Andriath's Geography
The Frozen Caverns
Location: The Northmost point of the Water Continent.
Description: Vast and beautiful, these caves stretch across the endless miles of the north point of the water continent. Ever caked in a sinister ice, they shimmer with the rising and setting sun. A seemingly alluring but dangerous place to be. Many hundreds of wanderers have entered this network of eternally frozen caves and never returned.
The origin of these caves is in a slightly rising terrain, as they were made naturally by the ever shifting plates of the world. An unnatural chill settles here and the winds moan through the treacherous, ice slicked rocks as though some supernal chorus of lost souls had gathered to sing a final lament.
History: These caves, though beautiful in nature, carry a more vile and deadly side. Many vast armies have, in a foolish attempt to invade the Water Continent at its weakest point, entered, though none have returned. It is said in myth that Aidon created the ever stretching vaults of death and perril to lure her enemies in for an attack and destroy them in the ever twisting caverns.
The Coral Rings of Farinthia
Location: Outside of the center reef of Andriath.
Description: It would seem that the Goddess of the Ocean took a paintbrush and whisked it along the shores of Andriath, blanketing Her waters in a multihued coral reef. The sun and moons shine enthusiastically ‘pon the rainbow flecked coral, illuminating a breathtaking twinkle upon the sands of Her beaches. The Rings of Farinthia stretch for days out passed where the average eyes can see, tunneling deep into the ocean’s tears.
History: Farinthia, or the “Coral Kingdom”, as the land-dwellers would say. For thousands of years, the coral directly off of the coast of Andriath, the main land mass of Water, has formed a complicated maze in such a way that it has been possible for the people of Aidon to form an entire kingdom beneath it. It had taken nearly two centuries to carve into the delicate coral so that it would not cave into the workers, or rather, in Farinthia, the “Tears.”
But why was it necessary to manifest a city underneath the ocean’s vaporous depths? Ages ago, when Balorin’s people were not so peaceful, a civil war erupted hidden within Balorin’s royal family. Before the city’s kingdom switched houses to the Tragulds, two cousins, strongly intertwined into Balorin’s family tree, felt that it was a wicked trade for another bloodline to sprout its vines into a city already settled. They fought for what they had believed in, only to lose, and quickly scattered to the Coral Rings. The cousins quickly devised various preparations to form the beautiful discs of the ocean into a base for war, to retaliate against the healing Balorin. However, the news of General Farinthia Balorin’s sudden death brought an emotional plague upon the rising coral city. And soon, Aidon, with her mighty wisdom, washed away their hate for the country which they sprouted from with a great wave, dissipating all plans of evisceration of their parent town. Now the city is just beginning to economically swim with its own fins, standing alone in the ocean.
However, the word of the city of Farinthia did not spread far, since it has lost almost all communication with Balorin and other cities close to its shores. Now the people of Fou Lu only look upon it as the gravesite of many vigorous soldiers, and dare not step into the caves of the Coral Rings.
Dzanator's Last Peak
Location: Northwest of Mernasun on the continent of Water.
Description: Northwest of the Mernasun Empire lies a mountain, where the peak is so high that it cannot ever been seen from the ground. Or even from as far up as anyone has gotten, as no one has ever made it even remotely close to the top. A constant aura, tingling with an ancient, foreboding sense flows about the entirety of the mountain. This sensation grows stronger the higher you are on the mountain. The very rock seems to be etched with veins of glimmering amethyst crystals; everywhere you look, of a multitude of colors ranging from purple to blue. In other words, this place is no place to go on a stroll or bird watching.
History: There is little that can be said about Dzanator’s Last Peak. The mountain was flung into the Water continent when Dzanator was teleported back from the Realm of Dreams, once Thanatos regained his mind, bringing balance back to the realm of Fou Lu. Along with the other portions of Dzanator, there is much mystery concerning exactly what happened to them. No one really knows what to say about the mountain, save for it’s a place where no one that attempts to brave it comes back the same. Atop the peak, where no one has ever been remotely close to reaching, resides one of the Psychic crystals; forged of brilliant amethyst gleaming with rays of the sun along its multifaceted structure.
Goddess Falls
Location: Southwestern penninsula of the Water Continent, linking to a river leading to the sea.
Description: A gigantic waterfall that plummets over 400 feet to the ground, roiling waves crashing against the shores on each side of the river connected to it. It's water is gorgeously crystalline in appearance, the droplets rising into the air gleam and glisten with refracted rays of the sun. This has been the site of many marriages over the years, and is well kept and studied by enviornmentalists world-round. The vegetation on the sides of the river are lush and vibrant, droplets of water caught upon the leaves of many bushes and ferns create a beautiful effect admired by passerby constantly.
History: Dio, after another argument with Aidon, decided to cause a huge earthquake in the middle of one of her forests, more out of spite and anger than anything else. He centered it upon one of her favorite rivers, hoping to drive the waters into the earth itself, an act that would've driven Aidon into a state of depression. Unfortunately for him, the spell didn't function as he had planned originally, simply creating a huge cliff-face with an unwantinly gorgeous waterfall running of it. Aidon, not wanting to let an oppourtunity to annoy Dio go unnoticed, lavished her every attention upon the area, blessing the water with her beauty and poise, so it was always pure and gifting the surrounding area with amazing foliage, giving a gentle, graceful atmosphere of beauty to the region. And thus became named the Goddess Falls.
The Falls of Kallenbach
Location: An island north of Andriath, west of the Frozen Caverns.
Description: Located near the center of an ice covered isle, the Falls of Kallenbach is a series of waterfalls that, starting high above sea level, plunges deep underground into an expansive subterranean lake that stretches beneath the entire island. Small underground streams and run-offs flow from the lake and back into the ocean. The waterfalls originate from one large river that is divided into a number of smaller brooks by large masses of ice, mud and snow.
History: Long ago an exploring party traveled through the northern expanses of the Water continent. It was led by Fred Kallenbach, a wealthy nobel. When the party came across the falls, they were entranced by their beauty. Careless, Kallenbach got too near the edge and almost fell to his death, but he was rescued by one of the peasants brought on the trip to carry supplies. Quite uncharacteristically, Kallenbach offered to name the falls after this man, Arthur Regus, to show his gratitude. Unfortunately, the party was caught in an avalanche on the return trip, and the only survivor was Regus. He traveled alone back to the city where the party had set out from, but when the city officials heard his story, they refused to believe that Kallenbach was killed in an avalanche. They accused Regus murdering him, and he was promptly hanged. Then, in honor of the fallen nobel Fred Kallenbach, they named his greatest discovery after him.
The Thille Forest
Location: North of the core of Derendil; Sha-Liden. West of Conopoco and the Farinthian Alliance.
Description: The forest is thick, as the Naftara River runs freely through it. The foliage is rich and green, and in many parts often to travel through. The brush and thorns that run deep within the roots of the wood make it an almost impassable wall. It is recently used for protective purposes for the Mihr Viyar people of Conopoco. But the people of Derendil are also using it to their advantage, seeing it as a barrier for their kingdom. Many stories are told of this forest and some men attempt to find the truth of the lore, hoping to find the spirits of the wood.
History: It is an old forest to the world, but has recently has the forest's dense wood been found. It was always known that a forest stood there, as airships commonly drifted above it, but the unbelievable difficulty to journey through it was not known until men of Derendil “conquered” it, by finding the small town of Conopoco.
The people of Derendil had found that it was a very old forest, according to the Mihr Viyars, but it was not always so dark and thick. They believe a curse has been laid down on the wood. They also say that great creatures slumber deep within, and must not be awakened.
Small parties of the Derendilian Army have been sent out to venture for these supposed creatures and their power, but nothing has been found. Although it is not a kingdom of magic, it seems rather odd for them to be searching for something so magical. For whatever reason, they do not take folklore lightly.
Today it stands in its foreboding glory, every leaf and bush standing ever still.
The Frozen Forest
Location: North of Balorin, south of the Falls of Kallenbach.
Description: The forest itself is a very old one. Ancient trees only sprinkle the landscape, now mainly devoured by years and years of snow and ice. Some creatures still endure the extreme colds, though those are nearly just as ancient as the trees themselves. A constant cold front flows out from the Frozen Caverns north of the Frozen Forest, and many believe that is to blame for the once beautiful woods to become so barren.
History: A mostly unremarkable history. It was once a lush, green place that many traveled through to get to the Falls of Kallenbach. But now most have little to no meaning into venturing to the Frozen Forest. It is a mystical place, much like the Thille Forest, full of Hands of Fate and ancient beasts. Who discovered the forest is unknown, but the likelihood of it being a few vagabonds and miscreants looking for treasure is a likely story, which is also told by many. What purpose would ancient beasts have anyway, if it were not for guarding treasure?
Mernasun Ruins
Location: East of Farinthia and south of Worcheston.
Description: The Mernasun Ruins was once a great city of streams and rivers, beautiful buildings that reflected the beauty of Aidon, and an enormous church dedicated to devout worship and the healing of the sick. Now the city lies in waste, crushed buildings and clogged waterways being the only tribute to the former glory of Mernasun. Not a single building is fit for true occupancy these days, but possibly provides housing adequate enough for goblins or possibly even abhor here and there. The rest of the races would require at least a roof before they chose to make this their home. That’s something that the Mernasun Ruins lack, these days.
The skeletal remains of boats can be spotted in random areas, many far from the streams that were used as a means of transportation through the city, rather than streets. The wood is decaying steadily, rotting away to nothing more and more with each passing day. A sizeable crater marks the central section of the Mernasun Ruins, giving insight as to the events that befell this once beautiful place.
History: Mernasun has quite the vague history before the day it was destroyed. Not a single record can be found that details when Mernasun was constructed, or even why. The city was so old and not a person living at that time could recall anything about why it was there, but yet it stood. Many believed that it was a gift from Aidon herself, to her children, and as such a monastery and church were both erected to provide healing to the sick and injured, and to teach the religion of Aidonism to any who would listen.
However, during the events that transpired through The Blood Wars, Mernasun was laid to waste at the decree of Asmodean. He had received a report that several Winglies that had sustained injury during the war were holed up in the monastery and church, receiving healing from the Aidonites of Mernasun. In a fit of anger and rage, he had the city obliterated by a group of mages banded together, which happened to be of the fire element. At his order, they combined their strengths and dropped a volatile fireball on the city, which exploded on impact and tore into everything surrounding with the force of the detonation.
At the time the streams that were used as streets had become evaporated, only filling again during the years afterward but many were dammed up by shattered stone that had once belonged to a building. Everyone that occupied the city was killed simply for providing healing to the formerly proud Winglies, and no one has attempted to return Mernasun to its former glory. Maybe they don’t attempt it due to fear, or superstition, believing it to be a somewhat haunted place, occupied already by the souls of innocent men and women who’s lives were cut short by the order of a tyrant.
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