Post by Admin on Oct 7, 2015 20:58:40 GMT
Introduction
Few people have been able to perceive the threads that bind the world together. Fewer still have been able to step back and view the tapestry of the world in its entirety. What connects the squirrel that desperately hoards its food before the winter to the trout swimming upriver to spawn a half a world away? How does the stream compare to the Eldebarath? There are those who believe that they will be able to view and understand the complexity of Ashaerya when they die. Then there are others who will study a single mountain all their lives only to discover that it is made of stone. The mysteries of Ashaerya are too numerous to count. However, anyone who has looked at trees and saw a forest; looked at grass and saw a plain; or looked at the stars and saw constellations, knows that there is artistry to the world. Open your eyes and you will see chaos; blink once, you will see shapes; blink again and you will see order; take one step and the chaos returns. In the end, how we define the world means nothing and everything.
Welcome to Ashaerya.
Nature
Nature on Ashaerya is quite a confusing force. It has everything that people would consider normal. It has lakes, streams, mountains, forests, deserts, etc., yet they never seem to be the same from one day to the next. Natural events, such as earthquakes and volcano eruptions are frequent, which have wreaked havoc on sentient populations. Many doomsday prophets have come and gone because of this earthquake, or that firey rain. Others wonder if the world is just now being born. Those most attuned to nature are often the least likely to explain it. To them, nature is a wave, and all you can do is ride it, or drown.
Regions
Continent of Elyssa
Astahar: A region populated primarily by Humans, Astahar is a desolate, unforgiving place. It sits in the far east of the continent of Ellysa.
The Steppes - The Steppes is a vast plain of small rolling hills and grass that sits directly west of Astahar. It is a much calmer, peaceful place than its neighbor to the east as it is not prone to destructive natural events. This area is home to most sentient races, and is the least politically controlled area on all of Ashaerya. The Elves of Aeslindorn lay claim to the land in name, and are the Steppes' primary race, but the other inhabitants of the Steppes do not feel controlled by them.
[/i] Vajori. This place is quite literally shrouded in mystery, even though it seems like a pleasant place at first glance. Few people have been able to perceive the threads that bind the world together. Fewer still have been able to step back and view the tapestry of the world in its entirety. What connects the squirrel that desperately hoards its food before the winter to the trout swimming upriver to spawn a half a world away? How does the stream compare to the Eldebarath? There are those who believe that they will be able to view and understand the complexity of Ashaerya when they die. Then there are others who will study a single mountain all their lives only to discover that it is made of stone. The mysteries of Ashaerya are too numerous to count. However, anyone who has looked at trees and saw a forest; looked at grass and saw a plain; or looked at the stars and saw constellations, knows that there is artistry to the world. Open your eyes and you will see chaos; blink once, you will see shapes; blink again and you will see order; take one step and the chaos returns. In the end, how we define the world means nothing and everything.
Welcome to Ashaerya.
Nature
Nature on Ashaerya is quite a confusing force. It has everything that people would consider normal. It has lakes, streams, mountains, forests, deserts, etc., yet they never seem to be the same from one day to the next. Natural events, such as earthquakes and volcano eruptions are frequent, which have wreaked havoc on sentient populations. Many doomsday prophets have come and gone because of this earthquake, or that firey rain. Others wonder if the world is just now being born. Those most attuned to nature are often the least likely to explain it. To them, nature is a wave, and all you can do is ride it, or drown.
Regions
Continent of Elyssa
Astahar: A region populated primarily by Humans, Astahar is a desolate, unforgiving place. It sits in the far east of the continent of Ellysa.
- Calder: The northernmost region of Astahar is a vast rocky tundra. The cold climate and prolific snowdrifts often hide the frequent shifts in nature below. Earthquakes are common in this area. Only the brave and completely crazy people dare to live here. However, those who do tend to be the finest survivors. The local populations gather together mostly in fishing villages. Others cling to the hot springs that dot the area. Most of Calder is considered to be uninhabitable, and much of it has gone unexplored. Aside from the climate itself, the greatest threat to the Calder region of Astahar are the native Orcs.
- Thulansun: The relatively flat southern border of Calder turns upwards into the silver-white peaks of the region of Thulansun. This area is dominated by the Sembel Mountains, as well as vast and unpredictable cave systems. The Sembel Mountains are known for the occasional tremor, but the most prolific natural event is the lava flow. Earthblood (an old Dwarven term for lava) often flows out of the many cave systems in the area, and pools in the many valleys in the mountains. The valleys between mountains is often vast, which offer some fertile farmland. Unfortunately, there are few such valleys, and even they are rocky. Only the most versatile crops can grow in Thulansun. Thulansun boasts the largest Human population in Astahar, who use the sparse farmland as their means of survival.
- Hashidi: The easternmost region of Astahar cascades down the mountains and into the last habitable region known as Hashidi. The base of the mountains are relatively lush, and offer some fertile ground for agriculture. Past that last oasis lies the arid, wind-blown desert the Humans call the Yearning. The desert received its enigmatic name from the Humans who settled the region many centuries before. The ever-shifting desert seemed like a wasteland, but it was as if the ground itself wanted something. Water traveling eastward seems to disappear after a certain point, either evaporating into the air quickly, or being absorbed into the ground in vast quantities. The inhabitants often tell stories about the sand like it was a living organism. Nothing of note grows in the Yearning, but that does not stop both people, animals and creatures from trying.
The Steppes - The Steppes is a vast plain of small rolling hills and grass that sits directly west of Astahar. It is a much calmer, peaceful place than its neighbor to the east as it is not prone to destructive natural events. This area is home to most sentient races, and is the least politically controlled area on all of Ashaerya. The Elves of Aeslindorn lay claim to the land in name, and are the Steppes' primary race, but the other inhabitants of the Steppes do not feel controlled by them.
- Dormund's Deep: This vast chasm was named after a Dwarven god who supposedly saw the sky through a crack in his earthen ceiling, and became afraid. Dormund wished to mend the earth, so he reached up through the crack and grabbed the moon to fill it. But when the moon collided with the earth, it shook, and made the crack impossibly wide. The rubble crumbled under the weight of the moon, trapping Dormund below. The legend tells that whenever and wherever there is an earthquake, that is Dormund trying to break free. Most Dwarves laugh at this legend.
The chasm itself spans a hundred miles or more from northeast to southwest. Its widest point is almost a thousand feet. Suffice it to say, the Deep is an enormous gash in the ground. Bridges line the Deep in various places. Many races have tried to gap the Deep, but the ones that stand the test of time are the ones built by the Dwarves. They seem to be able to shift and move whenever Dormund has a bad day. Some of the deepest parts of the chasm cannot be seen with the naked eye. One can often see holes on the side of the chasm wall where the Dwarves have carved through, as well as stoney steps from those openings leading up to the surface. A merchant village that lines both sides of the Deep, known as Waypoint is a frequent stop for the ever-migrant Dwarves. It is a place of relative peace where anyone can live and sell their wares. There is always an uproar when new groups of Dwarves arrive from below, however, as they tend to bring strange items from distant lands. - Weeping Plains:
[li]River Calderim:[/li] The Astaharian province of Calder lies several hundred feet above the Steppes. As a result, melting snow from the southwestern most border of Calder finds its way into a grand river that expands the entire length of the Steppes. Several branches of the river course into Dormund's Deep, creating magnificent (and often bottomless) waterfalls. There are some places where the River is so deep, it can be seen spilling out of cracks in the great chasm's walls. It is home to many different kinds of water life. Aside from fish, clams and other assorted water species, there are more than a few legends about water folk rising from the depths to both save and kill innocent travelers. The Calderim is one of the main sources of quick travel across the Steppes. However, it is a fast-flowing river, and can be treacherous in many places where it gets too rocky. Few bargemen can boast knowing its entire length. Many have died trying. The many branches of the Calderim are home to most of the Steppes' sentient populations. Most are small villages or hamlets that focus on fishing and family.
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Aeslindorn: Located in the northwestern corner of Ellysa, Aeslindorn is a wonder of nature. The Elves of Aeslindorn are masters of natural manipulations, and have created ecosystems and even structures that would seem unnatural if they were not so beautiful. Despite it's northern location on the continent, Aeslindorn is surprisingly temperate. Though there is snow in the winter, it never seems to accumulate too much, nor does it get too cold. The same is true for the summer; it never gets too hot or muggy. The Halflings from the southern continent of Shallasar occasionally visit Aeslindorn and blanch at it. To them, especially their famous druids, Aeslindorn seems artificial.
- Oenthasa:
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Ethermark: This southwestern province of the Ellysan continent is a rather dreary place. The Calderim River flows through the Steppes and essentially dumps into the Ethermark, creating a capillary-like system of streams that eventually turn into a large swamp. The northern region of the Ethermark is relatively temperate and lush thanks to its border with the ever-beautiful Aeslindorn. The southern region, however, is wet, humid and has a distinct rotten odor that you never seems to allow you to go nose-blind. The Elves of Aeslindorn refer to this neighboring province as "Qelarim," or "shit-land." The Humans who call this land home named it the Ethermark due to their belief that something great and mystical lives in the bogs.
- Osenberg: This region is the border between Aeslindorn and the thickest portion of the Ethermark. It is a vibrant swath of land, with the kind of fertile soil that allows exotic plants to thrive. The Humans who inhabit Osenberg are particularly covetous of the Zelus plant since it produces a sweet fruit that is much beloved in neighboring Aeslindorn. In fact, it is whispered that the Elves of Aeslindorn did not grant their Human slaves freedom; they simply relocated them to Osenberg for agricultural purposes. The ever-vigilant Humans scoff at that idea, and every time they hear it, they sell the Zelus fruit to the Elvesfor a silver piece instead of a few copper. Despite the quiet disdain shared between the Humans and the Elves, Osenberg remains a peaceful place.
- The Glittering Bog: Although the name of this region is slightly oxymoronic, it is strangely appropriate. Wisps are visible day and night. The native Humans once thought the Wisp had an ominous meaning. But after years and years of living near them, they have become desensitized to them. Another reason why the Bog is considered glittering is that people seem to lose things in the Bog. The Humans joke that when something has gone lost in their home, "the Bog took it." The Bog is nothing to joke about, though. It is not just rumored, but also confirmed that a dark-scaled dragon lives in the deepest part. The Humans of Osenberg are not known for their draconology, so they cannot be certain of the type of dragon. None have been brave or stupid enough to go find out, either. However, when the name "Annaredrax" is whispered, souls chill.
Continent of Shallasar
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