Aran'riod
Aran'riod is a small village on the border of the frozen tundra far to the north. It was discovered by Senans Le'Yuet in the year 311 AF.
Geography
Standing at the gates of Aran'riod, one can make out the trees of Northreach far to the south. The village sits on the edge of the frozen northern tundra. It is a long journey to reach Aran'riod, and it requires travelers to make their way through the wilderness. The village is a harsh, cold place to live, but the inhabitants make do nonetheless.
Inhabitants
The people of Aran'riod call themselves the Yriluawe. Most of the villagers have a specific role in the town. There are those who tend to the children, those who prepare food, those who serve as religious figures, and those who make various crafts for the local people. Notable villagers include:
Culture
The Yrilauwen people live a simple life in their frigid home. They reside in communal housing, instead of individual homes. They raise sheep and tend small vegetable gardens for food. They also will hunt reindeer for additional meat. The villagers train wild ponies, and other beasts as steeds, and many riders will travel a long way to visit their stables. The villagers practice a religion that reveres the Mother, Sinope, the Father, Callisto, and the Creator, as well as the cycles of the moon. They also believe in the power of the four elements, employing them frequently as religious symbolism. The villagers name their children following a simple tradition: female names begin with A', and male names begin with O'. It is said that the shaman can use the powers of the moon to restore youth to the chieftess of the village.
Shops
There are multiple shops in the village, ranging from an apothecary, to a jewelry store. The cook, O'seru, sells a few local dishes, including elk steak and gazpacho. His small store is the only one that sells food throughout the frozen tundra, making him a valuable resource for those who wish to spend a long time up there. A'roden, the Mistress of Threads, as she is known, sells a handful of Yrilauwen pieces, such as a woolen hat. A'urnir's shop near the enterance of the village has a few pieces of beaded jewelry, as well as prized moonstone rings. O'ising, the local shaman, has learned to brew a few simple concoctions, such as mana elixirs and mending salves. He sells these in local black-walnut vials to those who seek out his home. To the north of the village lies the Aran'riod stables. Here one can purchase riodian war horses, as well as might wooly mammoths.
Flora and Fauna
Few plants grow in the harsh, frigid environment of the northern tundra. The Yrilauwe have managed to grow a few simple vegetables in their gardens, as the village is just far enough south for the permafrost to thaw sufficiently for a growing season, but even these plants are short and stunted. Wild ponies roam the tundra, and the local villagers are known to tame them for mounts.