The northern portion of this continent is a large frozen wasteland surrounded by a vast sea of ice and to the south a majestic mountain range that stretches from coast to coast. These brilliant white mountains with their sheer and often vertical cliffs pierce the clouds and appear across the continent like a giant set of jagged teeth. This image is what the nomadic tribes north of the range use to derive their name for the mountains, The Maw. To the southerners it is called the Brialyn Barrier and is the northern border of Orinvale.
Near the center of the range, the ground opens up into a vast crevice that travels miles south and at its widest spans dozens of yards. The depths of the crevice are black, so inky and all consuming light doesn’t penetrate far before it too is swallowed. Along both sides is, what remains of, a sparse forest of sickly trees that get closer and more dense as they approach the edge of the opening. The trees continue over the edge of the crevice and into the depths as if it was attempting to consume the entire world through the opening. If it weren’t for the intense darkness one would notice trees that have continued to grow from the walls of the opening like massive living spikes. From the west coast of Jardinal to this point are considered the wilds of the continent. Both beautiful and dangerous, the wilds long ago were deemed too untameable to settle.
At the southern tip of the crevice lays a city marking the western border of Orinvale, Undergate. The city , capital of the Western Kingdom, is split by a large road, known as the Kings' Causeway, that is gated at either end within the city proper and continues on to the east to the coast. Undergate, takes its name from the stories about the crevice saying that it was created in a long forgotten war where things from the Underworld, or even another plane of existence, were summoned by a very powerful, very foolish, magic user. The soldiers housed in the city’s barracks are renowned amongst the three kingdoms as the most lethal fighting force in the land, if the smallest, The Darkhand. The Hand’s prowess is the only thing that maintains Undergate and the surrounding land keeping it safe from the things that occasionally creep out of the darkness.
Further to the east, about three weeks by foot, sits a peak of moderate height. While normally this peak would be indistinguishable from any other with the exception of three semi-circular walls one after the other. Nearing the mountain small wisps of smoke that waft from various points along the peak, black squares cut into the rock face. Upon a closer inspection some of the natural formations were slightly cleaner and more deliberate than other mountains. These structures are what make this particular mountain stand apart. This mountain is known by even the lowliest peasant as the Great Mountain City, Navandzor. The entire front face of the mountain is part of the visible city, as well as the three walls, rings that expand out from the base of the mountain, the Rings of Navandzor. The third wonder of the mountain is a massive pavilion that extends out from the mountain, five stories above the ground, the Glistening Pavilion Market. This mountain city is the crown jewel of the northern kingdom.
At the opposite end of the Kings' Causeway, the coast of the Ririn Ocean, and the port city of Joora, capital of the Eastern Kingdom. The city is built into the seaside cliffs, that span from the Brialyn Barrier about thirty leagues. The city is mostly on top of the cliffs, the docks however are at sea level and stretch out like slender fingers reaching for the depths. A large cavern a short ways south of the docks is where one can find Joora Seagate Shipwrite. Sheltered from the often disastrous sea storms, the famous shipbuilding refuge is guarded by the cavern in which it is located as well as a massive gate that will seal off the opening from both storms and thieves.
To the south is found the dense Ceis Forest that spans from coast to coast. The ancient trees stretch to the sky. Their branches reach out to touch the next. The dense canopy fights letting anything through even the light. Even on the clearest of days the forest floor seems to be in perpetual twilight until the evening hours when the darkness is second only to that of the depths found in the massive crevice to the north. Due to the forest’s density and the lack of proper lighting travelers often go missing within its borders easily becoming disoriented and turned around. Many attribute this to fell spirits, bloodthirsty creatures, and even sirens living among the trees luring in the unsuspecting or those weak of will.
Despite the superstitions some call this forest home. From the upper canopy halfway down the trees still leave Ce’ellian well out of reach of any uninvited guests. The Forest City is home to the best hunters and trackers in the land and none dispute that the forest as their kingdom despite not being part of Orinvale proper. Every Ellian man, woman, and child knows how to handle a knife and bow at a minimum. As with anything found within the Ceis Forest, Ellians are rumored to have supernatural camouflaging skills, though no non-Ellian has ever proven such a rumor. Some say that the inhabitants of the city are spawned right from the tree themselves, and when they wish to hide they melt right into the trunk or other greenery. The tree people guard themselves around any not of the forest, but are not overtly hostile. They prefer allow the rumors to keep others on the best behavior. It works, partially due to the rumors and partially do to the lethal skill with which the Ellians handle weapons .
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