Post by Mr Darke on Apr 2, 2015 10:46:55 GMT -5
Here is where I will be posting about the lands and environs about the city. I will try to keep everything in this post for ease and post when I update. As is usual, questions and comments are welcome.
The Lake of Storms
The Lake of Storms is a large freshwater lake that is actually the remnants of a primordial sea. It covers an area of approximately 95,000sq miles and has been used for years as a shipping lane between countries and kingdoms. The lake gets its name from the storms that develop over it and move out far beyond the coasts. This weather can range from overcast conditions to severe storms and tornadoes and can happen at a moment's notice.
Another unique aspect of the lake is that sea life that was trapped when the former ocean dried up evolved to live in fresh water. Animals such as sharks, squid, octopi and whales live in the lake and rival the sizes of their ocean counterparts. This has lead to a unique fishing industry in the area as well as many sages and nobles coming to see these creatures.
The city of Raven's Keep sits on the southern shore of the lake (the dot on the map) where it has some of the largest shipping and fishing docks. During the Wars of Ascension the city was used as a staging area for campaigns in the north and in the battles to control the lake. While Raven's Keep is not the only city or settlement on the lake, it is the largest and currently most important.
The Karstlands
The Karstlands also Tir Calon (tentative name) is the name of a loose confederation of counties, states and family held areas covering some 47,000 square miles of territory. It is made up of low lying mountains, river valleys, caves and spring fed rivers. The forests are a mix of deciduous and evergreen trees as well as many types of plants that date back to an ancient age. Fauna is a wide range of creatures that characterize the midland nature of the region and are representative of the area being a crossroads for the continent.
Before the Wars of Ascension the land was a semi-autonomous state allied with the Alardane Empire. It was soon after the wars began that the Karstlands declared independence and tried to stay neutral in the conflict. This would begin a long series of skirmishes and invasions that would pit the land against many enemies. The culminated into two battles that would give the lands a decisive victory. The Battle of Escone Valley saw the end of the Taurine invasion and the Battle of Hart's Grove would see to the end of the remaining Alardane forces occupying the lands. Soon after a treaty signed in Raven's Keep recognized the Karstlands and both an autonomous nation and a region of its own. Many soldiers left pondering how a loose knit group of farmers, craftsmen and 'outlaws' could beat organized military forces.
Today the Karstlands is organizing into a confederation of the counties and sub-regions that make the lands up knowing that the days of separation are over. The biggest push for this has come from Governor Alexander Hidel, formerly of Corinth, and Lady Katherine Oriens of Hart's Grove. Together that have signed not only the main regions of the Karstlands but the nations of Evervale and the elves of the Northlands to the alliance.
However not all is good in the lands. Bandits remain that are made up of former army units, monsters and humanoids patrol the forests and the caves are proving that many hold gates to the underworld. The three main cities of the Karstlands (Raven's Keep, Corinth and Queen's City) are skeptical of the confederation and have chosen to be free cities rather than sign the Confederation Charter. As the lands rebuild from the wars and choose their destinies many things must come into place for the land to succeed.
The Lake of Storms
The Lake of Storms is a large freshwater lake that is actually the remnants of a primordial sea. It covers an area of approximately 95,000sq miles and has been used for years as a shipping lane between countries and kingdoms. The lake gets its name from the storms that develop over it and move out far beyond the coasts. This weather can range from overcast conditions to severe storms and tornadoes and can happen at a moment's notice.
Another unique aspect of the lake is that sea life that was trapped when the former ocean dried up evolved to live in fresh water. Animals such as sharks, squid, octopi and whales live in the lake and rival the sizes of their ocean counterparts. This has lead to a unique fishing industry in the area as well as many sages and nobles coming to see these creatures.
The city of Raven's Keep sits on the southern shore of the lake (the dot on the map) where it has some of the largest shipping and fishing docks. During the Wars of Ascension the city was used as a staging area for campaigns in the north and in the battles to control the lake. While Raven's Keep is not the only city or settlement on the lake, it is the largest and currently most important.
The Karstlands
The Karstlands also Tir Calon (tentative name) is the name of a loose confederation of counties, states and family held areas covering some 47,000 square miles of territory. It is made up of low lying mountains, river valleys, caves and spring fed rivers. The forests are a mix of deciduous and evergreen trees as well as many types of plants that date back to an ancient age. Fauna is a wide range of creatures that characterize the midland nature of the region and are representative of the area being a crossroads for the continent.
Before the Wars of Ascension the land was a semi-autonomous state allied with the Alardane Empire. It was soon after the wars began that the Karstlands declared independence and tried to stay neutral in the conflict. This would begin a long series of skirmishes and invasions that would pit the land against many enemies. The culminated into two battles that would give the lands a decisive victory. The Battle of Escone Valley saw the end of the Taurine invasion and the Battle of Hart's Grove would see to the end of the remaining Alardane forces occupying the lands. Soon after a treaty signed in Raven's Keep recognized the Karstlands and both an autonomous nation and a region of its own. Many soldiers left pondering how a loose knit group of farmers, craftsmen and 'outlaws' could beat organized military forces.
Today the Karstlands is organizing into a confederation of the counties and sub-regions that make the lands up knowing that the days of separation are over. The biggest push for this has come from Governor Alexander Hidel, formerly of Corinth, and Lady Katherine Oriens of Hart's Grove. Together that have signed not only the main regions of the Karstlands but the nations of Evervale and the elves of the Northlands to the alliance.
However not all is good in the lands. Bandits remain that are made up of former army units, monsters and humanoids patrol the forests and the caves are proving that many hold gates to the underworld. The three main cities of the Karstlands (Raven's Keep, Corinth and Queen's City) are skeptical of the confederation and have chosen to be free cities rather than sign the Confederation Charter. As the lands rebuild from the wars and choose their destinies many things must come into place for the land to succeed.
Thank you