The Ruined Plateau of Thysduin
Danger
For those that wish to risk travelling this forsaken land. Be warned. This place is fraught with dangerous beasts, poisonous trees, toxic rivers, and a wandering miasma that sucks the life out any interloper found within its embrace.
History
This plateau was the birthplace of the elven people, long ago. Now it is a ruined place, isolated from the rest of the continent. No traveller dare enters, as it is rumoured to be plagued with a strange wandering miasma that warps and destroys all it touches. Long ago this diseased fog ravaged the entire population of the plateau, then known as the elven kingdom of Thysduin. A once great nation of proud and intellectual people, far more advanced than their younger brethren of the world.
Though nothing could save them from the deadly plague that would destroy their home without mercy. This plague is considered the first large scale disaster of the modern world, occurring nearly a millennia ago. The true cause of the plague was lost with its people, though scars caused by its path of destruction can be seen gouged into the earth of the plateau itself, these wounds may tell a tale for those who are observant enough.
Only a few thousand elves would survive this event, those fortunate enough to be near the borders of the plateau, able to escape to nearby nations and avoid the sickness and destruction altogether. The descendants of these people are the only elves living today. And though these descendants are commonly accepted as elven, it is common knowledge that no full-blooded elves live in the modern day.
Geography
The plateau is on a much higher elevation than the regions surrounding it, and is nearly inaccessible by foot; the plateau is surrounded by a vast canyon on all sides. The ruined remains of a grand stone wall, surround the edges of the former kingdom, much of the wall has fallen into the chasm below in the last few centuries. Only two known crossings exist onto the plateau, small strips of land that bridge over the deep canyon. One is located to the south, bordering The Jungles of Mijhail, and the other is to the east which crosses from a contested piece of land, currently being fought over by two warring eastern nations.
If any were to pass into the ruined kingdom from these crossings they would pass under one of the final remaining artifacts of the true elven people. These two artifacts are two large matching stone archways that are carved with the shapes of two elven people each, rumoured to be the depictions of forgotten elven royalty.
Much of the southern portion of the plateau has become dried and arid, populated primarily by hard stone and dust. The only living vegetation being small wiry plants that occasionally peak through the unforgiving soil. These plants are coarse to the touch and have sharp leaves that deter most creatures. Little predators roam this area due to the severe lack of food, those have stayed are smaller beasts that hunt for whatever little prey they can find with a crazed fervour.
In the western region of the plateau, forests and other flora still thrive, though they have been corrupted with blight and disease for hundreds of years now. Most have become toxic to the touch and are not edible for most creatures. Some of the larger creatures of this land have developed heartier stomaches and are able to survive any discomfort caused by ingesting the vegetation here.
The northeastern area of the plateau is similar to the west, with its forests, rivers, and flora somehow surviving the near millennia onslaught of the wandering miasma. Much the same, it has undergone sickly mutations and corruptions, becoming far more dangerous to any living creature that may wander through. This area is distinct from the other regions of the plateau in some ways, however. Near an old elven monastery, a strange field of chalky white stalks grow, sticking out of the ground in the hundreds. These vegetal stalks have numerous off purple bulbs growing off their main appendage. If any of these odd plants are disturbed these strange bulbs will burst open, releasing a deep purple gas that mirrors the effects of the wandering miasma that crawls across the plateau.
The most dangerous region of the plateau, however, is in the north, around the ancient capital city of the elves. This area is choked with overgrown blighted trees and oddly shaped, and often poisonous, vegetation that can kill from the slightest of touches. This area has the largest concentration of miasma, being nearly constantly flooded by the foul air. There are only short periods each day where any living creature can attempt to traverse through this region without danger of inhaling the toxic fumes. And even if they manage to pass through the miasma, the forests and ruins of this region are hunted by blighted beasts that have grown accustomed to the areas rotten disease. Becoming very aggressive and vile, they will stalk and hunt down any creature it views as potential prey.
If any traveller were to pass through these dangers and make their way to very north of the plateau they would be able to see one of the fallen nations original treasures. A huge and awe-inspiring waterfall tumbles into the northern side of the canyon, its water flowing in from a wide brackish river that is being fed by the northern oceans of Fyria. Despite the damage that has been suffered by this place for hundreds of years, this geographic wonder has stood the test of time and still flows uninfected by the miasma’s blight.
Alternative Name(s)
The Ruined Kingdom of Thysduin
Type
Plateau
Included Locations
Inhabiting Species
Interesting Locations
The ruins of an outpost are still visible near the southern pass into the plateau. A small tower lies in a pile where the outpost once stood. All of the wooden structures that accompanied it have long since rotted or been carried away by roaming beasts. It is an amazing spot to view the southern coast of Fyria and the Jungles of Melijhail as the outpost and the plateau itself sits at a much higher elevation than the coast below. A similar outpost lies at the eastern edge of the plateau and gives a similarly spectacular view of the small nation, and gnome homeland, of Thum and its capital city of Bellbrook.
A small village used to stand a couple of days from the southern pass but now it lays in ruin, only a few ruined stone blocks still lay at this location, burning in the open sun of the arid plains of the southern plateau. When this village was still standing it would have been surrounded by a lush forest of purple and red leaved trees. Now it sits in a dusty plain devoid of moisture and life.
Closer to the western region of the plateau lying on the shores of a toxic lake filled with thick burgundy water, is the ruins of an elven settlement, much larger than the village to the south. A thick-tangle of dark woods, the bark of which is corrosive to the touch, surrounds the city and is filled with the blighted predators of the region. These ruins are expansive and still have a few free-standing structures to explore. Though much of what lies within these structures have been ripped apart and defiled by the beats of this poisoned region.
Near the northeastern edge of the plateau is the ruins of an elven monastery, these ruins are surprisingly intact, with much of the main structure still standing, though many of its surfaces have been buffeted by the foul winds of the plagued fog that blows through its hall regularly. In the north end of the monastery lies a gorgeous 20ft statue that depicts an elven saint, whose identity has been lost from all expect historians of elven worship.
Finally, sitting on the edge of a cliff overlooking the northern waterfall of The Ruined Plateau of Thysduin is the ancient capital of the elven people, Elys Lenora. Though in ruins, this once grand city is still a place to behold. Much of the infrastructure of the city still stands, though many of their tallest towers have crumbled or partially collapsed. Sitting at the rear of the city are the once vital and lush gardens of the royals, these gardens once provided a serene place for all of the people of the capital to relax, granting a pristine viewpoint for the once clear and beautiful waters of the northern waterfall. Much of the capital has lain untouched, and hundreds of elven artifacts may still lay untouched within the walls of the city. Though dangerous beasts and toxic vegetation fill the city, erasing any chance of relaxation within the capital. What makes the capital even more dangerous is that a huge cloud of plagued fog sits, forever collecting near the centre of town, spewing torrents of poisoned air throughout the city. Making it one of the most dangerous places to explore on the entire plateau.
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