Zorr'Thal

Overview

Zorr'Thal, also known as The Shaded Waters, is the largest and most significant city of the Ranvok people. Hidden deep within the untamed jungles and swamps of Schuttarch, this city is both a natural marvel and a testament to the Ranvok’s intricate relationship with their environment. Built into towering cliffsides, surrounded by lush foliage and tranquil pools, Zorr'Thal appears to blend seamlessly into the landscape, with its architecture camouflaged beneath vibrant plant life and cascading waterfalls. The city is named after its founder, Zorr, a legendary shaman who established the first Ranvok sanctuary in this jungle region centuries ago.
While closed off to the rest of the world, Zorr'Thal stands as the heart of Ranvok society, where traditions, mana studies, and the governance of their secluded civilization converge. It is a place where amphibian and nature live in perfect harmony, hidden away from the prying eyes of humanoid invaders.

Geography and Structure

Zorr'Thal is built into a series of elevated cliffs and steep hills, overlooking interconnected water bodies. The city's multi-tiered design allows the Ranvok to access various levels of the swamp, with homes and structures emerging naturally from the rock faces and tree-covered hills. These structures are made from a combination of local stone, plant fibers, and wood, carefully reinforced with mana-infused elements that provide both protection and aesthetic beauty.
Many buildings in Zorr'Thal feature large, moss-covered platforms that overlook the expansive swamp, connected by vine bridges and natural walkways. The architectural designs often include vast, stone-carved frog statues representing deities of water and fertility. These massive figures are revered and believed to provide spiritual protection over the city. Additionally, giant amphibians, tamed and integrated into Ranvok culture, roam freely, acting as both guardians and symbolic protectors.

Key Districts

1. The Shaman’s Quarter: Located at the highest point in the city, this is where Ranvok shamans gather to conduct sacred rituals and research mana manipulation. The quarter features a towering, spiraled temple known as the Pillar of Erosion, a structure that is rumored to channel natural mana directly from the earth and the surrounding waters. The temple is where elders and shamans commune with nature spirits, drawing upon the land’s raw energy.
2. The Pool of Luminwaters: A central body of water located near the heart of the city, Luminwaters is a shimmering, glowing pool that reflects the pale light of bioluminescent plants surrounding it. This pool is believed to be enchanted, and its waters possess healing properties due to their deep connection with mana. Ranvok regularly gather here for rituals of healing and restoration.
3. The Warrior Hollow: This district is where the hunters and warriors of Zorr'Thal reside and train. Its low-lying platforms are hidden in the dense undergrowth, providing excellent cover and vantage points for guarding the city from any intruders. The warriors of Zorr'Thal are trained in the arts of ambush and stealth, utilizing their environment as both a weapon and a defense.
4. The Market of Echoing Stones: Though trade with outside races is uncommon, the Market of Echoing Stones serves as the city’s bustling economic center. Here, Ranvok traders exchange rare herbs, amphibian leather, and mana-infused trinkets. The market gets its name from the strange, echoing acoustics created by the surrounding rock formations, which amplify even the smallest sound.
5. The Amphibian Gardens: Located near the city’s outer edge, this district is where the largest of the Ranvok’s amphibious creatures are bred and trained. These creatures serve as transport, guardians, and even labor within the city, with some of the larger amphibians carrying out tasks such as transporting heavy goods or patrolling the city’s perimeter.

Culture and Society

The Ranvok of Zorr'Thal are deeply spiritual, living in tune with nature and the mana that permeates their surroundings. The city's culture is centered around the veneration of the spirits of the swamp, which the Ranvok believe govern every aspect of life, from the growth of plants to the flow of mana. These spirits are honored through festivals, rituals, and daily offerings made at sacred altars throughout the city.
Zorr'Thal's political structure is a tribal council, made up of the elders from each district, with the Shaman-Elder acting as the highest authority. The council governs the city, making decisions on trade, security, and the use of mana resources. Despite their isolationist stance, Zorr'Thal is an advanced society, excelling in mana manipulation and herbal medicine.

Mana Attunement:

Much like their jungle and swamp surroundings, the Ranvok have a deep connection to mana, and nowhere is this more evident than in Zorr'Thal. The city draws power from natural mana-rich sources hidden deep within the swamps, powering their lights, defenses, and even allowing shamans to shape and manipulate the very land around them. Many of the Ranvok are born with the ability to sense and utilize this mana, with the shamans being particularly adept at manipulating it for healing, protection, and offense.
Isolationism:
As one of the most secretive cities in Schuttarch, Zorr'Thal has very few connections to the outside world. The Ranvok prefer to remain hidden and are known to repel any outsiders who attempt to approach their city. This seclusion has helped Zorr'Thal maintain its ancient traditions and culture while protecting it from the influences of other races. Only the most skilled explorers or those invited by the elders are allowed to set foot within the city’s borders.

Religion and Beliefs

The Ranvok's spiritual practices are deeply tied to nature, with the inhabitants of Zorr'Thal worshiping a pantheon of elemental spirits known as the Zorin’Keth, who are believed to inhabit the waters, trees, and stones of the swamps. These spirits are thought to protect the Ranvok, ensuring the continued flow of mana and the prosperity of their people. Offerings are made to these spirits daily, and grand festivals are held at the Pool of Luminwaters during times of plenty or to ask for guidance in times of crisis.

Notable Deities:

• Sorrak, Spirit of the Deep Waters: Worshiped as the guardian of the city's waterways and the bringer of life.
• Ull’Zor, Spirit of the Fallen Trees: Known as the spirit of death and rebirth, revered for maintaining the balance between life and decay in the jungle.
• Vorr’nash, Spirit of Hidden Mana: The most powerful of the Zorin’Keth, Vorr’nash is believed to guide the shamans in their use of mana, keeping the balance between overuse and harmony.

Defenses and Security

Zorr'Thal is naturally protected by its treacherous location deep within the jungle, where the dense flora and dangerous swamps deter most invaders. The Ranvok use these natural defenses to their advantage, constructing hidden traps, camouflaged barriers, and amphibious patrols to guard the city.
Additionally, Zorr'Thal has a formidable standing militia trained in guerilla tactics and mana-based warfare. The warriors of the city are adept at using their natural agility and their amphibian allies to strike from the shadows, making any approach to the city a perilous endeavor for would-be invaders.

Conclusion

Zorr'Thal, the Shaded Waters, remains one of the most enigmatic and hidden cities in all of Schuttarch, an impressive amalgamation of nature, mana, and the Ranvok’s ancient traditions. The city’s towering frog statues, hidden bridges, and mana-rich waters create a mystical, almost otherworldly environment. Here, the Ranvok continue to live in harmony with the swamps, ever wary of the outside world, and fiercely protective of their home.
While the rest of the world advances with technology and expansion, Zorr'Thal remains untouched, preserving the secrets of the Ranvok, their mastery of mana, and their sacred relationship with the land.

Founding Date

Unknown

Alternative Name(s)

Shaded Waters

Type

City

Population

Around 500 000 Ranvok

Location under

Jungle Depths