Ruined Lands
Bordered to the east, south and west by the Ruined Sea, the Ruined Lands is what remains of the heart of one of the most advanced civilizations of the last age. It is said that a great barrier domed over the region, protecting its numerous cities from the outside world. This barrier is believe to have shielded them from the initial effects of the first Firefall and the War of Ashes, though it is also believed that this protection also made them a target of the armies that fought in the war. The devastation that followed the eventual collapse of the barrier was cataclysmic, laying to waste the entire region. Though nature has reclaimed much of the structures of the civilization, the ruins of prominent cities still remain, some offering a home for survivors, granted that the surrounding landscape has recovered enough to sustain life, such as the nation of Fractyr.
Geography
The ruined lands is bordered on the north by perpatually snowcapped mountains, to the east and south by the Ruined Sea, and to the west by a narrow and shallow bay, distinct from the sea only by its lack of ruins, separating the land from the continent of Sonata. It is believed that there is a narrow pass to Sonata between the mountains and the bay far toe the northwest, but few that have ventured that far have returned.
The majority of the region is dominated by the young forest that has risen from the ash of the Great War. To the west, a vast desert or barren rolling hills dominates that landscape, stubbornly refusing to give way to the forest that borders it to the north and east despite its easy access to the waters of both the bay and the Ruined Sea to its west and south respectively. This desert even goes so far as to reach across these waters to the, leaving a swath of barren land on the otherwise fertile northeastern coast of Sonata.
Ecosystem
The forested regions of the Ruined Lands are dominated by mostly tranquil wildlife, offering minimal difficulties to those that dwell within communities. Lone travelers or small groups may enounter fierce predators or otherwise aggressive wildlife, but traveling in numbers almost entirely negates this risk. This does not, however, make life easy. The wilderness still contains many dangers in the form of unpredictable terrain, dangerous plantlife, and extreme weather, usually in the form of sudden downpours or powerful winds. Additionally, not all the wonders of the past world have eroded to time. There are still lingering remnants of secrets, many of which dangerous, hidden within the forest or beneath the ground. For many, this is an irresistable alure to fame, renown, and riches. For most, it is the surest way to never return and join the Lost.
An exception to this otherwise very common state of the world is the presence of the Gaunt. How these creatures came to be is hypothesis at best, but they are known to originante from the Gauntlet: the decaying landmass that separates the Ruined Sea from the Shattered Sea to the south. The purple hue of death spreads from the region like an infection and draining the life from all flora and fauna. Though usually slow and innatentive at a distance, creatures inflicted by the Gaunt will become highly aggressive when approached, attacking with a insatiable hunger. A single Gaunt is threat enough, but a horde can spell the doom of an entire city. Those that dwell near regions infected by Gaunt must be extra vigilent, going so far as to relocate entire villages to avoid drawing the attention of these monstrosities.
Ecosystem Cycles
Being on the 35th lattitude, the Ruined Sea has moderate weather the majority of the year, though its winters may sometimes be harsher than normal depending on the condition of the Ruined Sea
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