Introduction to the New World

Geography
Austrolaria, called the “New World” by the peoples of Eridas, is the larger of the planet’s two great landmasses. It lies just under the planetary equator and enjoys a hot, tropical climate almost year-round. Most of the continent’s surface is covered by dense jungles broken up by towering volcanic mountains and immense sprawling river systems. Austrolaria is surrounded on three sides by the great ocean that separates it from the Old World. The western edge of the massive continent, if indeed it has one, has yet to be discovered. The peoples of Eridas have only known of the existence of Austrolaria for about a century, and much of it is still mysterious to them. Large swathes of the continent, particularly the interior, are mapped poorly or not at all. The continent is broadly divided into “inner” and “outer” Austrolaria, with several smaller sub-regions throughout.
Civilization
Despite its treacherous landscape, the New World has long been a cradle of civilization. The native reptilian lizardmen, winged avians, and feline tabaxi have been building cities amidst the jungles for over five thousand years. Millennia ago, during the Age of Wonders, the lizardmen forged an empire that spanned the continent and achieved technological marvels never equaled since. The empire fell into ruin ages ago following the wars, disasters, and extraplanar invasions of the Age of Crisis. The lizardmen remain however, and their myriad city states dot the continent to this day. In recent years, Old Worlders have arrived in Austrolaria and began establishing settlements, frequently clashing with the indigenous civilizations for control of the continent and its vast resources.