HORIZON DOMAIN

[coerthantorment]

THE OUTER WALL

elemental crystals, floating islands, frozen peaks

Estinien's domain is completely encircled by a mountainous wall of stone and crystal. It's much thinner and more compact than a regular mountain (true mountains would be way too big) and is mostly sheer cliff aside from the various tunnels that open to the outside. Various glowing crystals decorate the rockface, mostly in shades of red, orange, and blue. To those inclined to search for magical essences, many of them seem to be charged with elemental fire and ice. While the wall is imposing, it's actually relatively easy to find caverns and pathways that lead to the interior. The peaks of this wall are bitterly cold and snow covered.

Various crystal islands float around the perimeter of the wall. They are sturdy enough to stand on them. All of them are at least partially aspected with wind or earth magic.

Abandoned ruins litter the mountain landscape, leading to its interior caves. They seem to be a mixture of stonework that would be at home in ancient temples with carved draconic iconography, as well as scattered gothic architecture.

THE DOWN BELOW

crystalline caverns, expansive tunnels, gothic ruins

While the mountain wall is very tall, it also extends deep below the earth, a network of caverns and tunnels spread beneath the valley itself. These caverns contain more complete renditions of the ruins seen on the outside, abandoned daises, forgotten stairwells, and statues of dragons and spear wielding goddesses fused with the natural stone. In the deeper portions, you can also find ancient, draconic skeletal remains.

Some caverns are entirely filled with crystal, as if being in the center of a giant geode. Magical energy of all elements are thick here, but ice and fire remain the most concentrated. This energy, which Estinien calls 'aether', is constantly present in his domain.

Some fire-attuned caverns seemed to be filled with oval structures that look like some manner of nesting ground - sure enough, the remains of giants egg shells can be found here, but no living young.

THE INNER VALLEY

lush grassland, coniferous trees, endless waterfall

Once you are through the mountain wall, a creamy nougat of beautiful valley is revealed. While its size depends on availability (and it is likely less large than pictured) it is filled with pastoral animals and largely untamed wilderness - besides the presence of some roads that lead nowhere in particular. There is a single old-timey house at the center point of these roads, but while it is in good repair it is completely empty. Wherever in the mountains Estinien's lair is, it is not that.

Leading down into the valley's lake and primary water source is a waterfall that winds up through the mountain trees - seemingly forever. If you fly above, you'll lose track of where it leads, and if you follow it on foot it will just keep curling through endless trees forever. It doesn't actually seem to have a concrete source.

There are also various hotsprings on the same mountainface as the waterfall. At night it is more obvious, but if you look beneath the water you'll see that it is actually heated by glowing fire-crystals woven into the stone. When it's dark, it creates a soft orange light.

DOMAIN RESIDENTS

pastoral animals, beasts of burden

The most prized members of the domain, karakul sheep vastly outnumber the other animals in the valley. Round and soft with shades of black and white wool, their actual bodies are much smaller than their fleece makes them appear. While they, and all the other animals present, are domesticated, they may become ornery if provoked. For the most part, though, they are content to merely eat and sleep the day away. The females produce milk.

Wooly yaks are huge beasts, about the size of an elephant and with just as much crushing power. While they may lash out at people they are unfamiliar with, they will mostly keep to themselves. They create mountainous amounts of fleece when sheared. They wander alone rather than travelling with a herd.

Sharing many characteristics with buffalo, the dzo of the valley are trained to pull carts, be sheared for their hair, and be milked. While they can do a ton of damage if agitated, they keep to their herd.

A single family of completely regular horses. There's nothing about them that doesn't apply to normal horses. They are shy, but receptive to offerings of food.

Several chocobo of both yellow and black colorations can be found. While they are trained to work alongside humans, they also have the most innate protective insincts - they will fight on behalf of the other animals if need be. They also seem to have some very limited magical capabilities, casting minor healer spells and small projectile blasts of magic. They are large enough to be ridden by a heavy human.

Various starling-sized birds with bright, rainbow colorations inhabit the valley's trees. These were originally created by Jaskier to help find Estinien's lost sheep during a wildfire. He's since allowed them to remain as permanent residents.