"Travellers don't come here often. Most of them have no idea we are here because we are so far away."— Inazin Makto, Kozoni cowpoke
In the northernmost part of the
Old World, there is a vast region known as the Sunlit Horizon. Being an archipelago on the Equator, its temperatures can get very high throughout the year. Unlike the rest of the continent, the Sunlit Horizon does not sit on
Phadoya Sea. Most of its islands are situated west on the calmer
Kinjora Sea of the Old World, meaning it is further away from the main archipelago.
Inhabitants
Because of the frequent droughts and some aggressive animals in the area, most of Sunlit Horizon remains uninhabited by humanoids. Usually, only smaller animals and insects can be seen during the day. However, if a traveller visits the larger islands in the north, they'd see some
Avuna running about or flying in certain situations. If there are a group of Avuna in the area, there is always at least one person tending to this group, a member of the
Kozoni species.
The Kozoni are the only humanoid species who live in the Sunlit Horizon. They tend to be a solitary group of people and live a somewhat nomadic life in the harsh deserts of the Sunlit Horizon. Kozoni live in large canyons where there are water banks. Those who go to the higher altitudes are those who crave a more daring lifestyle, where they would manage dangerous cattle or ride Avuna to explore the island and gather resources. These people are usually few and far in between.
Some animals are nocturnal and only come out at night. They are more aggressive at night, meaning most animals are safely in their habitats once dusk approaches. The nocturnal animals are carnivorous and, depending on size, will eat any animal or person they find. Despite the beauty that comes with the Sunlit Horizon, there are signs around the region warning adventurers and locals to be on their guard, so their trip does not go awry.
Geography
"Some people ask us why we don't just live on the sunnier islands. I guess this is just our livestyle. I can't imagine doing anything else, no matter how easy that thing would be."— Inazin Makto
Located on the Equator, the Sunlit Horizon is hot and arid for most of the year. Frequent droughts in the region cause many deaths or widespread famine. They occur throughout the year, so the inhabitants know what the warning signs are for a drought. They can go on for months or years, meaning people always have a ready supply of food and water in case the next drought is long. Ironically, the only time there were no droughts at all was the first 2 decades after the ice from the
Ice Age had thawed. Most of that time was in the rain season. The extended rain season provided the Kozoni with their water banks in the canyons.
The southern parts of the area do not experience as much drought and is cooler than the north. The islands in the south tend to have beaches and tropical plants. They are smaller and surrounded by sea, so there is not much chance of the island not having any water. The beaches and the sunrise that can be seen from them are what gave the Sunlit Horizon its name.
The north is where all the canyons are located. These islands are much larger and have caverns as well. Most species do not roam outside for long, instead preferring to live in sheltered areas like caverns and canyons. The animals that do roam have special organs they use for conserving water, and the plants in the region have stores of water that the Kozoni are adept at extracting.
Islands
The Sunlit Horizon is an archipelago of around 8 or 9 islands, with the smaller ones in the south and the larger ones in the north. Most of the islands are south of the Equator and are closer to the
Floating Isles.
Nsitonga
Nsitonga is an island that sits just above the
Equator and is full of hidden resources and certain treasures. The treasures are usually dug up from deep caverns, and many Kozoni make it their mission to get at least one local treasure in their lifetimes.
Bondisa
Just a few miles south of Nsitonga, Bondisa is a large plain where animals graze. It is the only savannah on the continent, and filled with unique animals not found elsewhere. There are a few small tribes here too, the most dominant being the Bondi and the Edayo.
Isinoki
Isinoki is the northernmost island in the Sunlit Horizon, and contains many large canyons. The island experiences many droughts and water is not easily found. Unlike most of the Sunlit Horizon, there is only one ethnicity in Isinoki - the Isi.
Kinjalo
Kinjalo is south of Isinoki and is known for the gigantic rock pillars dotted all over the island. Despite its size, only half the island is actually habitable, because Necranis has corroded the eastern half of the island. Two ethnic groups live on Kinjalo: the Kinjo and the Adomi.
Tosana
Tosana is the southernmost island of the Sunlit Horizon. It is a tropical island and where the Sunlit Horizon gets its name from. Two smaller islands surround Tosana and are considered part of the main island. The Vakuna are the main ethnic group on Tosana, and probably the only ones there.
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