Mapvember 2022 Age of Defiance

Northern Ring Sanitoriums

(2. Cavern)
Once used in the ancient past by Freelanders to weather the Solar Swap then later re-discovered by legendary explorer Deres, this vast complex of calcite caverns nestled within the Northern Ring Glacier saw more recent-albeit notorious- use to house the many victims of the Genesis Plague centuries ago. Only the most desperate or foolhardy venture into the caverns these days, whether a Freelander seeking shelter from the elements or a youth goaded in a dare, the sanitoriums remain empty save for the abandoned implements used to keep plague victims restrained.

Wardens at Work by Mardrena

Youths often exchange scary stories of immortal plague victims still roaming the empty halls (which would be impossible due to the Warden's policies of amputating the arms and legs of the afflicted). A more popular folktale persists of a secretive sect of Wardens that still wear their full dererium armor and keep constant vigil for any who seek to follow the cursed path of Sening, Architect of Suffering, and mete out swift punishment to those who plumb the forbidden knowledge that wracked the entire city.

Planet Aguar

(7. Sea)

PlanetAguar.jpg

Planet Aguar by Mardrena

Made with LunarCell and Paint.net

Fifth planet in the Thurukian System and home to such great wonders such as the snowy-chinned whale, the graceful giant eel, and the monstrous drinocicanth. In both sea and on the marshy land dwell the aloof Kikua, or often simply referred to as Aguarians. The planet surface is mostly water with a smattering of land masses, reefs, shoals, sea mounts, and saltwater groves. Being so close to Thuruk 2 keeps the water quite warm year-round. There is some debate whether Aguar formed organically as an individual planet or was a cast-off moon of Thuruk 2 in its distant past as a gas giant.
All manner of sea-faring life proliferates throughout the waves. If Aguar has any great resources to exploit neither Thangiens nor Thunthen-the major superpowers of the system- have yet to find it. Kikua, while intelligent, are not particularly technically savvy and have no need for industry or refinement since the sea provides all. They have established moderate trade with the two space-faring races, since Aguar yields a bounty of rare compounds prized by Thangiens for medicinal purposes while Thunthen have attained a hankering for delectable seafood.
Kikua themselves have no specific name for the planet and simply accept "Aguar" as used by other races. The origin of the word itself is unknown, believed to be a corruption of "aqua" and "acquire". It could loosely be interpreted as "water-gift", which owes to the classical myth of Roth bequeathing most of Thanged's salt water to the Kikua in ancient times.

Dragon Master's Temple

(11. Dragon)

Yulie only dared open his eyes when he heard a reassuring chirp from White Wind. He looked up and saw the jagged face of a cliff as they flew through a fog-shrouded mountain range. “No, I trust you just fine. I just don’t trust my head to stay on my shoulders,” Yulie grimaced and ducked down, wary of stringy trees that grew out from the rock. One passed over his head a good distance, but Yulie cringed nonetheless. He glanced ahead and saw Razzie gliding through the mist like a festive kite. As they rounded a bend, a huge temple of vaguely ancient Chinese architecture came into view.

— Yulie's Tales Ch. 1

Nestled snugly on a colossal ledge in one corner of Thorolk's Great Chasm, this huge complex serves as the home of the wise and powerful Chinese lung known only as Dragon Master. Considered a senior member of the Council of Dragons, Dragon Master resides in the inner-most chambers tunneled into the wall of the Chasm, served by a retinue of monks and priests. The temple grounds provide housing for visitors as well as the current iteration of the Dragongirl and White Ryder. The temple also serves as a base of operations for the band of adventurous youths dubbed the "Fearless Four".
Within the temple proper can be found rooms for training as well as galleries covered in murals dedicated to past battles and champions of old. One of the most prominent murals depicts the fateful duel between previous Dragongirl Grytha and Dark Dragon Arthragor. Dragon Master himself spends most of his time reclining in his personal chamber outside of combat.

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Dragon Master's Temple close view by Mardrena

Made with Flowscape and Paint.net

"Open the doors! Make way!” Dragon Master boomed. This time over two dozen monks labored to turn the mechanisms. The floor shuddered as Dragon Master lumbered towards the entrance. Drega and Razzie hurried out to the courtyard ahead of him and prepared to take off. The lung’s horns barely cleared the top of the entrance as he lumbered onto the platform. Yulie mounted White Wind and waited until Drega and Razzie took to the air before spurring the Pegasi into a gallop. White Wind spread his wings and launched himself off the platform.
Yulie looked over his shoulder and watched as Dragon Master bundled his body close to the edge. His forepaws grasped the rock face tightly. Then the lung dove down like a spilled coil of ribbon. Just as he seemed to fall into the misty void of the chasm, he surged up and tucked his arms and legs close to his body as he writhed. The air roared with his passing.

— Yulie's Tales Ch. 1

Southern Salt

(14. Maze)
Deres avoided exploring deep into the labyrinthine waterways of the Southern Salt for a reason. Only until the recent advent of the Pegasi have Thangiens begun deeper surveys of the second largest biome of Planet Thanged. Freelanders frequent the marshy fringes close to Kundain to harvest thick grasses and black water for trade, but even with the Twin Suns to navigate by the Salt is full of numerous hazards from pesky insects to treacherous deep pools often mistaken for shallow puddles. It is easy to lose one's bearings amid the towering reeds and soupy, gravelly soil. A small community of city folk have erected pontoon-mounted dwellings to harvest black water, but there are no major settlements of note. The soft, unstable soil makes even stilt-mounted buildings impractical, and navigation is recommended via boat or air, with treks on foot prone to many forms of mishaps.

Labyrithine Waterways by Mardrena

Aside from the few samples taken from his great trek, Deres wrote little of the Salt in his journal. One entry stood out from the rest: an account of a bizarre encounter with a creature he dubbed "The Razzer". He could only glimpse it out the corner of his eye and it slipped into the marsh faster than he could turn around. It seemed to hound his every step even when on solid ground, announcing its presence with an array of rude sounds. He wondered if it was merely being territorial, trying to frighten him away, or protect something. Others still claim it has a more benevolent side to it, since its rude vocalizations often warn travellers to check their footing, often saving them from perilous falls. Even in modern times the Razzer remains elusive. Pegasi, as sophisticated as they are, cannot pinpoint the precise location of the Razzer. Considering how long its legend has persisted, since the time of Deres five-thousand years ago, it is believed the Razzer is a unknown species rather than a single omnipresent, immortal creature.

Phergon Mines

(18. Mines)

Voliltile Deeps by Mardrena

The little Peasants will never hold positions of power among the Thunthen, but they can proudly claim the Phergon Mines as their domain for only they are nimble and hardy enough to avoid hazards that would be fatal to the stronger Nobles and Commons. Not limited to one location in particular, mines riddle the crust of Planet Thunthen, providing the precious phergon which is the lifeblood of Thunthen technology. The heat and pressure keeps raw phergon inert, but the Peasants must quickly encapsulate freshly harvested batches to keep it from reacting with surface air. Tunnels, corridors, rail tracks, and pulleys dominate the underground environment with obsidian walls riddled with glowing green seams of inert phergon.

Where Nobles Will Not Tread by Mardrena

Planet Khilio

(26. Sand)

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Planet Khilio by Mardrena

Made with LunarCell and Paint.net

The only planet out of the "Barrens" (Fugan, Frono, Khilio, Caltin) to host naturally-evolved life-forms. Hotter than an oven, crushed by gravity, swarming with hostile predators, but for the lure of rich deposits of phergon beneath the vast rocky dunes, neither of Thuruk's superpowers would dare venture to the surface. Even Thunthen Nobeyls, hardy as they are, must wear protective gear. Thangiens fare little better with full dererium armor, which slows their reaction time in addition to the gravity.

Khilio Surface View by Mardrena

Thunthen expeditions rely on superior numbers and firepower to deter swarming Stalkers, but they never stay for long, harvesting what they can before frenzied Stalkers overwhelm their defenses. Thangien mining parties require escort from one or more Metraind, and while the newly-created Pegasi can deploy their impressive weaponry to thwart attacks, Stalkers are-among other things-persistent. Thunthen have access to phergon on their homeworld, but harvesting it requires dedicated mining by Pesak laborers. Phergon deposits on Khilio occur closer to the surface, but harvesting it attracts attention from the Stalkers.

The Pavilion

(28. Spice)

“LLAUDAUN!!” a man announced proudly and swept the thick wooden staff in his hand to the side, his colorful robes furling in the breeze. People gathered all over the Pavilion cheered and clapped from where they sat at tables or stood by stalls. The man continued speaking in Thangien and began pacing around in a circle, gesturing to the crowd while people began setting up props in a clear area on the brick.

— Aftermath Ch. 11

Dinner Out in the City by Mardrena

The commercial and social heart of Bainshaebo, this immense court houses numerous merchant wagons, food stalls, entertainment from llaudaun troupes, and dazzling fountains and gardens. Commerce is primarily barter-based with only the most prominent of Houses exchanging coins of precious metal. Farmers from Kundain trade with artisans from Peirolyth, families will enjoy food and entertainment during one of Khanphe's llaudaun performances, and high-ranking individuals will browse for exotic goods. In rare occasions such as a prominent pairing-or more recently, the Blood Dawn- the entire court will be prioritized towards these city-wide events. The Pavilion's four corners span between the major landmarks of Mazzan, Raaezen, the Traedeskaton, and Peirolyth.

Dinner and a Llaudaun by Mardrena

All of Bainshaebo somehow managed to crowd into the immense field of seats set up in the Pavilion. The rows directly facing the stage were reserved for friends and immediate family, but surprisingly enough, those sitting the furthest away would still be able to view the ceremony thanks to the massive canvas screens onto which projections of the main stage were cast. The seating was divided into eight sections with two on each side of the stage radiating outward.

— Foes From Another World Ch. 20

In the rare event of heavy rain, artisans have a vast complex network of tent poles designed to be erected at a moment's notice, heavy enough to shunt rainwater into specially designed grooves in the brick and large enough to keep the entire area relatively dry. This comes in quite handy for purveyors of dry goods and sensitive wares.

Excitement in the crowd reached a fever pitch as people squirmed and shoved, trying to get a direct view of the sunrise. Towering screens had been erected throughout the Pavilion, reflecting images of the dawn for all to see. The Ronin and their guests had privileged spots close to the stage and the main road.
“I wonder what’s with all the tents in the distance. Look at them! There must be thousands of them!” Roxi remarked as she glanced over her shoulder at the outer edge of the Pavilion.
“They’re communion tents. A person goes in, lights some candles and utters a prayer and tries to call forth the spirit of a departed loved one,” Rowen explained.

— Cataclysm War Ch. 15

Tirmutua

(30. Garden)

Dew bounced off leaves as a hand grabbed a round reddish fruit and twisted it off the stem. Slender fingers pried open the rind and juice spurted out as teeth dug into the soft pulpy inside. Azuro closed his eyes and sighed, indulging the taste of the fruit. “Chorinae, Ritho’s Bounty: A single fruit can keep a rider strong and healthy through the entire day. This is Tirmutua…” While Azuro continued to explain the story behind the majestic garden, Cye noticed a pile of peeled rinds lying on the ground at Kento’s feet.
“Umm…Kento…how much of those have you eaten?” he queried.
“Four,” Kento replied lazily as he swallowed a peeled fruit whole. Cye’s jaw dropped.

— Aftermath Ch. 11

Shore of the Jeweled Lake by Mardrena

Erroneously attributed to Ritho due to her role as the Morning Mother and statuary depicting her featured prominently throughout the garden, Tirmutua actually has its origins with Witheren, the Maiden of Blood, who while not officially a "goddess of death", is viewed as the personification of the cycle of life and death. The garden occupies a large swath of Bainshaebo's north and western walls with several small ponds and the breathtaking lake Gual de Phu Aclu fed by tributaries from the Winding White. While frequented by residents of Bainshaebo, wandering Grand Cresta harems will pass through on occasion. In addition to scrumptious chorinae fruit and potent Richtho leaves, Tirmutua boasts a staggering number of plant species, encapsulating the pristine natural beauty Thangiens strive so fervently to protect.

“Ages ago, on Thanged, there lived a farmer who was plagued by thieves constantly, and he prayed to Witheren for protection. She gave him Xiar, the god-hound, to keep watch over his lands and chase away any intruders. The farmer was pleased for a time, until one day Xiar came across children trying to steal from the crops.
“They were hungry and weak and Xiar pitied them, but the farmer ordered Xiar to kill them. Xiar refused and turned on his master, because he would not harm innocents. Angered by the farmer’s greed and selfishness, Witheren withdrew her gift and cursed the land so that it would be unfertile, and the farmer was forced to wander the land hungry and alone same as those he’d turned away so many times before. Xiar, on the other hand, was given to Roth to keep watch on the gates of Thananagreia, the citadel-chapel said to be the home of the Gods.
“After the farmer died, miserable and poor, Witheren lifted the curse on his land and turned it into the garden of Tirmutua."-Shannon O'Connor

— Foes From Another World Ch. 8

Dragon Master's Temple by Mardrena

Walls of Reeds by Mardrena

Hospitable as Hell by Mardrena

Shore of the Jeweled Lake by Mardrena