Up to the north, far from the southern civilizations, lays a natural, bountiful land known as the Highlands. It is an enormous region that houses several different terrains, from rolling hills to dense forests, to the mighty mountains that encloses it all. Much of the land remains untouched by man, allowing for its natural beauty to captivate foreigners. One will commonly see deer, elk, pheasants, eagles, wolves and other worldly creatures thriving. Both Highland ponies and wolfhounds are native here and are equally sought out; the ponies for their strong built bodies that possess stamina and endurance superior to commonly known breeds in Canelux, and the wolfhounds for powerful companions and fearless hunters.

The climate is strangely temperate for its location, and many times one can awaken to see areas encased in a light fog that lasted throughout the morning. The mountains, with their sharp peaks and occasional rockslides, are also inhabited by giants who have dug into them, forming massive caves. They prefer to keep to themselves but are fiercely protective of their homes should trespassers come hiking up into their territory. There are warnings to never venture into the woods at night; it is said to be the favored time for witches to gather and concoct eerie and bizarre rituals and magic in front of roaring fires. There are also sightings of banshees: ghouslish female spirits that deliver to those that meet them loud, ear piercing screams that sentence the listener to an early grave.

Those who live here are descendants of the first people to lay claim to the region, having formed a united and mighty clan that was a force to be reckoned with. Over time, infighting had all but left them divided for centuries. It remains unknown as to how the conflict had started, but it has been left unresolved ever since, even though some still cling to some hope that one day that they will be reunited once more. One will find many villages scattered throughout the Highlands, crops and farms are a fairly common sight, and the proud people are skilled hunters and are known for gathering large amounts of game to not only feed their families, but to trade meat, furs, feathers, and other parts that they can scavenge. It isn’t rare, however, to see settlements and harbors built near the seaside where fishing is the preferred choice among them. Many of them do not like outsiders and can be hostile towards them. It is unwise to challenge them, for etched in their bloodlines are that of warriors and heroes that do not easily fear death.

Carved deep into the side of a mountain is a gaping maw beneath a carved, monstrous face of stone. Some say that it was carved by humans, others by orcish hands. The remaining residents of the Dungeon are very close-lipped as to what they know. There are a few things known. The mouth of the carved face serves as the entrance into a maze of twisting passages, all leading down into the mountain. Orcish spellcasters took over the area in centuries past, claiming they had found the ruined keep deep within the mountain. The twisting halls were once used as a prison, as the many cells scattered throughout the deeper parts of the halls demonstrate. Runes line the cells, though their magic is long-spent. The language is unknown, though the few scholars that have ventured into the depths have suggested it is an offshoot of the trade language of Adeluna.

The passages from the mouth of the Dungeon pass through the mountain, continually descending. Orcs patrol the halls, but there are many passages into the deeper parts of the dungeon. But they all eventually come together again in the deepest part of the mountain. In millennia past, it was a volcano, but the only sign now is the lava which surrounds the keep like a moat. The keep itself is mostly a ruin, but there is an eerie glow coming from the shadowy areas. The same runes from the cells above line the walls of the keep as well, though these have kept their magic. Orcish necromancers work towards two goals: uncovering the secrets of the ruined keep, and keeping their brethren alive. Some of the most powerful casters are resurrected as liches, and they are the most dangerous inhabitants of Tenebrim.

There are still many secrets within the deeps of the Dungeon, and rumors of treasure persist, especially with the presence of the orcish liches. Books of powerful spells, as well as the armor and weapons of the adventurers who seek them, provide a powerful incentive for those brave enough to explore the depths. Rumors of hoarded artifacts persist, though the questions arises as to why the orcs have not used them to try and claim more territory.

The Highland Crypts serve as a staunch, albeit morbid reminder of a time long passed, a time when the indigenous people stood united as one. Many came together to build this grand home for the unliving, intended to house those that fell against their enemies. Even when allies became enemies, the crypt would serve as a neutral ground, a final resting place where they were treated as one once more.

Several finely crafted stone archways tower overhead as one makes their way to the entrance, twin metal doors of an equally impressive size that lead into the main chambers. Here, no dead sleep, and this portion is surprisingly well maintained through the efforts of native volunteers, perhaps in a final effort to pay respect to the past. This portion is wide,the ceiling curved, and the stone walls having portions carved out, allowing light to seap in during the day. Scones for torches line the walls and support pillars so that visitors may provide their own light during the darker hours. Pots and other various containers hold flowers, jewelry, letters filled with words left unsaid, and other treasures of both monetary and sentimental value, serving as tribute to both those laid to rest here and not, as traveling any further into the tombs is considered by most to be a deadly prospect.

As is to be expected of a place that has gone mostly unexplored for a very long time, rumor and mystery surround this home for the deceased, although what of it is true and what of it is simply Highland superstition is hard to tell, as very few who have ventured beyond the main chambers have come back. Opposite the entrance is another opening, an archway lined with mysterious carvings, talismans intended to keep to keep the walking dead from passing, should the need arise, though the etchings have begun to fade by the will of time. No matter how well lit the entrance chamber may be at any given point in time, it is impossible to see more than a few feet beyond, just enough to see tempting marble stairs to the real burial site below.

Many a brave soul has ventured beyond this gateway. Descendants of the Highland pioneers looking to learn more about their own history, daring adventurers seeking to answers to the questions the less bold have asked, and naturally graverobbers seeking the real treasure buried away with the deceased. It is currently unknown how far below ground the crypts extend, or how wide the complex is. Paths lead to dead ends, corridors lead to other corridors, tunnels serve as shortcuts to other portions of the crypt, and one of the few survivors once reported finding cells, macabre prisons perhaps designed to punish would-be pilferers. Most areas have one thing in common, however; seemingly endless walls lined with coffins, where those no longer among the living slumber eternally. Or so they should.

Rumors tell of the draugr, reanimated corpses of those passed, that roam these sprawling hallways, vengeful of their descendants for tearing the once mighty clan apart. It is believed that the further one descends into the depths, the more active these draugr become. It is also rumored that the travelers and thieves that never returned all joined their ranks, though whether the new blood had died at their hands or were somehow forcibly conscripted whilst still alive, is widely debated among Highland folklore.

The final, and most persistent rumor, of this resting place concerns the lowest level, where it is believed that some sort of ancient, valuable treasure lies, guarded by the original draugr, the general that all the others answer to. It is believed that if one is capable of defeating this historic living dead, or somehow obtain the prize it protects, than the nightmarish army will be theirs to command.