The Grassy Sea
Located in the far north-east of The Shattered Continent, the broad grasslands and savannas of The Grassy Sea make up the largest single region on the continent. Stretching from the shattered remnants of the northern end of The Spine which separate it from Alhamland in the west to the shores of the mysterious eastern seas, small sections of dense forest break up the borders of the region. To the kingdoms to the south, The Grassy Sea is seen as a mysterious land populated by savage centaur tribes, and as one of the last regions which has which has resisted human settlement, a great prize to be claimed by anyone who can manage it.
Geography
Stretching eight hundred miles east to west and three hundred north to south, The Grassy Sea is the largest region on The Shattered Continent. The expansive grasslands which give The Grassy Sea its name stretch from one end of the region to the other, occasionally running along the edge of stretches of forest but never interrupted. Vast herds of grazing animals wander this seemingly endless savannah along with packs of predators and nomadic tribes of centaurs that make their homes out on the grassland and under the open sky. Small clusters of trees dot the open plains, often marking the presence of watering holes, and the open plains gradually give way to dense forest at several points along its edges.
The dense forests which border the grasslands can be seen from miles away on the the otherwise remarkably flat region, particularly since they tend to be backed by hilly or moutainous areas. Tribes of forest dwelling centaurs, smaller than their plains dwelling kin, make their homes here along with several elven enclaves. With wood being scarce out in the open savanna, the plains tribes often organize wood harvesting expeditions which sometimes bring them into conflict with the forest tribes
While The Grassy Sea is largely flat open grasslands, small portions of the northern edge of The Spine run up the western edge of the region and another group of mountains rises from the center of the northern coast. Difficult for the centaur tribes to traverse, the mountains are home to a number of dwarven clans and holds which trade with the centaurs regularly and serve as their main source of metal.
Notable Locations
Stòr Beatha
Meaning 'Source of Life' in an ancient centaur dialect, this river runs north to south from the western mountains down to the coast of the Northern Strait. One of the few easily available sources of water on the grassy sea, this river is a major target for herd migrations and the largest centaur settlement is built on its banks.
Climate
Defying it's northerly location, The Grassy Sea has maintains a warm and relatively dry climate year round. Believed to be a result of the chaotic magics of the cataclysm, this hot and dry climate extends down the entire eastern side of The Spine, becoming even more dry and arid the further south it goes.
The Tempest of Torvedr
Around a hundred miles off of the western coast of The Grassy Sea, its hot dry climate meets the arctic climate of Alhamland and The Stormwracked Isles and the result is a line of incredibly violent weather stretching hundreds of miles from the north coast of Alhamland. Named after the primeval god of storms Torvedr - The Stormbringer, the storms generated by this phenomenon sweep westwards giving The Stormwracked Isles their name.
The Peoples of The Grassy Sea
The plains centaur tribes may be the most visible of the residents of The Grassy Sea, but they are far from the only ones. From the tribes of small but nimble forest centaurs to the elves and dwarves, this region has a surprisingly diverse array of peoples who call it home.
The Centaur Tribes
Once reduced to the shattered remnants of dozens of tribes trapped on a serpentfolk game preserve, the centaurs have bounced back to become the undisputed masters of the endless plains of The Grassy Sea.
The Plains Tribes
These tribes are what most outsiders picture when thinking of centaurs, proud warriors galloping across the open grasslands to confront any intruders on their lands. The vast majority live in nomadic tribes which wander the plains nearly year round, but others live in a small handful of permanent settlements built on the edges of the grasslands where serpentfolk forts once stood.
The Forest Tribes
Smaller bodied than their plains dwelling cousins, the centaurs of the forest tribes are at home among the dense forests which border the plains of The Grassy Sea. The small hidden villages that they originally built with the help of their elven allies have grown into massive cities which wind their way through the trees, making best use of the space available to them on the forest floor while leaving the dense canopies above intact. Some of these cities are even built underneath elven settlements built high in the branches above, the two communities living in relative harmony.
The Elves
The elven enclaves known as "Tel'Quessir Nelluin sel aul Tel'Vandor" or "The People Hidden High In The Forest" were once reduced to a single hidden city in the southernmost forest of The Grassy Sea, but they have since spread back out to all of the major woodlands of the region. These elves are closely allied with the forest centaur tribes, serving as mentors and teachers to the younger civilization, having taught them the skills needed to thrive in their new home.
The Dwarves
There may once have been more dwarven holds in the mountains surrounding The Grassy Sea, but by the cataclysm only one remained in the far west, Silversteel Hold. As the tribes tried to adjust to living in this new land after the cataclysm, the dwarves helped them dismantle the serpentfolk cities to build their own and tought them to work metal again, since that knowledge had been lost during the reign of the serpentfolk. The Tribes and Silversteel Hold maintain strong trade and diplomatic ties, with the dwarves providing the majority of The Tribes metal in return for animal products, particularly meat, and centaur smiths maintain their hair and beards in the dwarven style to this day.
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