Ilkur mountains

The Ilkur mountains, also known as the Roof of the World, are a mountain range in Apantos. They are the world's highest mountain range, reaching well into the Shadelands. The Ilkur mountains have profoundly shaped the cultures of Apantos, and many of their peaks are sacred in Apantosi folk religions and the Faith of Shúl.

Etymology

The name Ilkur comes from Old Etekur il meaning "stars, heaven" and kur meaning "mountain".

Geography

As most of Apantos is relatively flat, the Ilkur mountains offer a stark contrast with the rest of the continent.

Climate

The climate of the Ilkur mountains depends on altitude and distance from the Sun. The sunward continental steppe gives way to a colder, outer-circle climate and eventually the mountains themselves. Though the Ilkur foothills are more humid, the upper altitudes are perpetually covered in snow.

Culture

Like much of Apantos, the Ilkur mountains are home to Nuhkuri people, nomadic pastoralists and other herders. Some Ilkur Nuhkuri live more sedentary lifestyles, roaming much smaller ranges than their lowland counterparts. As with other Apantosi cultures, the Nuhkuri are primarily matriarchal, with women as matriarchs and spiritual leaders and men as laborers and fighters. They are recognizable by the fact that women tend to have short hair, while men wear longer hair.