Palmland

Palmland

Geography

Within the western region of the Golden Dunes, just south of the Free City of Westport, one can find a rocky and wet reach that spans miles out from the coastline in lush woods and groves of palm trees along its hills and rivers.
Aptly named the Palmlands, this location was once part of a larger desert region known as Casteviedo, though has in recent times with the drawing of new borders come to be known as the most miniscule rainforest of the world, although explorers and ecologists through various institutions of mankind would argue against it - as the locale is not rich enough in diversity to justify the title.
The geology of the region is stable, though with extreme differences between the coastline being flat and lush, the central locations of the Palmlands being rocky with many steep hills and large boulders making the area hard to traverse, along with the outer border being a more flat and arid terrain that breaks out into vast desert dunes beyond.

Climate

The Palmlands has a mostly stable temperature where the trees help to regulate the otherwise scorching days and freezing desert nights common along most of the Golden Dune’s terrain.
Through water blowing in from the sea and the salt with the wind eroding the terrain for millenia, seasonal rivers carve through the landscape washing it with a cool - following a loop of heat and moisture that causes frequent cascades of rainfall at least once or twice a day during the summer period.
During the winter months, the sea streams grow colder and the seasonal rivers tend to be less active. Giving rise instead to thick fogs that keep the tropical climes going.

Settlements

The Palmlands only has one major settlement within its domain, named Palmbay after the region itself. This town of a few hundred thousand souls serves as a major port for trade and exports for natural oils, herbs and fruit produce.
It also serves as the seat of power for the three semi-nomadic tribes that roam and protect the region. Each tribal leader manages different aspects of the town and its thousands of constantly changing villages, with the help of subsidiary clans made up by the nomadic and cavarian ethnic groups.
The Ardentolium Tribe handling oil production, machinery and infrastructure; the Carnis Tribe serving as hunters, farmers and kennel masters; with the Somberium Tribe holding most craftsmen, traders and combatants of the three.
Together, the three heads of the hydra command one of the most dreaded militaries of the Golden Empire. The III Casteviedo Revenant Legion.
-Nobiles eius revenentes sumus.

History

“What is the price of a life? How does it compare to our beliefs, our territory and our laws? I tire of these questions, of this violence towards my people. We’ve remained passive for too long and let the barbarian hordes shed a toll that can never be repaid. Each one of us is a loss beyond calculation, a crime that must know retribution. We shall never settle until the last beastkin, hellcaller and abyss invoker is cast out of Casteveido, out of the Golden Dunes; or lay dead at our feet.” - Dominus-Legatus Decimus Lupinus

Though considered paradise from an outside perspective, few can fathom the amount of blood underneath its soil. The Palmlands has no shortage of old ruins, both ancient and those only a couple decades old.
Even as a smaller region, many of these ruins are still forgotten. Lingering in the depths of the woods that are often avoided, due to the various raiding parties of beastkin, cultists and sometimes lost bandits and pirates that seek to covet its secrets. Something which keeps the half-nomadic Casteviedan tribes moving in their known pathways - heavily armed and ready for combat for every step they take.
Regardless of the many threats these dark forces possess, the territories controlled by the Golden Empire are only growing through Casteviedo military operations and assistance from the Inquisition. Building villages, orchards and oil factories where they claim ground to build up their economy and arsenal to reclaim the ruins of their ancient city and once more rebuild it.

Flora

As you had already guessed, the flora of the Palmlands mainly consist of just that, palms. From coconuts along the coasts to date trees around the drier areas, the region totals around thirty different species that have adapted to the salty air and rapid downpours.
These woods are ripe with plenty that can easily feed its inhabitants with a diverse range of fruits and also serve the Golden Empire as a critical hotspot for natural oils that are used not only for culinary practices but also to fuel their warmachinae and lubricants within their factories.

Fauna

The Palmlands is a location ripe with life. From the Codpiercer Crab hunting among rivers and trees for nuts and fruits, to the Casteviedan Warghounds scouring in packs for prey and carcasses.
Atop the canopies, the chirping of Barkbeak birds mixed with the calls of Cocobons can be heard, as the apes swing above the Mega Toucans that scour the beaches for coconuts and shellfish - such as the infamous Revolver Lobster.
It’s a region that is believed to be inhabited by dozens of creatures, both of migratory birds found the world over, common aquatic species that dominate the sea but also more extreme land based animals that have adapted to the radical biomes of the wider Casteviedo regionale.
Though none of these creatures are as renowned as its oil-black pelted apex predator. The Saraki Lion. Otherwise known as the Reaper from Casteviedo.

Artwork AI generated by: Midjourney Article writen by: Tonarus