The Schodni Mountains form the central part of Atelon's eastern mountain range. The Darjevka Mountains lie to the south and east of the Schodnis and the Polonoc Mountains lie to the north.
The Schodnis are 1200 km inland and run northerly for 2800 km between the Guer River to the east and the Inari River to the west. The Guer River valley separates the Darjevka Mountains from the Schodnis. The Brissa Gap is a wide lowland opening in the Eastern Range carved by the Brissa River. It divides the Schodnis from the Polonoc Mountains .
The Eastern Range consists primarily of alpine meadows and forests. The southern portions of the Schodni Mountains are penetrated by the lowland river valley of the Sonse River and is a mixture of small cultivated farm holdings and deciduous hardwood forests.
The Northern Area
Jerhez, Cerek and Gradec are generally grouped together as the Northern Workings of the Schodni Mountains, although mountains and high ridges separate them from each other and limit their contact with one another.
Jerhez is the northernmost of the workings and occupies a wide upland plateau cut by the Dro Brissa River. It is the point of departure for travelers to Korslik and the Polonoc Workings.
Jerhez is located along the eastern arm of the Schodni Uplands known as the Kenor Morsk. The uplands here are gentle hill country, descending gradually to lower elevations on the east and more dramatically on the west. Mt. Zatow, with an elevation of 842 m., dominates the northern point of the Morsk and affords a view of the Brissa Gap and the Brissa Valley. The Banakur Forest reaches to the eastern fringe of Jerhez but thins quickly into isolated stands and woodlots. Mt. Limat, with an elevation of 1073 m., marks the southern boundary of Jerhez. Mt. Limat is the northernmost extension of the Droghkos Ridge, a steep ridgeline that continues south along the eastern front of the Schodnis to the headwaters of the Vari River. The western boundary of Jerhez extends across the upper Dro Brissa valley to the base of Mt. Tiszar, elevation 1273 m.
Cerek is on the western face of the Schodnis, in a compact area cut from the mountains by the Kapice River. It is one of the most isolated of the workings, with poor connections to its neighbors and to the Gornarod Track.
Cerek is nestled into a small pocket of open rolling land, shaped by the Kapice River. To the north and east is Mt. Tiszar and the ridge that forms its shoulders. To the south is Mt. Esevar, elevation 1538 m., and the highest point in the northern Schodni Workings. Cekek is open to the west, where the Kapice Plateau descends gradually to the broad lowland plains of Kempelani.
North of Mt. Tiszar is the western arm of the Schodni upland, named the Balinor Morsk. This area is sparsely settled and has limited ties to Cerek. It is very hilly, dropping steeply to the plains on the west and to the valley of the Serava River on the east. Mt. Balkra, elevation 768 m., rises up near the northern tip of Balinor and overlooks the western mouth of the Brissa Gap.
Gradec is also off the main road, in a long narrow area formed by the Dunsta River on the eastern face of the mountains. Unlike Cerek, it has connections to Jerhez along the Risdar River valley; and to Holsovic by a narrow but easy pass. In recent times, Gradec’s merchants have maintained a limited but profitable trade with Gens Tamroti of the Banakur Forest, using the Dunsta River as a trade route.
Gradec occupies a long narrow space on the eastern side of the Droghkos Ridge. Four peaks mark the line of the Ridge. The most northern is Mt. Limat. Next are the twin mountains of Mt. Zoljarken, elevation 1128 m., and Mt. Barjarken, elevation 1195 m. Farthest to the south is Mt. Kiwac, elevation 1208 m. In the north, the country is rolling and descends gradually into the heart of the Banakur Forest. The upper reaches of the Dunsta River and its broad valley dominate the center. The south is more rugged, as the ridgeline fall off steeply to the valley of the upper Vari River. The south is heavily forested by the Banakur, which climbs high up the hillsides.
Three important rivers flow out of the Northern Schodni Workings. Two, the Dro Brissa and the Dunsta are part of the Vari River system and flow easterly. The Kapice River flows to the west till it joins the Dikou River system, in the Kempelani Plain.
The Risdarand the Radova rivers are small tributaries of the Dunsta River. The Risdar flows down from Mt. Limat, carving a gap in the Droghkos Ridge through which the road to Gradecconnects to the Gornarod Track. The Radova starts in the base of the Kenor Morsk.
Another small river, the Orsha, begins on Mt. Zatow and flows east to the Vari River.
Finally, the Serava River flows from Mt. Tiszar, down the east side of the Balinor Morsk, carving a steep valley until it turns west into the open country of the western Brissa Gap. Just beyond the Gap, it joins with the Dikou River.
The Gornarod Track follows the central plateau of the Schodnis from the Working of Holsovic to the Working of Jerhez, a distance of 600 km. From Jerhez, the road follows the western side of the Kenor Morsk to the base of Mt. Zatow, a distance of 472 km. At Mt. Zatow, the road turns west and descends into the Brissa Gap and on to Korslik. It is roughly 120 km. across the open lowlands from Mt. Zatow to Korslik.
Cerek and Gradec are well off the main road. It is 136 km from the Track to Cerek and 402 km. to Gradec. Gradec also has a direct road to Holsovic, through a narrow pass in the Droghkos Ridge. This road is almost 250 km in length.
