Fruchtbarland
The north-western most region within the larger area of The Great Inland Sea, Fruchtbarland is a region which is incredibly well suited to agriculture due to it's fertile soil and broad swathes of flat land, with it's name derived from 'fruitful land' in old Fruchtbarian dialect. The region runs all the way from the edge of the Palsas Sea in the east to the coast of The Shattered Sea in the west. The Crater Sea forms it's northern border and the mountains of The Western Wall run nearly the full length of it's its southern and south-eastern side.
Geography and Climate
Stretching roughly 300 miles in each direction and tapering down at it's western end, Fruchtbarland is a region that seems ready made for agriculture. The climate is temperate but mild and the majority of the region is comprised of broad swathes of flat land with fertile soil and deciduous forests.. These flat, fertile lands dominate the central and western portions of the region, running all the way to the feet of the mountains known as The Western Wall in the south and west, and to the coast in the north and north-west. In the east the flatlands are interrupted by a chain of hills known as the östlichügel around forty miles out from the border.
The Shattered Cliffs
In the north-western corner of the region, the formation of The Shattered Sea resulted in jagged, high cliffs along this entire coast. One might expect this to be a natural spot to launch expeditions into The Shattered Sea from but if the cliffs themselves didn't discourage this idea, the jagged rocks which form an impassable maze extending out miles from the coastline certainly have. It says a lot about the sheer inhospitability of this coastline that it is preferable to launch expeditions from the crater sea than directly into the Shattered Sea from it's own shores.
Black Tower Light
Standing on the northernmost point which could be thought of as Fruchtbarland, the origins of this tower are lost to history, all that is known of it is that it predates the cataclysm and was likely subject to extreme arcane protections in order for it and the land that it stands on to have survived that event relatively intact. Regardless of it's origins, the tower itself is an intimidating edifice composed of unbroken black stone and standing exactly five hundred feet high, sitting on cliffs which stand a further hundred and fifty feet above the ocean. The tallest known artificial structure, the tower has been repurposed as a lighthouse which marks the southern edge of the passage between the Crater and Shattered seas with a massive magical light with a segmented mirror array which cast it's light far out to sea.
The Western Wall
A section of the mountain chain known as The Western Wall Forms a physical border which comprises the entirety of the south-western border of the region. Seperating Fruchtbarland from the Western Marches, these mountains are a source of neverending incursions by the monsters and monstrous humanoids which make The Western Marches their home after being driven from more civilized lands.
The Crater Coast
The northern coast of Fruchtbarland is the southern coast of The Crater Sea, and this region provides trade access for The Kingdom of Fruchtbarland which is particularly important now that Galacia controls the entire eastern edge of the region. This coastline is mostly sandy beaches, and the shoreline is constantly shifting just like the shoals around the edge of the crater sea, any permanent settlements which are directly on the coast are built on rocky outcroppings, peninsulas, and the like.
The östlichügel
A line of hills which runs north to south just forty miles from the eastern border, the rather creatively named östlichügel or 'Eastern Hills' in old Fruchtbarian dialect forms the modern border between Galacia and both The Kingdom of Fruchtbarland and The valorous Dominion.
The Eastern Coast
In the south-east, Fruchtbarland connects to The Great Inland Sea via Siegmund's Bay and the Palsas Sea, historically allowing The Kingdom of Fruchtbarland to freely trade throughout the Great Inland Sea region. Today, Galacia controls the entire eastern edge of the region, cutting The Kingdom off from easy access to most of their historical trading partners.
The river border
The Serpent's Tongue, the river which connects The Crater Sea to the Great Inland Sea, runs along the entire northern half of Fruchtbarland's eastern border until it reaches The Galacian Peninsula. This region was left as largely undeveloped forest for a long time as The Kingdom of Fruchtbarland had a glut of excellent farmland, but once Galacia gained control of the area they converted a lot of it into much-needed farms.
The Fruchtbarland
The eponymous 'fruitful land' from which the region derives its name, The vast maority of the region is comprised of fertile, flat land that is ideal for agriculture. The region is dotted with small settlements and agricultural fields separated by dense forest, the feudal nature of The Kingdom of Fruchtbarland tending towards many small feudal fiefs rather than large cities and towns. The incredible amount of farmland has lead to The Kingdom of Fruchtbarland being one of the largest exporters of food and other agricultural products on The Shattered Continent
The Grosserfluss
While The Fruchtbarland is criss crossed with smaller rivers, the mighty Grosserfluss runs from the mountains of The Western Wall in the south to the Crater Sea in the north. Its broad, slow waters are ideal for the movement of goods up and down it's length, and a number of the larger settlements in the region are located along its banks. The free city of Boizenburen has grown to become one of the largest cities in the region due largely to trade coming down the Grosserfluss
The Zentrumsee
One of the largest lakes in the entirety of The Shattered Continent, this massive lake sits right in the center of the region with the city of Elterdorf, the capital of The Kingdom of Fruchtbarland, located on its northern shore. It's unknown how deep the center portions of the lake are, as no attempt at sounding has ever found the bottom. Tales of mighty leviathans have been told for centuries, but no solid evidence for their existance has ever been produced.
The Kingdom of Fruchtbarland
A feudal kingdom occupying the north western corner of the Great Inland Sea region, The Kingdom of Fruchtbarland is a kingdom without a king, the god siegmund appointed King Eternal and his kingdom ruled by a council of princes in his stead. Once it controlled territory stretching from the Shattered and Crater seas all the way to the Great Inland Sea, but today The Kingdom's territory is much reduced, a legacy of many lost wars with it's neighbor to the east, Galacia. Regardless of these losses, The Kingdom is still a powerful and influential nation, containing some of the most fertile farmland on the continent and powerful guilds which drive industry.
The Valorous Dominion
The rulers of The Kingdom have never forgiven The Valorous Dominion for carving its territory out of Galacian-held but originally Fruchtbarian owned land, and their relations with the small theocracy have been poor ever since it was created. High tariffs are in place for all goods moving in and out of The Dominion and the Kingdom has withheld aid in every confilct between its smaller neighbor and Galacia.
Galacia
Originally occupying the eponymous peninsula to the east of Fruchtbarland, a number of vicious wars with The Kingdom of Fruchtbarland have left Galacia in control of the entire eastern border of Fruchtbarland. Galacia has launched many minor wars against it's neighbors in the name of expanding its holdings, but only in Fruchtbarland have those efforts proven fruitful. Much of the territory that Galacia now controls was all but undeveloped when it gained control of it, but Galacia was quick to turn the fertile soil into much needed farmland.
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