Lyonesse Geographic Location in Alvez | World Anvil
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Lyonesse

Geography

Lyonesse is located along the Southwestern Ar Mor of the island of Albia, once a large peninsula stretching out the the West, now an undersea ridge, submerged under the Mor Bras.   Lyonesse follows a spinelike range of hills along its East-West axis, marked with a few islands, formerly hilltops poking above the water and surrounded by low valleys.   The Southern valleys, cliffs and beaches were badly damaged in the Wyldstorm that sunk the region, the results of the original storm still visible, with shattered houses, splintered trees and evidence of high winds and surf. The Southern Valleys are sunken beneath the waves, caught in a frozen moment of time. Debris hangs in the water, drifting with the waves, but remaining fixed in place. Only direct interaction will remove these frozen objects to other locations, untouched by undersea currents. Mundane flora and fauna from the nearby ocean also inhabit this place, with fish swimming in and around the villages and forests in a constant state of mid-destruction. However, surface flora, such as grass, trees and shrubs also continue to grow in Lyonesse, entirely unphased by their aquatic state. This is more apparent along the Southern slopes of the hills, covered in grass and trees, with increasingly brightly coloured fish swimming through them.   The Northern Valleys appear untouched by the Storm, but the chaotic magic of the Faewylde has taken root here Trees of crystal or metal appear in great frequency along the sloping hills, streams of silver and gold running down the hillsides into shimmering pools of changing colours. Brightly coloured mushrooms the size of horses grow beneath fallen trees or rocky overhangs. All signs of habitation, including villages that predated the sinking, have been swept away, replaced by a seemingly untouched wilderness.   The surface is equally a conundrum, full of frothing white water crashing against unseen rocks, invisible to those without the ability to pierce glamour. Beyond this strip of treacherous waters, an idyllic, almost lake-like bay stretches over the sunken region.

Fauna & Flora

The entirety of the region is a strange and impossible collection of surface flora found in Albia, completely submerged and yet continuing to exist as though they remained on the surface. On the Soutthern slopes, native oceanic flora and fauna have begun to grow, with corals being found on the sides of buildings or alongside patches of grass and flowers. Mundane terrestrial fauna, once native to the region, has been wiped out, but fish, turtles and seals make their home in the area.   The situation grows stranger on the Northern slopes, a submerged, thick forest of metallic or crystaline plants, glowing mushrooms and animated vines. Aquatic Faerie creatures, such as bio-luminescent eels, sea Monks, Kelpies, Grindylow and Afanc.   Lyonesse supports a large population of Marie-Morgane, mostly Drifting, taking advantage of the existing structures, ample food and familiar, terrestrial landscapes. The Finfolk raid the Southern Valleys regularly, but have not established a permanent residence as they have surrounding Ys or Deepring. Similarly, Selkies travel through the region, but do not reside within Lyonesse itself.

History

Lyonesse is the twin region to Leon, under the control of Camelot, the capital of Logres). The region, known for its forest and tin-mines had a small population, scattered to a few coastal villages. Tristan of Leon, a slave in the mines, led a rebellion and sailed to the Armorican Peninsula to found Leon.   The same Wyldstorm that destroyed Ys slammed into Lyoness after traveling Northwards, still brimming with Magikal energy. The stormfront raged along the region, driving it beneath the waves and warping it, before being contained in the bowl-like Northern Valleys. The Southern Valleys were frozen in time at the moment the eye-wall made landfall, while the North was warped into a permanent Faewylde.   Lyonesse still appeared on regional maps for about 300 years before it fell out of style to include the region, difficult to access by land or sea, surrounded by Feth Fiada and invisible rocks.

Tourism

Tales of Lyonesse encourage travelers to seek out its beauty, and it is an especially popular destination for artists, bards, poets and treasure hunters. A steady economy of Pilhaouer guides, mostly Milliget and Korrigan. The aquatic nature and difficult approach to the region makes unguided excursions quite difficult.
Alternative Name(s)
The Sunken Forest
Type
Forest
Location under

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