Kalesten
Kalesten is west of Thiskel and bordered on the east by the vast Tonult Ocean. The northern portion of the continent is inhabited by humans and broken up into several nations. Kalesten is also inhabited by Zaedyn, Brech’mar, Ochae’nafod, Dra’nafod, Eain’Idayn, Fayl’Idayn, Oir’Idayn, Ur’Idayn, Kiar, Kuzo, and Iengi. Connected to the southeastern corner of Kalesten is the sub-continent of Ertia, which is separated from the rest of Kalesten by sheer cliffs, rugged mountains, and the dense Ardir Forest.
Lands of Kaius
The northern most portion of Kalesten consists of coniferous forests and steppes, and is claimed by the Kaius barbarian tribes. The northern peninsula peaks above the arctic circle and is covered by the Kaius Mountains, a dense, high-reaching craggy range that is sparsely inhabited by some heartier Brech’mar tribes. The mountains are also home to many dragons, including their namesake dragon, the drake Kaius, whom the barbarians regard as their god. South of the mountains, the Lands of Kaius become steppe in center of their lands, and forests along the coastlines. A few Ochae’nafod tribes inhabit the forested areas. The Kaius barbarians are the most populous of the region, with many tribes and clans. Many of the steppe tribes are nomadic, wandering north and south with the seasons, while the coastal tribes are more established in villages.
A number of rivers and streams run down from sources in the Kaius Mountains, and into the Green Sea several hundred miles south, most notably the Tonnum, Quathery, and Velemray rivers which eventually merge into the Lyteus River that feeds into the Green Sea. The only true city of the Kaius people, Oni’kel, is located near the point at which the Quathery and Velemray rivers merge and become the Lyteus River.
To the east of the Lyteus is a wide band of unclaimed land, left untouched by the southern nations, and often uninhabited by the Kaius. The region is known as the Neutral Zone and acts as a buffer between the southern nations and barbarian raiders. To the west of the river is the nation of Samonight.
Green Sea
This large inland sea is centered in the eastern region of Kalesten, and is fed freshwater by the Lyteus River from the north, and empties into the ocean through the Siol River to the southwest and Vies River to the northeast. Bordering the sea is the Kalestine Empire to the west, Samonight to the east, Kosony to the south, and Lands of Kaius to the north. The region surrounding the sea is mostly open farmland and a mix of deciduous and coniferous forests. The region around the Siol river is mostly swamp.
Kosony & The Ardir Forest
To the south of the Green Sea is the nation of Kosony, which stretches to the Ardir Forest. The Ardir is inhabited predominantly by the Fayl’Idayn, but also many tribes of Ochae’nafod and Dra’nafod. This stretch of land climbs in altitude steadily as you travel southward, as the sub-continent of Ertia to the south has wedged itself beneath Kalesten, resulting in the creation of a plateau. At its highest, the plateau ends in high cliffs and intractable mountains that separate Ertia from Kalesten.
Ertia
At the foot of the plateau lies a broad, mostly flat continent that reaches into the tropics. To the northeast is lush jungles inhabited by exotic Ochae’nafod tribes and Asath, while most of the continent is tropical grassland, and smaller areas of jungle. Several rivers flow from sources in the mountains. The greater river that flows toward the southeast is the Useru, and the large river to the east is the Najoja. Only three human nations claim Ertia; the old nation of Ertia on the northwestern coast (which once claimed the entire sub-continent), Samdra to the southeast, and Shyon which claims much of central, south, and western Ertia. Several tribes of Ochae’nafod live in the grasslands to the north, far deeper into the grasslands than Shyon settlements will dare reach.
Western Kalesten
The rest of the northern portion of the Kalesten continents points southwest. The central region, made up of nations such as the Kalestine Empire, Isbany, Rheneld, and Chawoven is often referred to as the Heartland as its fertile grounds have kept it well-populated by humans for hundreds of years. Many nations have risen and fallen until giving way to the countries that fill the Heartland now, but the land is much the same. From the west bank of the Green Sea to the Polnal River is mostly pasture and woodland, claimed currently by the Kalestine Empire and Isbany. South of the Polnal River, two mountain ranges rise along the north and south coasts of Kalesten; the Gayntos on the north and the Perdrasers to the south. In between the two ranges is the fertile valley that is claimed by Chawoven. On the northeastern end of the Gayntos is the nation of Rheneld, which has a mix of rolling pastureland and denser forests near the mountains. On the north side of the Gayntos mountains, along Kalesten’s central northern coast is the nation of Emkal, which is afforded some seclusion with the mountain range nearly surrounding their southern borders.
The southern Perdraser Range serves as Chawoven’s southern border. On the coastal side is the nation of Agenom which has a slightly warmer climate (Mediterranean) than their neighbors to the north. Zaedyn, Brech’mar, Ochae’nafod, Dra’nafod, Kuzo, and a few Iengi call the mountains and surrounding forests home.
From the far western edge of the Perdraser Range flows the Eora River, which after a few hundred miles splits in two. The southern Eora arcs down to the thin isthmus of Central Kalesten, providing a natural border for western Agenom before splitting once more and emptying into the sea on either side of the isthmus. The northern Eora flows westward, cutting through the nation of Belvon and into Serdenaugh where it meets the sea. Much of the land in the west is currently unclaimed open prairie, home to Kiar villages and some small herds of Eain’Idayn. Outside the northern border of Belvon, near the southwestern end of the Gayntos Mountains is the Beon forest, which is inhabited by Ochae’nafod, Dra’nafod, and Eain’Idayn.
Central Kalesten Isthmus
This long, narrow stretch of land that connects the two larger sections of the continent of Kalesten is covered in sub-tropical and tropical grassland and beaches. The two south forks of the Eora River are a barrier to many travelers (though also serve as a canal for ships), and isolate the peoples that live to the south, such as the Oir’Idayn and more primitive human tribes. This region is also home to Eain’Idayn and some Ochae’nafod tribes.
Southern Kalesten
At the end of the isthmus is a sub-continent only slightly smaller than the northern portion of the continent. Nearly the entire region is covered in rainforest. The thick southwestern peninsula has a mountain range along its southern coast. The direct south of the sub-continent is a small peninsular delta which flows into the southern ocean. The southeast of the sub-continent is a longer, thinner, curving peninsula with two small mountain ranges and is covered partially in rainforest, grassland and swampland.
There are no human nations here, only the remnants of an ancient civilization that was eradicated by the Ur’Idayn. The forest is also inhabited by the Samiss and Ochae’nafod tribes. The mountains are also home to a few Zaedyn cities.