Mount Piraeus

Mount Piraeus
Leader	Arges, Chieftain of the Cyclopes
Discoverer	Cazarin, Finchy, and Somather

Mount Piraeus is a prominent peak at the north end of the Southern Vashnar Mountains. Its name is derived from Emperor Piraeus, the immediate heir to Nicator.

Geography

Mount Piraeus towers to the north of the Actar Valley. The path up to the mountain is accessible from the Great Southern Road at the edge of the Mhojave Desert, just south of the entrance to Moghedu and just north of the start of the Cyrenian Highway. Flowing south across the peak from the mountains to the north is the river Eridanos, which supplies water to the valley below.

Inhabitants

The main inhabitants of Mount Piraeus are the cyclopes who dwell within the caverns of the mountain. Notable individuals among them include:

• Arges, Chieftain of the Cyclopes
• Dora, a cyclops cook
• Hynes, the cyclops mechanic
• Steropes, the cyclops smith
• Themus, the cyclops shepherd

Culture

The cyclops culture is based around their almost paranoid need to defend against perceived threats from the outside world. To this end, their home has been heavily fortified. Accomplished engineers, the cyclopes have designed and constructed a functional sewer system and blademill, both of which draw power from the river Eridanos. Sewage leaks are common, however, and it was one such pollution of the Eridanos River which led to the mountain's discovery.

Flora and Fauna

Along the craggy peaks of Mount Piraeus roam rugged mountain lions, much like the Western Vashnars to the north, and mountain goats. The herb valerian can be found growing along Piraeus's slopes, as well as the invasive thyme plant. The cyclopes make their home deep in a system of natural caverns, and both bloodroot and irid moss thrive in the subterranean environment. The river Eridanos hosts beavers and salmon as it flows down the mountainside, and kelp can be harvested from its waters.