Wraethan

Geography

The island of Wraethan has a varied geography. The island's sprawling mass contains rocky beaches, plains, mudflats, forests, swamps, and flat rocky expanses. In addition, a multitude of caves, subterranean tunnels, and rivers carve their way through the island.

Localized Phenomena

Any water that flows into the southwestern river turns to blood, hence giving it the name of the Red River. The island experiences frequent earthquakes of varying magnitudes. Those who survive shipwrecks and other accidents at sea sometimes find themselves inexplicably awakening on the shores of the island. Resurrection spells do not work on Wraethan, though materials brought forth to be used in the spell are still consumed.

Fauna & Flora

The flora of Wraethan takes on a drab appearance; all the more depressing for those damned to live and die upon the island. The grass grows in either dull greys or greens depending on the exact location of the island. Bushes, ferns, mosses, and deciduous trees grow in the forest of Wraethan. Vines, reeds, and leafless trees make their home in the swamp. Various fungi and lichens grow in the caves and tunnels.
The fauna of Wraethan is much more varied and interesting. A variety of beasts live in the forest and swamp, ranging from bears and elks to crocodiles and snakes, both of the normal sizes and the dire and giant variety. Gricks stalk and hunt anything that travels through the Stone Wastes. Many insects live in the caves and tunnels, ranging from average-sized specimens to truly titanic beasts capable of feasting upon giants and dragons. Luckily though, beasts of those proportions are rare occurrences on the island. The humanoids of Wraethan span the entire spectrum; none are left out. In addition, cannibalistic goatmen live and hunt on the island. While not necessarily traditional fauna, the mud monsters and undead of Wraethan also pose a major threat to those on the island.

History

Wraethan has long been used by many nations and empires as a place to drop off the worst of their society; the truly heinous criminals and the exiles. However, only after the fall of Nasera did Wraethan truly become a place of nightmares. Undead stalk the swamps and forests. Ravenous goatmen who hunger for the flesh of man maraud the beaches and cliffs to scavenge for shipwreck survivors who awaken on the wrong beach. Horrors claw their way to the surface of the mudflats, seemingly birthed from the muck itself, to wander their domain and asphyxiate any travellers unfortunate enough to come across their path. Gricks stalk the Stone Wastes in growing numbers and have begun to hunt using increasingly devious and intelligent tactics. All manner of massive insectoids creep and crawl deep within the caverns and tunnels of Wraethan. A monolithic fortress has been erected on the banks of the bloody Red River and war camps have sprung up around it. Further to the southwest, a massive cave sits in wait like the maw of a great beast, with lights of every color shining out of the mouth during the night as well as the shrieks of the damned emanating from within. Whatever may have caused these horrors to appear is unknown, and the outside world cares little, though those who have been condemned, either by their own hand or that of fate, fear what evil may be growing within the heart of the land they live upon.

Alternative Name(s)

The Isle of Exile, The Sojourn of the Spurned, The Path of the Pariah

Type

Island