The Great Wonders of the World of Skârn
Feb 9, 2018 0:17:21 GMT -5
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Post by Hexenritter Verlag on Feb 9, 2018 0:17:21 GMT -5
The Great Wonders of Skârn: [Note: This post is meant to be historic, as much of this has been excised from the revised world of Skârn & tweaked to fit World of Xôðûn campaign setting instead.]
There are several great wonders that populate of the world of Skârn. First is Khârnag, the turtle island home to the great magi and sage, Sándor the Wanderer.
Secondly, is the Behemoth, a colossus creature with a stony hide on whose back lays the black tower of the dark sorcerer Azor’Sikar. Its body sprouts wings to fly its master from place to place.
Thirdly, are the great air whales, called Leviathans, upon their pod leader Abbir’s back, resides the great air elementalist Styrmir the windrider. The Leviathans have stone like deposits that cover their bodies, which are home to an avian race of winged folk the Āvandiir who protect the Leviathans & trade with other peoples during their travels.
Fourthly, there are the nine Great Worms (divine dragons) who guard portals to other planes of existence & rule over a race of draconic shape-shifters who are descended from each Great Worm. The Great Worms of Skârn are: Mong’Zhuul, Rathvorgund, Bhakriscarva, Zyxisrotha, Kreel’Chalar, Xan’Phong, Šindkarth, Slithmakana & the Elder Great Worm mother of dragons, Maalkeya.
There are also various geographical wonders that dot Skârn, such as the following within the Khaladon continental region: First is the Pit of Ür-Goth or AKA the Great Abyss; in which lies the sealed gate to the Abyssal plane of Ür-Tarkor. The taint of the pit corrupts those who reside near its lip. Dire & twisted versions of creatures great & small populate the region & roam outward to spread terror as they seek prey. Also mutants & dark sorcerers have created corrupt societies within its tainted lands. There are feral barbaric tribes who raid & war upon each other. That is when they are not out raiding other communities outside the Abyssal taints reach, yet are too near to be safe; to the twisted cities, which are controlled by perverse cults or sorcerous cabals in the region. The sane & righteous keep clear from the Pit & its surrounding lands. The ‘Pit of Ür-Goth’ lies in the greater ‘Wastes of Vuul’ (wastes of ruin) & lie within the western reaches of the ‘Empire of Arkhon’ to its east; while it is bordered to the west & south by the ‘Great Blood Desert’.
Another geographical local is the Sky Isle of Arghēsōs, one of the largest clusters of sky islands in Skârn. On the largest Island in the cluster, lies the sky city of Athlōs, home to the great college of Magic & is ruled by the council of Magi. The City of Athlōs has the largest & most powerful sky-ship armadas. The grand market of Athlōs is a popular destination for sky-ship based merchant princes, most of which come from the Empires of Arkhon & Khalidûr, as well as Ord’Mong & the Āvandiir of the Leviathans.
Air piracy is forbidden within the surrounding airspace with Athlosite navy patrols being frequent. The Isle of Arghēsōs is also home to a wide variety of flying creatures, most of whom are mainly benign in nature. A large number of griffins live within the outer Islands & those trained by the Order of the Gryphon, and serve as mounts for their Knights.
Thirdly, is the Great Blood Desert, a wide region of blood red sand & broken red stone wasteland. It is believed be the epicenter of a major battle during the War of the Gods, thus creating a magically infused wasteland. The region is dotted with numerous ruins hidden under its shifting sands. It is also home to the mysterious & nomadic Tar’Shuul tribes, the Sorcerers of Zhorim & the Ssul’lenim of the city of Khalreb. Many dire creatures also live within the desert of Blood harassing those who brave the sands for trade & seek to plunder the hidden treasures within the cursed ruins that dot the Blood Desert. It is also home to the second largest concentration of sky islands on Skârn.
Fourth, is the ‘Colossus of Kilat’ which is located in the ‘Straits of Kilat’ between the ‘Gulf of Ranûk’ & ‘Sea of Mourning’. The ‘Colosus of Kilat’ marks the resting place of the Emperor Kilat of the ancient ‘Empire of Tanjara’ that spanned the southern reaches of what is now the Arkhonian Empire & northwestern region of Mong’Zuul Jungle. The ‘Colosus of Kilat’ is carved out of a massive stone that thrusts out of the straits; it is carved into the form of Kilat kneeling facing east in honor his personal god the Sun God. It was created by his son & heir Emperor Vadru, it was infused with magic thus it has withstood time & the elements. The key to open the crypt has been lost so its secrets have been lost to the passage of time.
There are several great wonders that populate of the world of Skârn. First is Khârnag, the turtle island home to the great magi and sage, Sándor the Wanderer.
Secondly, is the Behemoth, a colossus creature with a stony hide on whose back lays the black tower of the dark sorcerer Azor’Sikar. Its body sprouts wings to fly its master from place to place.
Thirdly, are the great air whales, called Leviathans, upon their pod leader Abbir’s back, resides the great air elementalist Styrmir the windrider. The Leviathans have stone like deposits that cover their bodies, which are home to an avian race of winged folk the Āvandiir who protect the Leviathans & trade with other peoples during their travels.
Fourthly, there are the nine Great Worms (divine dragons) who guard portals to other planes of existence & rule over a race of draconic shape-shifters who are descended from each Great Worm. The Great Worms of Skârn are: Mong’Zhuul, Rathvorgund, Bhakriscarva, Zyxisrotha, Kreel’Chalar, Xan’Phong, Šindkarth, Slithmakana & the Elder Great Worm mother of dragons, Maalkeya.
There are also various geographical wonders that dot Skârn, such as the following within the Khaladon continental region: First is the Pit of Ür-Goth or AKA the Great Abyss; in which lies the sealed gate to the Abyssal plane of Ür-Tarkor. The taint of the pit corrupts those who reside near its lip. Dire & twisted versions of creatures great & small populate the region & roam outward to spread terror as they seek prey. Also mutants & dark sorcerers have created corrupt societies within its tainted lands. There are feral barbaric tribes who raid & war upon each other. That is when they are not out raiding other communities outside the Abyssal taints reach, yet are too near to be safe; to the twisted cities, which are controlled by perverse cults or sorcerous cabals in the region. The sane & righteous keep clear from the Pit & its surrounding lands. The ‘Pit of Ür-Goth’ lies in the greater ‘Wastes of Vuul’ (wastes of ruin) & lie within the western reaches of the ‘Empire of Arkhon’ to its east; while it is bordered to the west & south by the ‘Great Blood Desert’.
Another geographical local is the Sky Isle of Arghēsōs, one of the largest clusters of sky islands in Skârn. On the largest Island in the cluster, lies the sky city of Athlōs, home to the great college of Magic & is ruled by the council of Magi. The City of Athlōs has the largest & most powerful sky-ship armadas. The grand market of Athlōs is a popular destination for sky-ship based merchant princes, most of which come from the Empires of Arkhon & Khalidûr, as well as Ord’Mong & the Āvandiir of the Leviathans.
Air piracy is forbidden within the surrounding airspace with Athlosite navy patrols being frequent. The Isle of Arghēsōs is also home to a wide variety of flying creatures, most of whom are mainly benign in nature. A large number of griffins live within the outer Islands & those trained by the Order of the Gryphon, and serve as mounts for their Knights.
Thirdly, is the Great Blood Desert, a wide region of blood red sand & broken red stone wasteland. It is believed be the epicenter of a major battle during the War of the Gods, thus creating a magically infused wasteland. The region is dotted with numerous ruins hidden under its shifting sands. It is also home to the mysterious & nomadic Tar’Shuul tribes, the Sorcerers of Zhorim & the Ssul’lenim of the city of Khalreb. Many dire creatures also live within the desert of Blood harassing those who brave the sands for trade & seek to plunder the hidden treasures within the cursed ruins that dot the Blood Desert. It is also home to the second largest concentration of sky islands on Skârn.
Fourth, is the ‘Colossus of Kilat’ which is located in the ‘Straits of Kilat’ between the ‘Gulf of Ranûk’ & ‘Sea of Mourning’. The ‘Colosus of Kilat’ marks the resting place of the Emperor Kilat of the ancient ‘Empire of Tanjara’ that spanned the southern reaches of what is now the Arkhonian Empire & northwestern region of Mong’Zuul Jungle. The ‘Colosus of Kilat’ is carved out of a massive stone that thrusts out of the straits; it is carved into the form of Kilat kneeling facing east in honor his personal god the Sun God. It was created by his son & heir Emperor Vadru, it was infused with magic thus it has withstood time & the elements. The key to open the crypt has been lost so its secrets have been lost to the passage of time.