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Arauwiel is a relatively fair sized continent at 2,150 miles/3,460 kilometers wide at its broadest and 3,000 miles/4,828 kilometers at its tallest. It is a land of diverse climates and inhabitants. Each area has it's unique characteristic the
creatures living there must adapt with or perish by their hands. This post details the various realms of Arauwiel and their attributes. Please keep in mind this post is only temporary until the Geography pages are fully coded. Further details about each area will be on the Geography pages; these are a rough outline for RP purposes.
Glacialands: The frozen north of the continent is streaked with numerous glaciers, hence its name. Algid temperatures and few resources drive off most dragons and animals alike from venturing too far within it's frigid depth. However, the few who have chosen this land as their home know there is more than meets the eye and have mastered the art of surviving on the icy fringes.
Afrsien Isles: A pair of islands east of the Glacialands and located within their namesake, the Afrsien Waters. Each of the Isles is comprised of two separate islands, but due to the similarities in climate and landscape between them, they are often grouped together as one. The Isles in the north vary from those in the south significantly in their architecture.
Aliwyrn Forest: This massive boreal forest of firs, spruce, and tamaracks separates the frigid Glacialands from the rest of Arauwiel. Snow decorates the forest on the boundary before transitioning to slightly warmer woodlands and blending into the Tiracien Groves. The land is rich with deer, moose, hare, squirrels, and other animals for prey.
Alicasar Plains: A vast, moist grassland devoid of trees, shrubs, and containing a few rocky outcrops to hide in. Being to the western shores of Lake Seriwia and having the Strait of Gahnjirr on its own, the humid climate provides the plains with plenty of water and precipitation.
Alaesia Peninsula: Budging off the Kairahan Wastes, this sun-ravaged Peninsula is still covered in scorching sands. Along the cooler coastlines, small grassy beaches subsist amidst the heat and waves. Whatever persists here is likely to find little resources for sustenance, but the grainy roots are at least something.
Kairahan Wastes: The southern portion of the continent is dominated by a vast, scorched land where the earth is baked dry by the perpetual rays of the relentless sun. Among the scalding spires of parched rock, twisted canyons twist across the landscape. Daytime is hell, but the nights are surprisingly cool and pleasant... at least until the sun rises.
Lareasien: Over the Strait of Gahnjirr, the island of Lareasien is quite an unremarkable place. It is a grassy prairie aided by the warm ocean currents and heat from the Kairahan Wastes. Most would pass it by, but the islands are home to many nesting seabirds, pinnipeds, and some freshwater fish in the island's central lake.
Resident Dragons: None currently.
Morderiths: The proud and ominous backbone of Arauwiel, this mountain range extends across the duration of the continent. Their towering summits have enticed the bold to surpass them and have brought the mightiest to their knees. In all the land, there is no natural force equivocal to the raw, untamed power of the Morderiths.
Riuana: Nothing more than a patch of coarse shrubbery, bushes, and low trees, the costal island off the eastern coast is a breeding hole for rodents and songbirds. Unique to Riuana, minute natural orchards streak the bushes as fruit is abundant amidst the primal conditions found on the island.
Resident Dragons: None currently.
Tiracien Groves: In the shadow of the Aliwyrn Forest, the verdant Groves are a temperate deciduous forest alive with aspens, maples, and birches. The forest is relatively open and sparser than it's kin up north. Flowering clearings intermittently break up the trees and several brooks dot the forest floor.
Tiruan Expanse: Sprawling below the Morderiths are the flowering expanse of trees, shrubs, and grasses known for their especially succulent hares and downy moss. The region is notably drier than it's western counterparts, but the moist ocean winds and local lakes keep the area hydrated and blossoming.
Seas, Oceans and other Waterways: Connecting the earthy parts of Arauwiel are a number of rivers, straits, oceans, and other waterways. Some are not tied to specific regions and each has their own conditions which must be learned if one desired to go swimming in their currents.
- Click on map for fullsize -
Arauwiel is a relatively fair sized continent at 2,150 miles/3,460 kilometers wide at its broadest and 3,000 miles/4,828 kilometers at its tallest. It is a land of diverse climates and inhabitants. Each area has it's unique characteristic the
creatures living there must adapt with or perish by their hands. This post details the various realms of Arauwiel and their attributes. Please keep in mind this post is only temporary until the Geography pages are fully coded. Further details about each area will be on the Geography pages; these are a rough outline for RP purposes.
Glacialands: The frozen north of the continent is streaked with numerous glaciers, hence its name. Algid temperatures and few resources drive off most dragons and animals alike from venturing too far within it's frigid depth. However, the few who have chosen this land as their home know there is more than meets the eye and have mastered the art of surviving on the icy fringes.
- Briaweaths: A small mountain range in the far north of the Glacialands east of Firth Riegan. It is constantly sheathed in ice and infamous for its glaciers which seem to grow grander here than they do anywhere else in Arauwiel. Avalanches are common and steep icefalls make the area hazardous for those not trained in navigating icy terrain.
- Ethevia River: A frozen river extending from the beginning foothills of the Morderiths. The river has many tributaries, channels, and small streams that funnel into it before it drains into the eastern portion of Dythor Seas. It extends into the Aliwyrn Forest down south and is ripe with crayfish, shrimp, arctic fish, and plants for inhabitants to feast on.
- Firth Riegan: A sequestered area nestled between the Briaweaths and the Sirethians. Icebergs are a regular occurence in the area from glaciers fracturing off into the Firth. More so than other waters in the Glacialands, the Firth is particularly beneficial for its countless sources of food. Polar whales, arctic cod, and salmon flock to feast on krill, shellfish, and small fish in the rich waters.
- Reiwdn: A solitary mountain peak north of the Ethevia River. No one is quite sure how it got there, but it's rumored to be the last remnant of the western Sirethians. It is surprisingly rocky and contains many perilous cliffs and rock faces to unwittingly stumble upon... or over.
- Sirethians: A moderate sized mountain range on the western shores of Firth Riegan. Glaciers frequently shed into the Firth and the ground often trembles with their cracking. They are a combination of ice and rock worn smooth at their base by the waters of the Firth. The rocky foothills provide the majority of the nutrients responsible for the variety of food in the firth.
- Ziaveth Narrows: A series of rivers draining out to the Afrsien Waters and a tributary that feeds into Lake Kisimir. It dominates the eastern portion of the Glacialands and is known for it's complex waterways. Compared to other rivers in the region, the Narrows are rather desolate and provide little in terms of nourishment.
Afrsien Isles: A pair of islands east of the Glacialands and located within their namesake, the Afrsien Waters. Each of the Isles is comprised of two separate islands, but due to the similarities in climate and landscape between them, they are often grouped together as one. The Isles in the north vary from those in the south significantly in their architecture.
- North Afrsien Isles: Much akin to the Glacialands, the northern islands are covered in ice. They are permanently bound in cracked glaciers and tales recount the labyrinthine network of crevasses and fractures on the islands. Due to the constant, no plants or animals can gain a proper foothold and those that do never stay long.
- South Afrsien Isles: Warmer than its northern counterpart, the southern portion of the Isles remain a series of sheer crumbling shale, limestone, and chalk cliffs. Miraculously a few trees and grasses have taken root among the cliffs and provide some greenery to the otherwise monotone islands.
Aliwyrn Forest: This massive boreal forest of firs, spruce, and tamaracks separates the frigid Glacialands from the rest of Arauwiel. Snow decorates the forest on the boundary before transitioning to slightly warmer woodlands and blending into the Tiracien Groves. The land is rich with deer, moose, hare, squirrels, and other animals for prey.
- Vardovan Rapids: Rapid white waters usually dot the banks of this river. It flows straight down from the foothills of the Morderiths, spreading out over the forest and resulting in many turbulent rivers, brooks, and small streams in the area before draining into Lake Seriwia.
- Lake Seriwia: A deep lake in the middle of the continent with rocky shores. The depths are covered in vibrant coral alcoves, underwater caves, kelp and seaweed forests, and schools of fish. While the lake is deep, most of the rocky overhangs do not penetrate the darkness and the sun heats the upper waters pleasantly.
Alicasar Plains: A vast, moist grassland devoid of trees, shrubs, and containing a few rocky outcrops to hide in. Being to the western shores of Lake Seriwia and having the Strait of Gahnjirr on its own, the humid climate provides the plains with plenty of water and precipitation.
- Faoviel Brooks: Trickling through the grasslands, the Brooks provide the plains with a source of water and add a small change of scenery to the otherwise changeless plains. The waters are crisp, refreshing, and lined with boulders worn smooth by the constant currents. It breaks into a small delta near the Strait.
Alaesia Peninsula: Budging off the Kairahan Wastes, this sun-ravaged Peninsula is still covered in scorching sands. Along the cooler coastlines, small grassy beaches subsist amidst the heat and waves. Whatever persists here is likely to find little resources for sustenance, but the grainy roots are at least something.
- Thiadon Shrubsands: Sequestered away from the rest of Arauwiel, this odd combination of sand and shrubland makes up the tip of the Peninsula. The area is wetter than most of the wastes due to the ocean currents, but other than scattered crabs, pinnipeds, and seagulls, there is little of interest here.
Kairahan Wastes: The southern portion of the continent is dominated by a vast, scorched land where the earth is baked dry by the perpetual rays of the relentless sun. Among the scalding spires of parched rock, twisted canyons twist across the landscape. Daytime is hell, but the nights are surprisingly cool and pleasant... at least until the sun rises.
- Kaalec Pool: For some unknown reason, a small oasis has been able to sustain itself in the western edges of the desert. The pool is seasonal and can be a mere mud bed where there used to be sand. In times of drought, it disappears altogether from the wastes. However, it usually exists in some form and lends a place to quench a poor traveller's thrist.
- Kaalec Trickle: The infamous Trickle is so named because it is a tiny tributary of Noveth Flows, barely worth the notice, that feeds the Kaalc Pool and supplies it with water. Due to its lack of strong currents and narrow shores, the Trickle has a tendency to dry up without warning before returning shortly after. A few sparse plants dot the banks and lungfish savor the muddy waters.
- Kairahan River: Another tributary of Noveth Flows, this mid-level river runs through the heart of the desert. The banks are clogged with mud, grit, and wet sand while the currents are teeming with resilient fish, plants, and other aquatic life. Although the water level can vary daily, the river never runs dry except in instances of extreme drought.
- Koedtym Outlook: Far on the eastern side of the desert, a tiny outlook jutts into Haerth Harbor. Elevated above the rest of the wastes, the outlook provides a stunning panorama of the hot sands while enjoying a rare costal breeze. Steep cliffs make the place a slight hazard, but otherwise it is a slice of peace in the middle of heated chaos.
- Trieva Canyon: Just beyond the shores of the Kaalec Pool, a deep sandstone canyon has gouged out the earth. Stratified bands of tan, cream, brown and gold mark the twisting maze of the canyonlands and the various rocky nooks inbetween them. The bottom has telltale signs of an old riverbed long dried up due to the desert heat.
Lareasien: Over the Strait of Gahnjirr, the island of Lareasien is quite an unremarkable place. It is a grassy prairie aided by the warm ocean currents and heat from the Kairahan Wastes. Most would pass it by, but the islands are home to many nesting seabirds, pinnipeds, and some freshwater fish in the island's central lake.
Resident Dragons: None currently.
Morderiths: The proud and ominous backbone of Arauwiel, this mountain range extends across the duration of the continent. Their towering summits have enticed the bold to surpass them and have brought the mightiest to their knees. In all the land, there is no natural force equivocal to the raw, untamed power of the Morderiths.
- Northern: The spine begins in the Glacialands. Their foothills are steep and fraught with glacier crevasses before giving way to stiffer peaks down south. They are prone to whip up tumultuous wind currents and violent gusts capable of permanently grounding even the most capable of fliers.
- Central: Along side the forests that sprawl across the heart of the landmass, the mountains are tame. Snow-capped peaks hide a plethora of caves inside their stony fortress and the winds here, although still formidable, are at least navigable. Snowsabres, pikas, alpine deer, and hares make their homes in this section and, thus, allow the mountains to be habitable.
- Southern: Scorched canyonlands and sandstone spires are signature of the southern portion of the Morderiths. Within the harsh terrain of the Kairahan Wastes, the snowy mountains cave to the sun and mimick the rest of the barely livable landscape. Eventually, the foothills fade away into a series of dunes to mark the end of the range.
Riuana: Nothing more than a patch of coarse shrubbery, bushes, and low trees, the costal island off the eastern coast is a breeding hole for rodents and songbirds. Unique to Riuana, minute natural orchards streak the bushes as fruit is abundant amidst the primal conditions found on the island.
Resident Dragons: None currently.
Tiracien Groves: In the shadow of the Aliwyrn Forest, the verdant Groves are a temperate deciduous forest alive with aspens, maples, and birches. The forest is relatively open and sparser than it's kin up north. Flowering clearings intermittently break up the trees and several brooks dot the forest floor.
- Noveth Flows: The main river for this section is a peaceful giant which simply flows with curves of the land through the Groves. Originating at Lake Seriqia, an abundance of freshwater fish and aquatic plants make the gentle currents their home along with crayfish and crabs. Banks are wide and grassy, allowing creatures to safely approach the river's edge.
Tiruan Expanse: Sprawling below the Morderiths are the flowering expanse of trees, shrubs, and grasses known for their especially succulent hares and downy moss. The region is notably drier than it's western counterparts, but the moist ocean winds and local lakes keep the area hydrated and blossoming.
- Cape Uireal: A grassy, treeless, and windy cape that pushes out over the ocean and keeps Riuana tied to the mainland by a sliver of a strait. Strong sea breezes are characteristic of the province and waves on the beach are often high as a result of the conflicting winds.
- Lake Kisimir: Akin to Lake Seriwia, this large lake is the main source of water in the eartern half of the continent. Slightly more the north, it lacks the coral alcoves of it's sister and instead is covered in kelp, seaweed, and rocky embankments with pebbles for shores. Shrimp and crayfish enjoy the algae-rich waters as do perch, carp, sturgeon, and gar.
Seas, Oceans and other Waterways: Connecting the earthy parts of Arauwiel are a number of rivers, straits, oceans, and other waterways. Some are not tied to specific regions and each has their own conditions which must be learned if one desired to go swimming in their currents.
- Afrsien Waters: The temperate waters surrounding the Isles are likely where the Isles themselves received their name. Within the northern portion, icebergs drift in the currents while the southern portion is rather mild. Aquatic life thrives here as the waters are relatively shallow and permit wide kelp forests to grow off the rocky banks.
- Atriega Ocean: These waters are shallow and receive a lot of their heat from the winds off the Kairahan Wastes. Quite a few tropical fish, sharks, rays, and eels swim among the reefs and crags of coral while algae thrive on the nutrient-rich waters. Coral here is so numerous that it has a habit of giving the sea a pinkish tint in the right conditions.
- Dygthor Seas: Freezing currents of the north forbid most normal aquatic life from setting foot within them. However, some cod, salmon, pinnipeds, and arctic whales have adapted to the ice-ravaged currents in order to take advantage of the massive clouds of krill primarily found in these parts.
- Greywaves: It is unknown how far east this ocean extends and the savage fury is bound to ensure it remains a secret. Comprising nearly all of Arauwiel's eastern shores, the depths and waves are unrivaled in all other seas. The waters are notably poor in nutrients, allowing few lifeforms to survive far from the shores.
- Hearth Harbor: Formed by the Alaesia Peninsula and Koedtym Outlook, the Harbor is a warm haven for schooling fish to lay their eggs. The water here is special in it's crystalline quality which allows any visitor to see to the short distance to the bottom and through the Harbor with absolute accuracy and clarity.
- Strait of Gahnjirr: A dark abyss, the waters separating Lareasien from the mainland are actually a deep, underwater canyon. They are noticeably darker than elsewhere and strange squid and fish are rumored to lurk on the seafloor inbetween the rocky towers scattered across the area.
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