Map A.06 - Aryania

Incomplete map. Labels are a convenience until further design is applied.

Arctic region reaching from 82.34°N south to 72.51°N, entirely undiscovered by human civilisation. Includes the unknown islands of Aryania and the coast of Trakkatch Dran.

Hexes are 20 miles in diameter. Total area depicted equals 366,450 sq.m.

Features

Aryania Islands

These form a remote Arctic archipelago, lying between the Evenk Sea to the west and the Yukaghir Sea to the east. The islands are low-lying and composed primarily of permafrost-laden tundra, with vast stretches of barren, windswept plains interspersed with peat bogs and rocky outcrops. Coastal cliffs, shaped by relentless frost and erosion, overlook the surrounding ice-choked waters. The islands provide an ideal habitat for winter wolves, which thrive in the desolate, wind-scoured landscape, making snow burrows and emerging to hunt during the brief summer thaw.

The archipelago consists of several large islands along with numerous smaller islets and sandbars. The terrain is largely flat, with occasional low hills rising no more than a few hundred feet. Rivers and seasonal meltwater streams carve through the frozen ground, though many are shallow and freeze solid for much of the year. Permafrost dominates the subsurface, making vegetation sparse and limited to mosses, lichens and hardy Arctic grasses.

The islands experience extreme seasonal variations, with long, dark winters giving way to short, cold summers. The surrounding seas remain ice-covered for most of the year, with only a brief window in late summer when the ice temporarily recedes. Despite the harsh conditions, the islands serve as breeding grounds for migratory seabirds, and their coastal waters are home to seals, walruses and occasionally polar bears. The islands remain largely uninhabited, save for occasional transient groups who venture there in search of seasonal resources.

Evenk Sea

A marginal sea of the Arctic Ocean, the Evenk Sea extends eastward from the Aryania Islands. It is bordered to the west by the Aryania Strait, which connects it to the larger Arctic Basin and to the east by the frigid waters of the open ocean. The coastline is irregular and dotted with numerous inlets, peninsulas and estuaries formed by the slow-moving rivers that drain the northern tundra. The sea is relatively shallow, with an average depth of less than 200 metres, though deeper trenches and basins exist along its outer edge.

The Evenk Sea is characterised by extensive ice cover for much of the year. Winter brings nearly total ice formation, with thick pack ice and drifting floes that render navigation impossible. Even in summer, large ice fields remain, only fully melting in August and September. The cold, brackish waters are influenced by the influx of river systems, bringing significant sediment deposits and affecting salinity levels. The sea's tides are relatively weak, but strong winds and shifting currents can create hazardous conditions for vessels attempting passage.

Despite its harsh environment, the shores of the Evenk Sea support some isolated inhabitants. Norker populations, adapted to the extreme cold, inhabit much of the rugged coastline, subsisting on fishing, hunting marine mammals and scavenging the shorelines. In the far eastern reaches, small enclaves of elves maintain settlements, primarily near river mouths where seasonal fish migrations occur. Wildlife in the region includes seals, walruses and occasional polar bears, while seabirds nest on the coastal cliffs during the brief summer months.

Sea navigation is only feasible along the southern limits of the Evenk Sea, where seasonal ice retreat allows for a narrow window of passage from mid-July to early October. Even during this period, drifting icebergs remain a persistent threat. The sea remains largely unexplored, and its treacherous conditions ensure that only the most prepared expeditions dare to venture into its waters.

Yukaghir Sea

An arm of the Arctic Ocean, bounded by Samoyadia to the west and Trakkatch Dran to the south. It is a shallow body of water, with depths rarely exceeding 12 to 13 fathoms (22–24 metres) as far as 30 miles from shore. The seafloor is composed of silts and sands deposited by the major rivers that empty into the sea, contributing to low salinity and frequent sediment plumes.

The Yansk Sea, situated to the east, remains ice-free and navigable from August through most of September, allowing limited access to the Yukaghir Sea from that direction. However, ice conditions remain unpredictable, as pack ice and drifting bergs are often carried in from the frozen western expanse. The western approach to the Yukaghir Sea remains impassable year-round, as ice never fully retreats, forming an effective barrier to navigation.

The sea's climate is marked by extreme seasonal variations. In winter, temperatures plummet far below freezing, locking the region in thick ice, while in summer, the brief thaw reveals a stark, windswept landscape. Coastal erosion is a significant factor along the southern shores due to permafrost thaw and seasonal storm surges. Wildlife in the region includes migratory seabirds, marine mammals such as seals and beluga whales and occasional polar bears roaming the ice edges. Despite these natural challenges, the sea remains an important seasonal route for those willing to brave its shifting and often treacherous conditions.

Adjacent Maps

A5: Yukaghir Sea	A6: Aryania	A7: Evenk Sea
B7: Verkhoy Range	B8: Indigirka	B9: Anduin

See Sheet Maps