Sub Zero's Land

                       

 

The land known as Sub Zero's Land is a small island, located just north of the coast of Canada. It experiences an arctic climate, with long, harsh winters and short summers. There is a six month period of darkness in the winter and a six month period of light in summer. Most of the island is covered in vast tundra prairies, with some small coniferous forests near the two largest rivers, Kohojatak Creek and the Arahonak Rapids, and at the base of the mountains. The largest mountain chain is on the eastern side of the island, and it is full of elaborate caverns, hidden valleys, precipituous canyons, and volcanoes. Dark Peak, the territory of the Dark Legion Pack, is an active volcano that erupts every five years or so.

Every winter, the Arctic Ocean freezes, and an ice bridge forms between Sub Zero's Land and Canada. It is this bridge that has allowed timber wolves to migrate from their native forests to the island. 

The native inhabitants of Sub Zero's Land include arctic wolves, as well as other predators such as polar bears and arctic foxes. Large herds of caribou and musk oxen migrate to the tundra plains of the island every year, and provide most of the game for the wolves. Smaller animals such as lemmings, voles, arcitc hares, and ptarmigans can also be found. Marine life consists of whales, walruses, and smaller seals.

 

Sub Zero's Valley - The home of the Snow Star Pack is situated at the bottom of a vast tundra valley, surrounded on all sides by rolling hills. To the north, the hills gradually rise into the foothills of the mountains. The alphas traditionally make their den on a steep hillside,  near a set of boulders, where they can survey their territory and keep their pups safe from harm. The other pack wolves live on the adjoining slopes or on the valley floor, with plenty of rocks, hollows, and overhangs for shelter.

Dark Peak - High in the mountains north of Sub Zero's Valley is an ominous, towering volcano known as Dark Peak, the territory of the Dark Legion Pack. The mountain is steep and jagged, carved out by ancient floods and lavaflows; many intruders are too daunted to climb it. Only the Dark Legions know the quickest and easiest ways to the top. The alphas live beneath a rocky overhang near what is known as Lookout Ledge, a preciptious cliff on the mountainside that provides an excellent view of the entire island. This makes it extremely difficult for enemies to sneak into the territory unnoticed.
Dark Peak is an active volcano, the erupts roughly about every five years. The Dark Legion wolves have grown very adept at sensing coming eruptions, and knowing when to evacuate. This actually alerts other packs to the impending danger.

Kohojatak Creek - The neutral Kohojatak Creek Pack lives on the edge of a peaceful river that flows through a small forest, near the center of the island. Here the wolves are seldom bothered by enemies, and have plenty of prey to hunt in the undergrowth. The alpha's den can usually be found in a burrow dug into the riverbank, near a mossy boulder and a fallen log. Because of their close proximity to the water, Kohojatak Creek wolves have developed a skill and a liking to swimming. They love to splash and romp in the water in the warmer summer days.

The Lost Canyon - Near Dark Peak is a large, winding canyon, full of sheer cliffs, caves and ravines. The Dawn of Oblivion Pack resides here, in a shallow cavern, where they can plot their dark crimes in secret. Full of hiding places and hidden vantage points, the Oblivion wolves can easily spot and ambush any intruders. If all escape routes are closed off, they can also trap enemies within the looming rock walls, and make short work of them.

The Cave of Lupinar - Deep within the mountains is a great cavern, where the Lupinar wolves make their home. The cave is a beautiful, mysterious place, full of glowing pools, dripping stalactites, and strange paintings on the stone walls, depicting great wolves and other beasts of long ago. To the Lupinar Pack, the "Chamer of Paintings" is sacred. Many rituals and ceremonies are performed here, in shafts of moonlight that shine through fissures in the cave ceiling. The entrance of the cave is hard for outside wolves to find, for it lies at the bottom of a deep chasm. Lupinar is feared and respected however, so normally they are left alone.

Besides the major pack territories, there are several other areas in Sub Zero's Land the wolves travel to for food, water, health care, and so on. There are even certain places where the wolves may encounter spirits of their ancestors, both good and evil, and receive guidance...

Hunting Plains - To the west of Kohojatak Creek is a vast plain, where great herds of caribou and musk oxen migrate every year. Since prey is so abundant here, this is the chief hunting grounds of the island, not only for the wolves, but also the foxes, polar bears, and birds such as ravens. If you travel further west, the plains slowly turn into the coastal ice caps, where seals can be found.
Aside from a hunting ground, the Plains also serve as a refuge from the eruptions of Dark Peak, since it is as far away from the volcano as the wolves can get. The only problem is that many enemy packs are forced to stay close to one another at these times, so fights and even wars may break out.

Healing Gardens - Southeast of the Hunting Plains is a small copse of trees, where several healing herbs grow. This is the home of the Healer, an old, lone wolf that has devoted his life to medicine and healing. Wolves from all over the island take their ailments to the Healer for treatment. If a wolf is too injured to travel, the Healer will bring herbs to them if necessary. Over the years, however, as more and more battles break out, it has become increasingly difficult for one wolf to tend to all others on the island. So the Healer has begun to train assistants, in the hopes that one day several other wolves may take his place.

Some of the herbs that can be found in the Healing Gardens include:

• Wolf's Paw - small plant with large, thick leaves; used to soothe minor wounds and prevent infection
• Bearberry - small blue berries; treats minor illnesses
• Frosty Fern - thick-leaved fern with powdery white leaves; good for mending broken bones
• Red Horn - plant with large, red horn-shaped flowers; used for severe illnesses; leaves can also be used to stop bleeding
• Arctic Willow - tiny, shrubby tree; chewing the bark helps to soothe pain

Cirrus Mountain - Just northeast of Sub Zero's Valley is one of the tallest mountains on the island, with a peak shrouded in snow and cloud. Snow Star wolves and other "good" wolves climb to the summit and pray to the Great Kings of the Past - ghosts of ancient monarchs. Sometimes the wolves merely request guidance and wisdom. Others, however, actually pray to the spirits for special powers. Legend has it that the Great Kings will aid their living descendents in times of great need by lending them supernatural powers.

The Cryptic Forests - These dark, shadowy pine forests grow near Dark Peak, and are said to be inhabited by the Dark Lords of the Past - the spirits of ancient Dark Legion lords, counterparts of the Great Kings. As "good" wolves do on Cirrus Mountain, "evil" wolves go to the forest to pray to the Dark Lords for answers and power.

The Battlefield - Near the base of Dark Peak is an eerie, desolate stretch of land, veiled in mist. Nothing lives here, and sometimes the shadows seem so thick that they block out all sunlight. There is an ancient legend that tells of a bloody war that took place here, resulting in the death of hundreds of wolves. It is still believed to be haunted by the countless souls that were lost during that horrific battle. Wolves who travel through the Battlefield often feel as if they're being watched or followed; some actually hear pawsteps, or see specters drifting in and out of the mist. There are even stranger stories of wolves having full conversations with these "Dark Spirits."

There are thousands of ghosts who dwell within the Battlefield, for it is said to not only be the home of the wolves killed in the ancient war, but also any wolf that has suffered tragedy or injustice, and whose spirit can never rest. But there are several famous Dark Spirits that appear to wolves of certain characters and allegiances. Some of these spirits include:

• Natu - the clumsy, playful spirit of Wipollo's long-dead brother, Natu. Though he was a Dark Legion wolf, Natu is blissfully naive and friendly, albeit strange. He always talks in third-person; usually he babbles nonsense, but sometimes he speaks in riddles. He runs around or pounces at living wolves, as if inviting them into a romp, and creates loud disturbances by tripping over rocks and falling into pits. If his apparition is visible, which it usually is, he appears as a scraggly, mangy wolf with notched ears, a kinked back and a "broom tail."
  What is the true reason Natu's spirit cannot rest? Some believe he feels betrayed by his brother, who murdered him at a young age; others believe that he's simply lonely.
• Vixira - a beautiful, seductive she-wolf with alluring yellow eyes, who only appears to male wolves. She often saunters up to travelers and brushes against them temptingly. She speaks in a sly, silky tone that casts sort of a hypnotic spell over unsuspecting wolves. There are tales of disloyal wolves leaving their mates and running into the Battlefield, searching for Vixira feverishly. Once she has them in her control, Vixira stops appearing to the wolves, but teases them by whispering in their ears and walking just close enough for them to feel her fur.
  It is believed that Vixira was once a Dark Legion alpha, distantly related to Wipollo, who used her charm to gather followers.
• Vren - the violent ghost of one of the cruelest, darkest wolves to have ever lived: Vren. Vren's ghost is far more visible than most others, appearing as a black mist that seems to swallow light. He often lunges at living wolves (especially Snow Stars) from out of nowhere, or whispers to them from the darkness. He has even been known to appear in a wolf's shadow. Some wolves have literally been scared to death by Vren's specter. But Vren still speaks to his followers, and leads the Dawn of Oblivion Pack even as a Dark Spirit. When he was killed, the wolves believed that the so-called "Devil Wolf" would never plague them again, but now it seems that they'll never be free of his evil soul.