The Folklands

"A land of endless possibilities, marred by endless scars."

The Folklands, known by sages and mapmakers as the physical world, serve as the ever-turning crucible of history, mortality, and magick. It is the material host of Gaiatia, a sprawling and scarred world where nature's bounty collides with its wrath, where beast and blight share the same fields, and where mortal empires rise only to collapse into ash. Unlike the static perfection of The Otherworld or the infernal rigidity of The Hells, the Folklands pulse with constant change, shaped by season, story, and survival. It is a realm both grounded and celestial, with oceans that whisper secrets and stars that burn like distant gods. A land of extremes and contradictions, the Folklands holds deserts that birth dinosaurs and jungles that smother entire cities. It is home to the great kingdoms of Everwealth, the merciless steppes of Kathar, and the humid depths of Kibonoji, collectively known as the Three Lands or the Great Arrowhead. These continents and cultures are just the surface, for the true depth of the Folklands lies beneath its earth and within its memory: magickal anomalies, forgotten ruins, and the echoes of civilizations that dared to touch the divine. The Folklands are not a paradise, they are the proving ground of mortality, a realm where life is hard-earned, and every discovery comes with a price.

Geography

The Folklands are a realm of unparalleled variety, its landscapes ranging from sprawling deserts and towering mountain ranges to lush jungles and icy tundras. Dominated by our marble of massacre floating in space, the world of Gaiatia, this, our world is home to numerous diverse nations both present and forgotten including Everwealth, Kathar, and Kibonoji, collectively forming The Three Lands or The Great Arrowhead, with Everwealth as its “Tip.” Oceans stretch vast and deep, punctuated by islands of volcanic origin and ancient coral formations. The Folklands also encompass distant stars, moons, and planets visible in its night skies, suggesting a boundless scope unseen in other realms. This diversity extends underground, with caverns sprawling into labyrinthine depths, often holding secret passageways to other planes such as the Otherworld or the Hells.

Ecosystem

The ecosystem of the Folklands is as varied as its geography. Vast herds of grazing beasts roam fertile plains, while apex predators lurk in dense forests and high mountains. Rivers teem with life, from mundane fish to luminescent creatures drawn from magickal springs. The interconnected web of life in the Folklands thrives on balance, though this balance is often disrupted by mortal intervention, resulting in barren wastelands or thriving, domesticated farmlands.

Ecosystem Cycles

The Folklands experiences distinct seasonal cycles that impact its ecosystems profoundly. Winters blanket the northern territories in snow, forcing hibernation and migration, while spring sees an explosion of new life. Summer brings both bounty and drought, while autumn is a time of preparation and harvest. These cycles contrast starkly with the static environments of the Otherworld and the Hells, making the Folklands a realm of constant change and adaptation.

Localized Phenomena

Certain areas in the Folklands hold strange magickal properties, serving as thin veils between realms. Moonlit reed fields, glimmering underground ponds, and seemingly abandoned wells can act as portals to other planes, though not always reliably. The land itself is imbued with peculiar traits, fields of red poppies that bloom only under starlight, forests where the trees whisper ancient secrets, and storms that surge with magickal energy, striking the ground with bolts of living lightning.

Climate

The climate is as diverse as the landscape, ranging from the arid heat of Kathar's deserts to the temperate forests of Everwealth and the humid jungles of Kibonoji. Coastal regions experience frequent storms, while the central plains see mild, consistent rainfall. Unlike the other planes, where time and climate often remain static, the Folklands shifts unpredictably, offering both life-sustaining abundance and life-threatening calamity.

Fauna & Flora

The Folklands teems with life, from the mundane to the magickal. Vast herds of woolly beasts migrate across the northern tundras, while tropical forests house brilliantly colored birds and venomous serpents. Unique creatures, like the ram-horned Capra, Everwealth’s symbolic animal, roam its hills. The flora ranges from towering oaks with bark like steel to creeping vines that glow faintly in moonlight. Some plants and animals, like the invasive bat species from the Hells or the luminous fruit trees of the Otherworld, have found their way into the Folklands, creating new and often volatile ecosystems.

Natural Resources

The Folklands is rich in resources: metals from its deep mines, fertile soils yielding abundant crops, and forests providing timber and game. Its rivers and seas offer fish and trade routes, while its mountains yield precious gems and rare minerals. The discovery of ancient magickal artifacts buried beneath its lands remains one of its greatest draws, promising wealth and power to those daring enough to uncover them.

History

The Folklands has a rich and tumultuous history, from the tribal beginnings of the Origin Age to the advanced civilizations of the Lost Ages and the catastrophic wars of the Great Schism. It is a land of constant reinvention, its peoples rebuilding from ruin time and again. Its history is one of progress marred by violence, with countless empires rising and falling, their legacies etched into the land itself.

Tourism

Few visit the Folklands for leisure, as its dangers often outweigh its beauty. However, scholars, treasure hunters, and adventurers flock to its ruins, hoping to uncover remnants of the Lost Ages. The regions around Everwealth and Kibonoji, with their ancient libraries and magick-infused relics, draw the most attention. Those brave enough to traverse its wilds often stay in fortified inns or caravans, aware that the beauty of the Folklands is as perilous as it is alluring.

Alternative Name(s)

The Physical Plane, The Mortal Realm, The Cradle of Lore.