The Lost Kingdom
The enigmatic jungles of southern Amastris are collectively known as the Lost Kingdom. Thousands of years ago, a mighty empire once ruled, but now only ruins remain. This land seems to have a will of its own, refusing its secrets to would-be plunderers, explorers, and researchers. Strange beasts roam the land, and the once apocalyptic Blight is believed to originate from here.
Geography
The southern shores hold magnificent cliffs, waterfalls, and sandy beaches. It appears as an idyllic tropical paradise at first glance. Deep rivers feed into the sea and coral atolls line the shores.
Towards the interior, the land becomes more treacherous. The thick jungles quickly envelop the land, making travel difficult without adequate preparation. Pockets of grassland and swamps appear in lowland areas, while at higher elevations cloud forests and mountain plateaus break the monotony of the jungle.
If one were to traverse successfully, they would be rewarded with the ruins of once-great stone pyramids—abandoned cities that gave in to the will of the jungle. What riches and mysteries lie with the ghosts remains unknown.
Ecosystem
The Lost Kingdom's ecosystem can be roughly divided into four parts: the shores, the interior, the plateaus, and the northern exterior. Each ecosystem has its own unique and diverse challenges.
As one moves closer inland, the jungles become thick and difficult to traverse. Deep ravines and river valleys allow for larger creatures to move freely. It is a harsh world here. Few creatures are truly peaceful and they are prepared to fight viciously for life and limb. Here, true monsters roam.
The Shores:
In the true south, sandy beaches make up most of the coastline, broken only by cliff faces and waterfalls. Numerous rivers, swamps, and mangroves pocket the shores as well. Here, creatures are small and swarm towards the coast after storms to pick at what the ocean gifts the beaches.The Interior:
The Plateaus:
The great peaks of mountains unveil plateaus that are shockingly amenable to agriculture—if they could ever be reached. The stony passes are treacherous and only creatures who are suited to mountainous terrain or are capable of flight make their homes here.The Northern Exterior:
The area between the The Great Grass Sea and the Lost Kingdom is known for its grasslands and badlands in equal measure. Here is where most sapients get closest to the south. The small lakes and rivers here appear to be poisonous to any non-native species, making survival difficult for outsiders.Localized Phenomena
The southern shores are often victim to vicious hurricanes and storms, making the area a feast for creatures who prefer carrion. In the northern exterior, water sources suffer from poison, which makes it impossible to drink. These springs often boil and roil as well.
Fauna & Flora
It is here where giants hold dominion. Unburdened by civilization, nature has gone rogue. Enormous beasts that are titanic in nature roam free. Creatures that could destroy castles and break armies battle each other for survival and in their shadows primitive tribes of barely sapient creatures eke out a living. Poisonous plants litter the canopies of the jungle and rotting swamps hide toothy maws seeking an easy meal. Disease and rot are rampant in the jungles which are made of trees so tall and thick they blot out the sun itself, creating a jungle floor that is in near-perpetual darkness. In this land, it seems almost everything is prepared to kill.
History
The true history of the Lost Kingdom is a mystery. However, there are scattered records in the deepest libraries of the The Dwarven Reach and the Sunset Confederacy. What is known is that over 2,000 years ago, a once thriving empire mysteriously disappeared. After this, sapients such as elves, dwarves, and humans begin to appear in the archeological records. However, they were still considered primitive.
Scattered attempts to survey the southern jungles were continuously met with failure. Travellers either never returned or were found maddened, speaking of dragons, demons, and plague. Most political leadership decided it was best to leave the south to itself, maintaining only small observation missions on the very edge of the territory.
This policy of ignorance came to a crashing collapse at the onset of the First Blight. With little warning, an apocalyptic horde of monsters came from the south, destroying all in their path. Diplomatic envoys which were sent to destroy this horde were killed on sight and quarter was never given to civilians. Many turned to the gods themselves for answers, but only silence answered. The 20-year siege of Votendenes, Blackened Bay, and the Burning of the Grasses—these are only some of the stories and horrors which came from the 125 years of darkness.
This land of poison and beasts... I will have its secrets. - Bjorn Stonefoot, Shogun of the Dwarven Reach
Alternative Name(s)
Plague Lands, The Southern Nightmare
Type
Forest, Jungle (Tropical)
Characters in Location
Inhabiting Species
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