Eddling: The Adamant Cliffs of Poshlin Parade

Transit

Poshlin Parade is the large mountain range on the eastern edge of Eddling. Visible from across the country, Poshlin Parade extends from the Gorland Plains to the south, all the way to the Eddling border and Silver Lake to the north. The White Needle is its tallest peak, at 2,400m, and contains a total of 27 peaks higher than 1,000m. Reaching Poshlin Parade is as simple as catching a train or bus to either Loreidell or Grumwei, the two closest towns, and chartering a bus-service to one of the several base-camps from there.

Hiking the Poshlin Parade is best done with a guide. While the paths are generally safe, they are not easy to climb, and there are several places where passage becomes dangerous without suitable experience. Hiring a guide is simple enough, as there are multiple tour-groups and guide-services in both Loreidell and Grumwei for reasonable prices.

The southern edge of the Adamant Cliffs is accessible by Lopna-drawn cart, and a semi-regular taxi-service operates out of Loreidell. The northern edge will require hiking to reach, due to the narrow passes.

The Place

Lovers of hiking and mountain-climbing have a great number of options throughout the world; from the gentle peaks of the Parcassans in Garm to the treacherous Ioshbornians in Flororenghashst. Poshlin Parade is one such option, with some of the best hiking, climbing, and hunting in all of Eddling. Poshlin Parade is largely significant in Fenning culture. Due to its being visible from over most of ancient Fenning territory, it was both a cultural landmark and a migratory destination.

While there are many landmarks in Poshlin Parade worth visiting, I constantly find myself returning to the Adamant Cliffs; a twenty kilometer stretch of near vertical cliffside carved down the center of Poshlin Parade. Caused by a combination of tectonic uplift and erosion, the Adamant Cliffs are 1,500m deep with both sides being 5km apart.

A prime location for travelers of all stripes, The Adamant Cliffs are famous for their beauty and exotic climate. Due to their height, The Adamant Cliffs have their own wind and weather patterns, coloquially called ‘Gorge-breath,’ though many less polite monikers are often used by the locals.

The Gorge-breath is a tempestuous influence on the local climate. Travelers should take care when packing, and wear clothing that can be swiftly adjusted between snow, rain, powerful wind, and tepid stillness.

Due to this inconstant climate, the local flora and fauna have become uniquely adapted to life on the Cliffs. Deeproot trees and Lady’s Halo flowers thrive on the insects and nutrients carried by the winds, while pot-plants create their own rain-water puddles that provide a place for insects and fungi to spawn, and possibly become a meal for the plant.

There are few species of large animal that reside at the base of the Adamant Cliffs, and those that do are large and slow herbivores. Far more common are small burrowing reptiles and mammals, as well as several varieties of birds.

Ellix Point

There are several major trails that pass through the Poshlin Parade; If you’ve never traveled to the Adamant Cliffs before, be sure when planning your hike that you choose one of the five trails that terminate at Ellix Point.

Situated at the exit of the southern pass, Ellix Point is the best location to introduce yourself to the Adamant Cliffs. The tourist center is full of information for newcomers, including seasonal blooms, recent sightings, and other events of interest. There is a wide variety of climbing- and hiking-gear available for rental for any travelers who have none of their own.

Candlelit Path

The Candlelit Path is the easiest and most famous path on Poshlin Parade. Believed to be the path that the Fenning folk-hero Long-Legged Roke took to teach cooking to the Gods, the Candlelit Path still has a large number of ancient candle-plinths, or yokra, lining the path.

While it is not required, travelers are encouraged to place and light a small candle on or near one of these plinths as they walk. Traditionally, this is done as a service for those who follow, to ensure a safe and steady journey, but nowadays the act is considered as more of a commemorative act, a sign of gratitude towards those who came before us and guided out steps.

This path will take two to three hours to hike, so plan accordingly.

Black Lake

Found around the middle of the Longstride hiking path, Black Lake is a wide but shallow freshwater lake in a basalt basin. The basalt gives the water its black appearance, and its shallow depth makes Black Lake a haven for a wide variety of shallow-water fish, amphibious, and reptile life.

Black Lake is also known for its natural crop of Smoke-grass, a tobacco-like plant whose small round leaves are chewed for a mild calming effect. Originally used in spiritual rites and rituals by the Fenning people, it is now used as a semi-common relaxant and digestive aid after meals.

If you plan on spending a few hours at Black Lake, be aware that an endangered amphibian species — the Rapi, or mud-tuna — makes its home in the shallow waters. To hide from predators, it buries itself in the soft mud and dirt surrounding the lake, and so you should be very careful when walking the shoreline. Keep an eye out for small mounds of mud, and always stay at least ten feet from the water, lest you hurt one of these rare creatures.

Old Knobble

Old Knobble is the oldest deeproot tree in all of Poshlin Parade. Easy to accurately age due to the trees nature of adding a single tier of radial branches every year, Old Knobble is 1,326 years old.¹ Since most deeproot trees don’t live this long due to root-rot, insect infestation, or poor nutrition; Old Knobble has given dendrologists some fascinating insights about deeproot trees’ place in the ecosystem of Poshlin Parade.

Deeproot trees are incredibly resilient specimens, and are easily identifiable by their triangle-patterned bark and their patch of “dirt-bark” at their base. this strip of soft and porous bark is a fertile spot for other plants like flowers, climbing ivies, and fungi to take root. This strip will widen and spread outward as the tree grows, sharing nutrients with its hosted symbionts.

Dendrologists and foresters are still puzzled by this example of seeming parasitism, as it is the host species — the deeproot tree — that has adapted to support its parasites, rather than the parasites that adapted to take resources from their host. There is an ongoing debate as to whether this means this is instead an example of commensalism or mutualism, rather than parasitism; but as yet there has been no proven benefit provided to the tree by the hosted species.

You can find Old Knobble along the latter half of the Highwind Walk hiking path. Don’t be too wrapped up in taking pictures of the tree, however, as the view from its outlook is spectacular.

The Ghostlight

At dusk, the ghostlights flicker to life. A luminescent variety of firefly makes its home among the Adamant Cliffs, and their nighttime swarms make for some of the most beautiful sights in all the world, especially while dancing among the branches of the deeproot trees.

One of the marvels of nature is the bright-glow, when all the fireflies flash their lights once or twice in sync. This happens at seemingly random times throughout the evening; as of yet scientists have found no clear explanation.

Local legend says that the fireflies are connected to the spirit realm, and the bright-glow occurs when a soul passes over to their final rest.

The Kronwik

Rekek for “wasp hive,” the Kronwik is an ancient cliff-village that once housed over two-hundred Rekek people before the Eddlinger immigration. Situated on the southern cliff, tours of the Kronwik are available for purchase. Originally, a large incline provided access to the Kronwik from the base of Poshlin Parade, but extensive erosion has made passage dangerous for large groups. Guided climbs for individuals and small parties are available, but be prepared to spend quite a bit of money.

Nowadays, large groups can tour the Kronwik via hot-air balloon ride. The ferries can carry up to twenty people each, and provide mounted telescopes and binoculars to peer inside the buildings and note architectural details. There is one “stop-tour” every week; when the balloon-ferry will moor itself and allow tourists to step off the balloon and walk through the village. Be aware you will have to take part in a safety exam and sign a waiver to be allowed access.

Having taken the stop-tour myself, the Kronwik is certainly an interesting location to visit, but be sure you spend some time at the Ellix Point tourist center first. Due to weather and extensive archaeological study, the Kronwik is largely barren. There are a few walls that still bear some paint, but there are no surviving tools or furniture to suggest what these peoples’ lives might have been like. There are cooking pits, walls, and some long basins carved into the rock, but that is about it.

The Ellix Point tourist center, on the other hand, has a far more detailed collection of ancient Rekek artifacts, and will provide you a solid foundational idea of what life was like for these cliff-dwellers. The difficulties in farming, their innovative uses of lopna, and the limited availability of wood resulted in one of the more interesting stable tribes of Rekek in all of Eddling.

I strongly recommend learning more about the Kronwik people, as they provide yet another example of this fantastical world’s remarkable diversity.

Orgi’s Cairn

One of the holiest pilgrimage sites in Fenning culture, the burial cairn of Orgi Krokwollo is found along the northernmost edge of the Adamant Cliffs. A half-day’s hike from the base of Poshlin Parade will get you to the destination of over seven thousand pilgrims every year.

Escort and travel services are available at moderate prices. Standard procedure is for groups of no greater size than fifteen, with four guides. Any more than this and the thin passages become perilously crowded. Don’t plan on bringing any extra food or water, as there are certain passes where only a specific amount of weight and bulk can safely pass. The local guides will be far better at getting you to Orgi’s Cairn safely if you don’t have more than is necessary.

Efforts have been made over the years to stabilize the path and protect travelers from harming themselves. These efforts have so far come to nothing, primarily due to the difficulties of construction in Poshlin Parade, as well as the constant flow of pilgrims.

If you are not a devotee of Orgi, you will not be turned away from the journey. Be aware, however, that the pilgrimage of Orgi is one of hardship and mindfulness. Pilgrims are expected to suffer on the pilgrimage, and tourists taking part in the journey might be seen as disrespectful if they take the journey lightly. A large amount of respect for the faith is advised.

Places to note along the journey include the Chillwind Overpass and the Frozen Forest. This is also the only place in Eddling to reliably find Icecrown Crows during their nesting season.

Lopna

The lopna is a distant relative of the mountain goat. Indigenous to the Poshlin Parade, the lopna is much larger and heavier than most Capra, and are commonly used as draft animals in the lower altitudes of the region. At higher elevations, they are used solely as mounts to maneuver along the narrow passes.

Lopna wool is rough and thick, generally unsuitable for comfortable clothing. Instead, the wool is often used as insulation, spun into rope or sewing thread, or used as canvas. Lopna milk is a staple of the local cuisine, as is the animal’s meat.

Accommodations

The best lodgings for day-visitors are the local hiking lodges in Loreidell or Grumwei. Hiking Lodges are dormatory-like inns where travelers can get a small bed and chest for a reasonable price.

Loreidell also has the Rainfall Inn, which is a marvelous bed-and-breakfast for a premium price. I stay here every chance I get, and the owner makes it a regular practice to dine with their guest and share stories about their week.

If you are planning a longer-term mountain-climbing trip, you should carry a dawak-map. Dawaks are similar to mountain lodges, bothies, and refuge huts found all over the world. Maintained by the Eddling Mountaineering Association, dawak is the old Fenning word for town, or oasis. Every dawak is built on a former Fenning migration site — a place that tribes returned to every migration and would stay in for at least a month. There are usually seven huts or more, each fit for a group of four or fewer.

Dawaks are public use, meaning you do not need to pay to spend a night or two in any available bed. All heating and cooking is done with wood, and the EMA will always ensure a hefty supply is available. Every dawak is equipped with signal flares and is under regular supervision by EMA rangers. Climbers are expected to bring their own sleeping-bag liners.

It is also custom to share food with everyone staying at your dawak. Offering and accepting a single bite is sufficient, though you may be pressured to share all of your food and partake only of other hikers’ meals. While this is traditional and has a strong connection to Fenning culture, it is perfectly acceptable to refuse on account of personal faith, cleanliness, or dietary reasons.

Things to Do

The obvious activity in Poshlin Parade is hiking. There are multiple trails and landmarks worth seeing, and lovers of the outdoors will be entranced by the marvelous vistas and remarkable panoramas.

The space between the Adamant Cliffs is called the Hollow Gorge. Worth hiking, the incredible experience of simply looking up and seeing the miles of cliff rise around you is breathtaking. A word of caution: it is also vertigo-inducing and travelers have a tendency to faint upon staring up into the forever.² Also, be aware that the climate in the Hollow Gorge is quite cold and windy; be prepared for intense weather.

The gorge is also subject to periodic rockfalls; I strongly advise you to not try and walk the path without a guide. If you do; please stay on the widest part of the path, and avoid the edges. The Eddling Mountaineering Association provides special radios that can transmit to emergency stations outside the gorge, and taking one is a necessity if you are traveling without a guide.

Apart from hiking, one of the more common activities is hunting; while the wild lopna and mountain goats aren’t ideal game, the wide variety of birds and small mammals make the Adamant Cliffs a prime location for falconry and fowling. Be aware that hunting is tightly regulated, and hunting licenses cost up to 200t depending on your quarry.

The prevalence of hunting in Fenning culture has resulted in one of the more controversial recreations in Eddling: hunting duels.

The primary hunting tools used by Fenning people are the aplam, also called the moon-bow; and the shakt. The aplam is small, with most bowstrings being no longer than the user’s forearm. The arrows are likewise short, and the aplam was used primarily at short ranges, usually while running.

The shakt is a small spear-thrower similar to an atlatl or woomera. Named after how it sounds when used, it was used to throw small bolts of anywhere from 6" to 10" (15cm to 25cm) in length at far greater speed, distance, and accuracy than by hand. These bolts were often coated in strong soporific poisons, so a single hit would be enough to let the hunter cut the quarry’s throat without risk.

During times of sparse hunting, Fenning hunters would hunt each other, each trying to out stealth the other until they could strike with blunt darts or head-less arrows. The results of being hit, while not deadly, was painful and caused bruising, which quickly became a kind of scoring system for many tribes. Some tribes used special “training ammunition” made from soft splint-wood, leaves and mud, or in one notable instance, sea-sponge.

These days, special foam and cloth ammunition allows people to hunt each other with no more danger than a paintball match. It has become its own sport, with tournaments and exhibition matches between skilled athletes.

If you are interested in taking part in a hunting duel, there are classes you can take and beginners’ duels available for purchase. Note: you won’t be allowed to participate in any matches unless you have been accredited by a training course, and an average course can take up to three weeks and cost over 50t for each participant.

Loreidell

Along with some of the best Eddling food I’ve ever tasted, Loreidell has some of the most beautiful topography in the region. Hikers who want to explore the Adamant Cliffs could do far worse than spending a few days in Loreidell, hiking up Vole Mountain and wandering the river-paths. Kiba Lake is a wonderful spot in the Poshlin Parade foothills to explore and smell the wildflowers.

There is a relatively new beekeeping trade in the area, and there are regular honey-tastings in the summer and autumn. The town has also begun to expand into beer-brewing and wine-making, and several breweries and wineries have opened tasting rooms in Loreidell.

Grumwei

Grumwei has an excellent assortment of local Rekek culture available for tourists of all kinds to peruse. The Grumwei Museum of Rekek History is one of the better institutions in the region, and is still heavily involved in doing historical and sociological research.

The Museum also provides a collection of classes in Rekek cooking, sewing, construction, language, and other social practices. These simple classes run from 10t to 20t, depending on interest, and take place once a week. If your vacation in Grumwei coincides, it’s well worth spending an afternoon learning a new skill.

Apart from the Museum, there are a great number of art galleries and native craft stores along Junip Street. Take some time to explore the arts and crafts of the Rekek people, and then stop off at Lorely’s on Wallow Lane for some wildflower coffee and a scone. Lorely’s also has a lovely menu for lunch and brunch, including some of the best sweet-pudding in the country.