Along Mahear’s eastern border sprawls the Gravetop Mountains, a nigh-untraversable region of jagged peaks and steep cliffs. Traversing this terrain is fraught with danger; even a prepared mountaineer may find the journey life-threatening. Scattered throughout the landscape are the remnants of ancient Calderaen ruins, black markers of veiled history that remain largely unexplored due to the mountains’ unforgiving nature.
The Gravetop Mountains have long served as Mahear’s greatest defence against Thelean reclamation campaigns. Their perilous expanse has forced invading forces to seek alternative routes: either through Mahear’s northern neighbour, Bercus, or across the seas.
However, blind trust in its security has been Mahear’s downfall before. History tells of Thelon the Great who moved his army through what is now known as Thelon Pass to circumvent the main Mahearean defence line and strike with devastating force at their rear. The manoeuvre cost Thelon dearly, claiming much of his army during the journey. Yet, the war ended with Mahear’s subjugation, marking its place as a province within its empire. Though his victory reshaped Mahear’s fate, its annexation into the Thelean Empire was never meant to last.