a god, since it gave them fish and shellfish, cassava roots and other edible plants, clean water to drink and enough warmth to live,as long as they stayed close by, with only minimal shelter from their yak-hair tents. They took great care to keep the river clean; excrement had to be buried in latrines hacked out of the ground in the nearby permafrost. Bodies were buried in the snow, rather then being cremated (with very little wood, and all the wood that was there used for something, cremation was inpractical) or floated down the river.
With the right prayers, and the fact that dead bodies were never total stripped naked, the creation of an Ice Ghoul was generally avoided. Because they were members of a single tribe and the land around them was too cold for other rival tribes, warfare was avoided. Murderers and river-poisoners were executed, whilst the penalty for other crimes was whipping or exile for a certain number of days or weeks.
All this changed when a squadron of ships from the De Madden Company discovered the river and the traitor Jade Alksnis , hungry for power, told the officers of the secret of the river. Mining with high explosive began and the Canbu were routed by superior weaponry and diseases which they were not used to. Now vast areas of the river have been dug up and the precious amethyst removed, causing the affected areas to freeze over within weeks and creating vast, still lakes that have become dirty from human excrement, mining detrious and waste.
With no respect for the river, it is likely that within a couple of decades the greed of the Company will have destroyed it, both through river pollution and through removing the amethyst which keeps it warm, leaving just filthy ice, and condemming the few survivors of the Canbu tribe to extinction.
Scrolls
Twists, chapters, and details meant to stream with the submission — not general discussion.
No scrolls yet — leave one if you have a twist worth keeping.
Sign in to plant an idea scroll.
Enjoyed this? Sign in and cross blades for Cheka Man — five clashes, up to 25 XP.
Sign in to cross the blades.
Enjoyed this? Sign in and Grant your Favor.
Sign in to Favor
Discussion
Reader talk, questions, and feedback — not scrolls.
No comments yet — be the first voice in the hall.
Sign in to join the discussion.
Bonds
Curated bonds across the Citadel — sign in to bind a bond.
No bonds yet — be the first to bind one.
Use alongside
Submissions that pair well with this one at the table.
-
Urn Beast
Several arson attacks, and two deaths later, as the Mayor retreated from the ashy figure before him and his curtains went up in flame, he decided that burning t…
-
The God of Small Things
For want of a nail a horse was lost
For want of a horse a rider was lost
For want of a rider a message was lost
For want of a message a battle was lost
For …
-
The Rotter
This mouldy green blade has saved many of it's owners, only to turn on some of them who dared to overwork it. It should be treated with great respect by it's o…
-
Gloves of Emotion
On the surface, these white calfskin gloves appear ordinary, until another human or an animal is touched, when they reveal the mysteries of the mind.
-
Ma-O the Water Deamon
Once Ma-O was a god in his own right, now he is the most reviled of all Infernal Beings, held responsible for so much of the death and destruction that happens …
-
Organi
Inhabiting the waters of Tarrod, the Organi is a dangerous creature.
What a sweet idea: A flowing river in an arctic region. This one was a gem Cheka.
I am not sure I would have used the mining company, but it makes perfect sense and is a grim reminder of the world we live in today.
Still a sweet idea and a 4/5.
A cool, erm, i mean hot location. The juxtapose works well of course! Steaming river flowing through icy lands.
Im not sure if i missed it, but this is some kind of campaign-specific magical amethyst, yes? Just curious.
I got an HOH-but who gave it? :)
You've got quite the world going here Cheka. This part adds a great deal of flavour to the whole. Are all amethysts magic in this world?
Yes, they are. Amethysts in this world are as valuble as gold or refined oil in our world. Wars have been fought to own them.
This would create an interesting location - it would create a unique biology or could have mystic as opposed to geologic origin. Sadly, the end of this location is almost assured by the value of the resource.