Land of cherry blossoms, tall cliffs and opal water coasts, Gynth is the easternmost continent that man has ever settled. To its north lie its arid flat lands named Sōgen, or the Calm Prairie, split from the temperate lands of the South by the Katsura River. In those northern lands of Sōgen the exiled Rakshasa have settled from Ezura, proving a thorn in the side of the Jō-yoi who inhabit the lush regions of central Gynth and the South.
Gynth, or Genkai as it is known locally, is a land deeply connected to the four elements and the fifth, unspoken element of Chi, or Ki, the life-force that binds all things. Water is sacred both in its fresh and salty form, being a stable source of food and tranquility. The mountains of Gynth are deeply rooted in the element of the Earth, forming large cliffs and rolling hills across the entire continent. The winds of Gynth are strong, and the gusts help the local fishermen and sailors reach other lands or new grounds whenever they need to. And finally Fire, feared and respected, is a staple of the Northern desert but also part of every day life in the central and southern regions.
The Northern Prairie (Sogen)
Situated at the heart of the northern region lies Hatsuen-Yama, the fire breathing mountain, child of Kunisada, the first Eastern dragon of its kind. The mountain is surrounded by miles upon miles of desolated wasteland and desert, with only rocks and dead trees breaking the monotony of this cursed land. It is here that the vile Rakshasa - fiends in tiger form - have made their home, far away from the jungles they come from. If they do not capture you for a ritual sacrifice, drought will take you. If you bring water with you, the endless desert will ensure you are lost, doomed to wander it for eternity. The Kasuya river and the Horoko garrison is all that separates Sogen from the rest of Genkai, and have kept the
Ikkakuju Clan and holdings safe for centuries.
The Midlands (Nakashu)
Dominated by tall peaks and large swathes of forests, Nakashu is the central region of Genkai and home to many of its dragons. It is here that the
Ryuuzoku Clan has their capital within Nanshoso, thrice blessed by the golden scales of old. Those travelers who visit Genkai and manage to return home speak of nothing more than Nakashu and its rolling, green countryside. There is beauty here, and it is hard to believe that what lies both North and South of it. Abundant temples can be found here, devoted to one of the many minor gods the Jo-Yoi have come to worship. At its heart like the Sakatawa peaks, home to smaller tribes of men and even arbor elves, if you can find them...
The South (Minamishu)
Long controlled by the
Fushichou Clan and
Kani Clans, the South has become the political centre of all Higara, at least since the
Empress crowned
Soga Kaii as Taisho of all Genkai. It is a region dominated by a long mountain chain running north-east to south-west across its lands, spawning many rivers and streams off it, directly making it the most fertile region in the land. The nature here has a heavy air about it however, and no birds sing their song when one strolls through its forests. People tend to keep their heads down and their tools up, and an honest smile is hard to come by. Nevertheless, Higara's largest city can be found here;
Sotoyama is the trading capital of all of Gynth. It is here most outsiders embark and disembark, particularly those from far-away lands such as
Albion or
Eridas.
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