Far Peaks
''Although distant, Far Peaks is still the centre of society. Everyone finds themselves lost in its nature at some point or another.''
Far Peaks is a distant, beautiful Mesa region, a place where any individual of any talent and background can come to enjoy the wilds of its natural beauty and large, rocky deserts. Surrounding the settlement of Ailyr Reach, the Far Peaks is a protected area of land mass, defended from all kinds of harm; from poachers and bandits, to biohazardous threats and merely threats to the animal and plantlife of this open region. Hunting the wildlife here is illegal, almost as illegal as it is to take them alive for a profit, as the ecosystem here is rich and unique when compared to the rest of the world.
The Mesa
Sitting in the farthest reaches of the East lies the heated Mesa of Far Peaks, a civilisation more distanced from the world than any other. This large desert valley is the second largest region in the entire world, second only to Karkana, and is host to many peaceful settlements. Those who live here are either looking for an escape from the real world, or were born and raised. Many born here have never seen the world's reaches and what else it has to offer, too at peace with their homeland.
The rich soils of the mesa, along with the balanced climate and regulated seasons of wetness make the Far Peaks the perfect place for farming exotic foods, and farm is exactly what the residents here do. Many of them take pride in their ability to create produce, though of course not many of them take part in such a profession. There are other common, exotic professions from here, however: Cockatrice wrangling, dragon racing, yuk yuk hunting, even extreme sports such as racing down the broad river of life or sailing along the lake attached.
Despite being a peaceful region, the Far Peaks have as much mystery surrounding them as any other place. Shamans and sorcerers alike regularly pay visit to the ancient, spiritual lands of the far desert in search of its many hidden temples, seeking out its rich history or hunting for passage into the divine Shadow Oasis, a legendaalternate dimension connected to this wild Mesa; though one unseen.
Demographic
The population of this region, especially within Ailyr Reach, isn't as diverse as many would expect from hearing stories of this place. Many people who live here are transient, and may only stay for a few months at a time before moving on. The heat of the Mesa in the summer, and the cold desert nights can be too much for the average individual, which is why much of the population is people who were born and raised.
Those who do travel in for permanent stay tend to be people with a higher affinity for heat, or people who have stayed in hot locations in their past. The largest population of people not originating from Far Peaks come from either Oya, or mircaulously, a small settlement in the Hakemian desert. The most common reason for these individuals moving are either looking for a 'warmer' or 'much cooler' alternative to their living conditions.
The summer months (December ⟶ February) are when this region sees the most traffic from transients and travellers. Travelling merchants are seen more frequently during this time as well, but they can be found all year around. Many believe the population rise in the summer months to be ironic, seeing as the very reason many people don't stay if they're a foreigner is the heat itself, but it seems to be the heat and persistent warm weather which brings more people in.
History
Not only are the Far Peaks well known for their rich farming capability and wildlife, but the entire location within Albor Valley is also renowned for its high gold deposits, natural magic sites and large deposits of Utanium, an ancient radioactive metal and the toughest metal available to the residents of Albor Valley. Although the location isn't used for mining anymore, the ancient traces of the lost mining history still lie in the form of abandoned mines and ancient studies specificallty for the gold and Utanium.
Additionally, Far Peaks has a rich, but mostly lost, religious history. Dotted around the landscape can be found ancient structures of temples constructed of sandstone and limestone, crumbled ancient structures found within cliffs, and old carvings in the sides of caves and the cliff faces beneath the plateaus of the Mesa valleys. The history and origins of these temples are entirely unknown, however locals pass stories of them being connected to an ancient, legendary dimension known as the Shadow Oasis. Nobody seems to know just what the inside of this dimension holds, but it's a rich part of Far Peaks culture. If you live there, or have even just visited there, you will know about this dimension's existence.