Continents

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World of Aserra
Continents

Post by World of Aserra » Sun Feb 06, 2011 12:14 am

Continents
Aserra is slightly larger than Earth, with four continents that are rather closely bunched together, as Aserra’s plate tectonics are less active than those here on Earth. The largest continent is Thiskel, central to the others. To the southwest of Thiskel is the remnant of Ageond—now commonly referred to as the Forsaken Land—and many island chains that are left of the continents mountain ranges all along the west of Thiskel. To the east of Thiskel is the hook-shaped continent of Kalesten. Aserra’s arctic is occupied by the continent of Athok, while the antarctic is home to only a massive icecap. Kalesten, most of Thiskel, and the more habitable regions of Athok dominate the eastern hemisphere of the planet, while Ageond, the rest of Thiskel, and the Tonult ocean fill the western hemisphere.

Ageond was once a much larger continent, but it also held the highest population of Danaij, therefore the greatest influence of the Goddess of Darkness, Ispa, and her children. During the War of the Gods, Ispa drew upon the population of Ageond to create an army to slaughter the races belonging to her siblings, the other six Elemental Gods. So, to protect their peoples and decimate her forces, the other gods united to sink Ageond. They succeeded in sinking most of the continent, but the southern-most portion survived the cataclysm, and the gods let it be. Sea levels around the world dropped to fill the new void, and the climate warmed significantly from the volcanic activity, melting the ice caps. This event caused great upheaval in Aserra, but with the protection of their gods, the peoples of Aserra survived to see the world regain balance.

The remaining fragment of the continent is known as the Forsaken Land today, and is permanently cloaked in dark clouds by the will of Ispa. To the north, former mountain tops remained, later becoming archipelagos that provide a rough outline of the continent that used to exist. The Forsaken Land is around the same size as Australia.

Thiskel is now the largest continent, which is broken into two sub-continents connected by a small isthmus. The northern half of the continent ranges from arctic to temperate, and is around the same size as North America. The southern half of Thiskel is quite large and broad, mostly occupied by the massive Great Desert. A large peninsula to the south is covered by tropical rainforests.

Kalesten is a rather narrow continent with a hook-like shape. The sub-continent of Ertia forms the bottom of the hook and is kept separate of the rest of northern Kalesten by the high Ertian plateau and intractable Ardir Forest. Northern Kalesten is the top of the hook, a continent of temperate forest and prairie. Southwards, a long isthmus leads down to the southern part of the continent which is thick with jungle.

The arctic continent of Athok is at the top of the world, with a peninsula which sits like a wedge in the ocean between Thiskel and Kalesten. It is solely inhabited by the Aeul’Idayn.
World of Aserra

Thiskel

Post by World of Aserra » Sat Mar 03, 2012 7:19 pm

[To be added]
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Kalesten

Post by World of Aserra » Sat Mar 03, 2012 7:20 pm

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.
World of Aserra

Ageond - Forsaken Land

Post by World of Aserra » Sat Mar 03, 2012 7:32 pm

Ageond – Forsaken Land
This small continent was once a part of a larger continent that was sunk thousands of years ago through the concerted efforts of the elemental gods during the War of the Gods. Ageond, the former continent, was the homeland of the Danaij, and home to many other races, but when Ispa incited a war amongst the gods, the Danaij and other races of darkness conquered, slaughtered, and drove out the races who did not share their religion. As a last ditch effort to destroy the armies of darkness, the elemental gods razed and sank Ageond while their brother, Idraen, defeated Ispa.

However, the entire continent wasn’t destroyed. Though most of it lays beneath the ocean, the small southern tip of the continent was spared, and there are many islands scattered throughout the new ocean that are all that remain of mountain ranges. The remnant, now known as the Forsaken Land, is an island-continent slightly larger than Australia, and through the power of the dark gods, it is a land shrouded in dark clouds.

Danaij, Danaij’vai, humans, vampires, and Asath that managed to survive the war rebuilt their nations that had been wholly devastated and began their societies anew. The land is broken up into several nations divided by race, but they all share the same religion of darkness.

Desert of Black Sand
The northern region of the Forsaken Land is mostly desert, which was once a grassland in the heart of Ageond. In the ensuing burning, and subsequent sinking of the continent, the grassland became a desert, and the black volcanic rock from the sinking of Ageond was eventually ground to sand, leaving the desert and beach most markedly black.

The largest river in the Forsaken Land, the Nasip, flows from a mountain source, down to the lowlands, then cuts through the center of the desert, then pours out into a delta as the desert slopes down into the ocean. The desert is near sea level, and the land steadily rises upwards to the south, cresting at a range of high, jagged mountains that follow along the west and south coasts.

The desert is not a hot desert, but a barren wasteland where few plants can find a foothold to grow. However, there are lifeforms that manage to survive and flourish in this cruel environment. The desert is often victim to severe sandstorms.

East Coast - Ny’skel Mountains
The east coast of the Forsaken land rises up from the desert, and on the north-eastern tip is the small mountainous region of Ny’skel, which is the remains of a much larger mountain range. If one travels north, a sprinkling of islands up along the coast of Thiskel marks what else is left of this mountain range. The Ny’skel range blocks most access—short of a broad pass long what is now a cliff pass on the north coast—to a small human nation on the upper east coast called Rilema.

East Coast - Kiran
On the south side of the Ny’skel is the northern border of the Danaij nation of Kiran which occupies the rest of the east. There is a small human nation ruled by a vampire lord that is carved out of Kiran and sits on the east coast. The borders of Kiran to the north are narrow, keeping a distance away from the desert before it broadens into the heart of the nation, which is nestled in a valley between the southern arc the long Ormiss mountain range that goes down the west coast and an offshoot called the Kixes Mountains. The nation of Kiran also contains two major rivers; the Neasit which flows from the Kixes Mountains, going north-east from the mountains to empty into the ocean on the east coast; and the Aldeti which flows from another source on the southern side of the Kixes, cuts across the southern part of the valley and flows into the ocean on the southeast. The Aldeti also provides a natural border for two nations of Danaij’vai, which are further separated by broad, but short river that flows down from the Ormiss mountains and merges into the Aldeti.

Most of the Kiran lands, as well as the rest of the continent, is forested with dark-needled conifers, though there is some open space between the edges of the desert and the forestland. The northern reaches of Kiran are steppes and hilly prairie until it rises into higher altitudes and transitions into forest.

Ormiss Mountains
The Ormiss Mountains are a long, high, craggy mountain range that follow along the west coast and down to the south of the Forsaken Land. When the continent of Ageond was whole, they reached several hundred miles further north, and the remains of this lost portion can be found as islands just north of the Forsaken Land.

There are two off-shoots of the Ormiss Mountains; the northern range being the Fisay, and several hundred miles south is the Kixes range. The valley between the northern arch of the Ormiss and the Fisay is occupied by the small Danaij nation of Nalxad; between the Fisay and Kixes is the nation of Mairax, and between the Kixes and the southern arch of the Ormiss is the nation of Kiran.

Rivers
The Ormiss and its connected ranges are also the source of many rivers. Starting from the north is the Samim and Hatal rivers. The Hatal River starts in the west of the Fisay Mountains and flows northwestwards through the heart of Nalxad, then forks north and northwest, the northwest becoming the Samim River, which cuts through the north of the Ormiss range, creating a deep canyon, then empties into the sea on the northernmost point of the continent. The Hatal continues on slightly northeasterly, and is joined by a short river that flows from the end of the Fisay range before emptying into the sea.

The largest river in the continent is the Nasip, which has its source in the Kixes Mountains, flowing from the Mairax nation and cutting straight through the center of the island, through the desert, and emptying into the ocean from the central north coast at the lowest point of land, where it fans out into a delta.

In the lands of Kiran, there are two major rivers. The northern river, the Neasit, flows from the end of the Kixes range on a mostly easterly path where it empties into the ocean in the east coast. The second and southernmost river of the Forsaken Land is the Aldeti, which flows from a southern point of the Kixes and cuts a natural border through the southern most point of the Kiran valley, separating Kiran from the Danaij’vai lands. There is another small river that follows from the Ormiss mountains and merges into the Aldeti, which then flows on a southeasterly course and empties into the ocean in the south.
World of Aserra

Athok

Post by World of Aserra » Sat Mar 03, 2012 8:30 pm

Athok
Situated near the top of the world, Athok is a frozen wasteland, for the most part, covered in ice sheets. The north pole of Aserra lays just a few miles off the northern shore of Athok, though it is constantly covered in ice. Most of the continent sits above the arctic circle, aside from a few hundred miles of the southernmost peninsula. Athok is situated to the northeast of Thiskel and northwest of Kalesten, and could be easily reached in a short sea voyage in the summer. However, the arctic ice sheets extend over the entirety of the continent and its surrounding seas (even so far as the northernmost reaches of Thiskel and Kalesten) in the winter. In especially cold winters, it is possible to cross the ice from the Kaius Mountains in Kalesten to Athok. In the summer, the ice retreats inland to Athok, exposing bare shore and tundra in the peninsula.

Athok has two mountain ranges. On the east coast are the Undryn Mountains, and on the west, the shorter range of Adril Mountains. Much of central Athok is covered by a massive glacier. When the summer brings thaws, glacial water tends to follow into exposed riverbeds on the peninsular tundra.

The Aeul’Idayn are the only race to make a home on this continent, and their survival without migration can be mainly attributed to their gifts granted from Fria, the Goddess of Winter. They have several villages scattered along the southern peninsula’s coasts, but the majority of their population lives in a glorious city of ice at the edge of the glacier, high in the southern reaches of the Undryn Mountains. Their city, Druill, is a fortress shaped from ice, both sturdy and artistic in its design. Druill has been built upon for thousands of years, spreading and towering higher and higher over the original foundation laid down by the Aeul’Idayn after their pact with Fria.
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