Minor Shards of Genesis
Generally considered the out-of-the-way backwaters of the magical world, Minor Shards tend to be remote and little-known. They have little significance on the greater goings-on of Genesis, and their inhabitants tend to keep to themselves and desire nothing more than a peaceful, quiet lifestyle.
a population of 1000 or less
no more than 1-2 settlements
a relatively small geographic area
single-race population
very little travel or commerce with other shards
consisting mostly of wilderness
no accompanying Waystation
The general rule of thumb is that in order to be considered a Minor Shard, a shard must be largely a law unto itself with little greater importance that gives outsiders a reason to go there. It's generally theorized that there may be far more Minor Shards than anyone is truly aware of, since many exist in complete obscurity.
pop unknown, N. America, wild
Awaxaawapìa is not only a wild shard, but a pointedly deserted one; it's said that it was created during the Shattering not as a refuge, but as a prison. The mountain range that the shard contains are said to have been home to one of the Cursed, and the shapeshifters of the region banded together to build a shard around the evil being and keep it sealed away to live out its torturous immortal existence far from anyone it could harm. Awaxaawapìa is considered a strictly forbidden territory by all those who know of its existence, and few have ever sought to enter it. Baikal Shard
pop ~400, Siberia, human
Located at the northern end of the vast Lake Baikal, a few tiny towns manage to eke out a living from the bleak landscape. The lake itself is the readiest source of food, but the shard's population is fully aware that some sort of vast Freed Spirit called 'Baikal' or 'the Dusk Walker' lives below the lake's surface, and that they travel and fish its waters only at its sufferance. It's thought that Baikal itself was responsible for the shard's creation, and travels in and out of the shard regularly below the deep waters. Croatan Shard
pop ~800, N. America, human/shapeshifter
Originally a wild shard, the shapeshifters of Croatan Shard took pity on a settlement of starving humans and allowed them into the sizable shard they called their own. While some humans couldn't handle the magical saturation level, a particularly strong magical bloodline turned out to be present in the group and allowed for many to survive within Genesis. Many of the North American mage families of the Old World can trace their ancestry back to the early Croatan colonists, though the shard's current population is fairly small. Five Flowers Shard
pop ~700, China, elven
Once home to several elven settlements, the Five Flowers valley system cradles a series of lakes long celebrated for their beauty and serenity. It was once a retreat for the royals and nobility of Shadowheart when the city was the center of elven civilization, and is featured in many ancient stories, songs, and poems. Though the permanent population is relatively small, Five Flowers still sees a steady stream of visitors from many of the other shards. Ghostheart Shard
pop ~200, China, elven
Once a pilgrimage site where the border between worlds was said to be thin, Ghostheart was a temple-city dedicated to Siarus and a sacred burial place for the elven dead. It had a unique neutrality before the Treaty of Six Lands brought the ancient elven wars, and served as the neutral ground for many negotiations and diplomatic talks due to its enforced nonviolence. Post-Shattering isolation and the wane of elven power in the east means that nowadays the city is largely abandoned, inhabited mostly by a small and aging population of priests. Godhavn Shard
pop ~1000, Greenland, human
Despite its bleak appearance and relatively small population, the bitterly cold shard of Godhavn is of crucial importance due to being the primary source of non-meteoric cold iron in Genesis. The town prospers on its thriving mining operations, but has little else to offer that might make people want to live there. Great Sky Shard
pop unknown, N. America, wild
A vast wild shard, Great Sky is located from the foothills of the Rocky Mountains out across the flatlands in a great sweep. It's sizable enough that few believe it could have formed naturally, leading many to think that it's a shapeshifter-ruled shard. Haven Shard
pop unknown, N. Ireland, human/shapeshifter
Intensely magical even by Genesis standards, Haven Shard is mostly wild and home to many potentially dangerous creatures. Even the shapeshifters of the shard treat the wilderness here with a wary caution, choosing to live a surprisingly sedentary lifestyle alongside humans in the shard's single town from which the area takes its name. Holy Veil Shard
pop ~400, S. Africa, human/shapeshifter
Rumored by legend to be the place where the goddess Aia and the god Riev were wed, Holy Veil Shard is centered around a great waterfall and provides a welcome respite from the heat of the lands that surround it. It's home to a handful of small human settlements, with shapeshifters coming and going through the wilds that surround it. Icefall Shard
pop ~800, Himalayas, elven
One of the smallest of the elven kingdoms to begin with, Icefall has only gotten smaller since the Shattering. Priding themselves on self-reliance, Icefall and its people have largely shut themselves away from the rest of the world and relied on their geographical isolation and the forbidding Himalayas to keep their city safe from intruders. They'll entertain emissaries from the other elven cities, but don't go out of their way to extend a hand of friendship. Iguazu Shard
pop ~400, S. America, elven
Home of the only remaining elven settlement on the continent, Iguazu Falls are the central feature of the shard by the same name. They're spectacularly beautiful and an opening in the dense forests that fill the rest of the shard; according to legend, they're also home to a small population of vanishingly rare unicorns who can sometimes be seen in the early morning at the waters' edge near the falls. Land's End Shard
pop ~400, S. Africa, human/shapeshifter
For all its bounty, Land's End is largely a wild shard; its sprawling jungles are home to some of Genesis's fiercest predators, meaning that the human population exists only in a single town near the shore. An unknown amount of shapeshifters intermingle with the humans, providing much-needed trade that helps sustain the population, but even they hesitate in the face of what lives in the wilds and it's thought that their population isn't particularly large. Land's End often sees adventurers and thrill-seekers looking to make a name for themselves with a dangerous hunt, but it's well understood that many who test themselves against the wildlife won't return. Lostwater Shard
pop ~600, Pacific Northwest, human
A peaceful forest shard, home to two self-sufficient farming communities. The shard is notable for a lake that fills in the winter and drains away in the summer, leaving behind a grassy meadow where water once stood. The caves left behind by this annual drainage are said to go far deeper than anyone truly realizes, and enterprising youngsters exploring their upper reaches have found skeletons speaking to the foolishness of delving deeper. They're said to be haunted, sometimes emitting an eerie light on summer evenings. Nazca Shard
failed shard, S. America
Though it may not be unique, Nazca Shard is famous for its catastrophic failure. The process of the shard's creation was somehow critically flawed, and on the night when the Shattering channeled divine power into the magical groundwork that had been laid to receive it the would-be shard failed in spectacular fashion. The land for miles around was drained of all magic and vitality, leaving behind a barren landscape and destroying its creators without forming the shard they'd labored to create. The resulting Nazca Lines are considered a great tragedy of Genesis's history. Roraima Shard
pop unknown, South America, wild
Encompassing the cloud-wrapped mountain plateau known as Mount Roraima, Roraima Shard is said to have been the domain of a solitary dragon long after the time when most dragons receded from the world. Very few dare to traverse its otherworldly mists, though those few who have claim to have seen a great skeleton among the stones there to suggest the shard's one-time inhabitant has since passed on. Serpentspine Shard
pop unknown, Philippines, shapeshifter
Centered around an underground river and its cave system, the Serpentspine Shard is wild and untouched on the surface. Only shapeshifters in some sort of aquatic form can navigate the river with ease, meaning that few others venture here; it's thought that there are settlements located in caves along the subterranean waterway, but the shard has never been properly mapped. Shadowheart Shard
pop. ~1200, China, elven/human
One of the largest shards to still be considered minor, Shadowheart was once one of the strongest elven kingdoms but declined sharply due to the relative speed and proliferation of humanity's rise in that area of the world. Despite its inclusion in the Treaty of Six Lands, it has long since been disregarded as a functional kingdom and has become a mix of humans and elves living side by side with little interaction with the rest of Genesis. Skywater Shard
pop unknown, S. America, shapeshifter
Though its size suggests it may well be a major shard rather than a minor one in terms of population size, nobody truly knows how many shapeshifters live in the vast wetlands of Skywater. The place teems with life, and it's frequently visited by members of the other races for the sake of hunting and gathering the rare medicinal and magical plant life that can be found nowhere else. During the rainy seasons much of the shard sits covered in a thin layer of water, making it an unappealing home for those who don't travel the land on four legs. Southern Lights Shard
pop ~500, S. Africa, human
A fishing community on the coast of far southern Africa, Southern Lights thrives off the ocean's incredible richness and has a special relationship with Talosh, the god of the oceans. Smoking Valley Shard
pop ~400, Kamchatka, elven
Home to a farflung outpost of the Wave Walker elves for centuries, the Smoking Valley is a naturally volcanic region whose subterranean heat keeps it reasonably temperate even during the bitter cold of winter. It's a place with particularly powerful ambient magic, which was originally the reason that a settlement sprung up there. There are rumors that it was once a draconic outpost long before the Wave Walkers, but the lack of truly mountainous terrain the dragons favored makes this unlikely. Springblessed Shard
pop ~300, North America, elven/human
Centered around a sacred spring said to keep the land around it forever green and fruitful, Springblessed is home to a small community who tend the spring itself and protect it from outsiders. Its waters have powerful restorative properties, and those who live there are often talented healers; as a result, it's often visited by those suffering from persistent afflictions or seeking to cleanse themselves physically and spiritually. Stillwater Shard
pop. ~600, England, human
Centered around a deep-running and lethal stream from which it takes its name, Stillbrook is a quiet farming community surrounded by oak woodlands. Despite being home to a dangerous Freed Spirit living below the deceptively calm waters, its people enjoy a simple life with few hazards. Stone Spires Shard
pop ~300, Australia, shapeshifter/human
A small shard mostly filled with a twisting canyon of stone spires and shallow streams, Stone Spires is another place like Uluru where the barriers between worlds is thin. Those travelling the canyon often step out of time into the Worldshadow or the Dreamroad, making it a sacred but perilous place to traverse. Styx Shard
pop unknown, Pacific Northwest, wild
A wild mountainous shard of redwood forests and rugged cliffs, Styx Shard holds the ruins of several settlements; once settled by humans, it was abandoned after the shard's formation drove creatures living in the extensive cave system belowground to the surface. Nowadays it's largely left untraveled. There's little the shard offers worth confronting the wild beings that call it home. Symerra Shard
pop ~300, Bering Peninsula, shapeshifter/elven
Located in the wilds of the far North, Symerra's shield against the bleak winters is its small cluster of naturally occurring hot springs. It's a small shard, encompassing the valley and ridge that frames the springs, and has a small elven outpost that survives mostly due to providing magical services and worked metal goods to the shapeshifters who hunt the wilds in and around the shard itself. Tangna Shard
pop ~1000, Korean Peninsula, elven/human
Originally an elven settlement when the great centers of elven civilization were focused in the East, Tangna has had a long history as a military stronghold due to its defensible nature. The sheltered inland valley, outer cliffs, and extensive tunnel network under the island were ideal for those who lived there to be truly autonomous, and meant that only its size and the proximity of far more powerful neighbors kept it from forming a kingdom in its own right. It's since dwindled in size, with a population that's become mixed human and elven following the Shattering. Teopan Shard
pop. ~600, Central America, human
Centered around a crater lake, the small human community of Teopan forged a long-ago pact with an ancient Freed Spirit called the Lake Dweller for protection from the shapeshifters who ruled the area. In the days since then the races have made peace with one another, but the humans of the settlement formed Teopan during the Shattering to ensure their longtime protector would live on. Tres Ojos Shard
pop. ~200, Caribbean, human/shapeshifter
Originally meant to preserve the sanctity of long-sacred caves, Tres Ojos instead became a refuge for many of those who followed the ancient ways following the colonization of the Caribbean. Since then its population has dwindled to a fraction of its one-time size, and now precious few even remember the shard's existence. It's thought to be unofficially watched over by the Hidewalker, with the caves thought to be tied in some way to the Dreamroad. Uluru Shard
pop. unknown, Australia, human/shapeshifter
Long sacred to both the shapeshifters and the native humans of the area, the great rock known as Uluru is an ancient spiritual center and a place where the barriers between this world and the Worldshadow is said to be particularly thin. It's said that even those with no connection to the god Lore will sometimes slip across the borders here, walking from one world into another unknowing and unnoticed. The shard has no official population, but its significance and history made preserving it and a great tract of land surrounding it a joint effort between humans and shapeshifters at the time of the Shattering.
Major vs. Minor
Despite the name, the categorization of Minor Shards has less to do with size and everything to do with relative importance. Generally speaking, they meet most of the following criteria:The general rule of thumb is that in order to be considered a Minor Shard, a shard must be largely a law unto itself with little greater importance that gives outsiders a reason to go there. It's generally theorized that there may be far more Minor Shards than anyone is truly aware of, since many exist in complete obscurity.
'Wild' Shards
There are a number of shards which seem completely empty, with no population that's immediately apparent to those who stumble across them. Whether they were somehow organically formed during the Shattering, deliberately created to stand vacant, or abandoned by their one-time inhabitants is up for debate; many of these wilderness-governed Minor Shards seem to serve mostly as refuges for some of the more dangerous wild creatures of Genesis, meaning that there hasn't been a great push to claim the vacant land. Another consideration in leaving them unsettled is the fact that seemingly 'wild' shards have been discovered to actually be home to shapeshifter populations, who have been known to take poorly to intruders. The exact number of wild Minor Shards is unknown, as is the number of them are far less wild than they appear.List of Minor Shards
Awaxaawapìa Shardpop unknown, N. America, wild
Awaxaawapìa is not only a wild shard, but a pointedly deserted one; it's said that it was created during the Shattering not as a refuge, but as a prison. The mountain range that the shard contains are said to have been home to one of the Cursed, and the shapeshifters of the region banded together to build a shard around the evil being and keep it sealed away to live out its torturous immortal existence far from anyone it could harm. Awaxaawapìa is considered a strictly forbidden territory by all those who know of its existence, and few have ever sought to enter it. Baikal Shard
pop ~400, Siberia, human
Located at the northern end of the vast Lake Baikal, a few tiny towns manage to eke out a living from the bleak landscape. The lake itself is the readiest source of food, but the shard's population is fully aware that some sort of vast Freed Spirit called 'Baikal' or 'the Dusk Walker' lives below the lake's surface, and that they travel and fish its waters only at its sufferance. It's thought that Baikal itself was responsible for the shard's creation, and travels in and out of the shard regularly below the deep waters. Croatan Shard
pop ~800, N. America, human/shapeshifter
Originally a wild shard, the shapeshifters of Croatan Shard took pity on a settlement of starving humans and allowed them into the sizable shard they called their own. While some humans couldn't handle the magical saturation level, a particularly strong magical bloodline turned out to be present in the group and allowed for many to survive within Genesis. Many of the North American mage families of the Old World can trace their ancestry back to the early Croatan colonists, though the shard's current population is fairly small. Five Flowers Shard
pop ~700, China, elven
Once home to several elven settlements, the Five Flowers valley system cradles a series of lakes long celebrated for their beauty and serenity. It was once a retreat for the royals and nobility of Shadowheart when the city was the center of elven civilization, and is featured in many ancient stories, songs, and poems. Though the permanent population is relatively small, Five Flowers still sees a steady stream of visitors from many of the other shards. Ghostheart Shard
pop ~200, China, elven
Once a pilgrimage site where the border between worlds was said to be thin, Ghostheart was a temple-city dedicated to Siarus and a sacred burial place for the elven dead. It had a unique neutrality before the Treaty of Six Lands brought the ancient elven wars, and served as the neutral ground for many negotiations and diplomatic talks due to its enforced nonviolence. Post-Shattering isolation and the wane of elven power in the east means that nowadays the city is largely abandoned, inhabited mostly by a small and aging population of priests. Godhavn Shard
pop ~1000, Greenland, human
Despite its bleak appearance and relatively small population, the bitterly cold shard of Godhavn is of crucial importance due to being the primary source of non-meteoric cold iron in Genesis. The town prospers on its thriving mining operations, but has little else to offer that might make people want to live there. Great Sky Shard
pop unknown, N. America, wild
A vast wild shard, Great Sky is located from the foothills of the Rocky Mountains out across the flatlands in a great sweep. It's sizable enough that few believe it could have formed naturally, leading many to think that it's a shapeshifter-ruled shard. Haven Shard
pop unknown, N. Ireland, human/shapeshifter
Intensely magical even by Genesis standards, Haven Shard is mostly wild and home to many potentially dangerous creatures. Even the shapeshifters of the shard treat the wilderness here with a wary caution, choosing to live a surprisingly sedentary lifestyle alongside humans in the shard's single town from which the area takes its name. Holy Veil Shard
pop ~400, S. Africa, human/shapeshifter
Rumored by legend to be the place where the goddess Aia and the god Riev were wed, Holy Veil Shard is centered around a great waterfall and provides a welcome respite from the heat of the lands that surround it. It's home to a handful of small human settlements, with shapeshifters coming and going through the wilds that surround it. Icefall Shard
pop ~800, Himalayas, elven
One of the smallest of the elven kingdoms to begin with, Icefall has only gotten smaller since the Shattering. Priding themselves on self-reliance, Icefall and its people have largely shut themselves away from the rest of the world and relied on their geographical isolation and the forbidding Himalayas to keep their city safe from intruders. They'll entertain emissaries from the other elven cities, but don't go out of their way to extend a hand of friendship. Iguazu Shard
pop ~400, S. America, elven
Home of the only remaining elven settlement on the continent, Iguazu Falls are the central feature of the shard by the same name. They're spectacularly beautiful and an opening in the dense forests that fill the rest of the shard; according to legend, they're also home to a small population of vanishingly rare unicorns who can sometimes be seen in the early morning at the waters' edge near the falls. Land's End Shard
pop ~400, S. Africa, human/shapeshifter
For all its bounty, Land's End is largely a wild shard; its sprawling jungles are home to some of Genesis's fiercest predators, meaning that the human population exists only in a single town near the shore. An unknown amount of shapeshifters intermingle with the humans, providing much-needed trade that helps sustain the population, but even they hesitate in the face of what lives in the wilds and it's thought that their population isn't particularly large. Land's End often sees adventurers and thrill-seekers looking to make a name for themselves with a dangerous hunt, but it's well understood that many who test themselves against the wildlife won't return. Lostwater Shard
pop ~600, Pacific Northwest, human
A peaceful forest shard, home to two self-sufficient farming communities. The shard is notable for a lake that fills in the winter and drains away in the summer, leaving behind a grassy meadow where water once stood. The caves left behind by this annual drainage are said to go far deeper than anyone truly realizes, and enterprising youngsters exploring their upper reaches have found skeletons speaking to the foolishness of delving deeper. They're said to be haunted, sometimes emitting an eerie light on summer evenings. Nazca Shard
failed shard, S. America
Though it may not be unique, Nazca Shard is famous for its catastrophic failure. The process of the shard's creation was somehow critically flawed, and on the night when the Shattering channeled divine power into the magical groundwork that had been laid to receive it the would-be shard failed in spectacular fashion. The land for miles around was drained of all magic and vitality, leaving behind a barren landscape and destroying its creators without forming the shard they'd labored to create. The resulting Nazca Lines are considered a great tragedy of Genesis's history. Roraima Shard
pop unknown, South America, wild
Encompassing the cloud-wrapped mountain plateau known as Mount Roraima, Roraima Shard is said to have been the domain of a solitary dragon long after the time when most dragons receded from the world. Very few dare to traverse its otherworldly mists, though those few who have claim to have seen a great skeleton among the stones there to suggest the shard's one-time inhabitant has since passed on. Serpentspine Shard
pop unknown, Philippines, shapeshifter
Centered around an underground river and its cave system, the Serpentspine Shard is wild and untouched on the surface. Only shapeshifters in some sort of aquatic form can navigate the river with ease, meaning that few others venture here; it's thought that there are settlements located in caves along the subterranean waterway, but the shard has never been properly mapped. Shadowheart Shard
pop. ~1200, China, elven/human
One of the largest shards to still be considered minor, Shadowheart was once one of the strongest elven kingdoms but declined sharply due to the relative speed and proliferation of humanity's rise in that area of the world. Despite its inclusion in the Treaty of Six Lands, it has long since been disregarded as a functional kingdom and has become a mix of humans and elves living side by side with little interaction with the rest of Genesis. Skywater Shard
pop unknown, S. America, shapeshifter
Though its size suggests it may well be a major shard rather than a minor one in terms of population size, nobody truly knows how many shapeshifters live in the vast wetlands of Skywater. The place teems with life, and it's frequently visited by members of the other races for the sake of hunting and gathering the rare medicinal and magical plant life that can be found nowhere else. During the rainy seasons much of the shard sits covered in a thin layer of water, making it an unappealing home for those who don't travel the land on four legs. Southern Lights Shard
pop ~500, S. Africa, human
A fishing community on the coast of far southern Africa, Southern Lights thrives off the ocean's incredible richness and has a special relationship with Talosh, the god of the oceans. Smoking Valley Shard
pop ~400, Kamchatka, elven
Home to a farflung outpost of the Wave Walker elves for centuries, the Smoking Valley is a naturally volcanic region whose subterranean heat keeps it reasonably temperate even during the bitter cold of winter. It's a place with particularly powerful ambient magic, which was originally the reason that a settlement sprung up there. There are rumors that it was once a draconic outpost long before the Wave Walkers, but the lack of truly mountainous terrain the dragons favored makes this unlikely. Springblessed Shard
pop ~300, North America, elven/human
Centered around a sacred spring said to keep the land around it forever green and fruitful, Springblessed is home to a small community who tend the spring itself and protect it from outsiders. Its waters have powerful restorative properties, and those who live there are often talented healers; as a result, it's often visited by those suffering from persistent afflictions or seeking to cleanse themselves physically and spiritually. Stillwater Shard
pop. ~600, England, human
Centered around a deep-running and lethal stream from which it takes its name, Stillbrook is a quiet farming community surrounded by oak woodlands. Despite being home to a dangerous Freed Spirit living below the deceptively calm waters, its people enjoy a simple life with few hazards. Stone Spires Shard
pop ~300, Australia, shapeshifter/human
A small shard mostly filled with a twisting canyon of stone spires and shallow streams, Stone Spires is another place like Uluru where the barriers between worlds is thin. Those travelling the canyon often step out of time into the Worldshadow or the Dreamroad, making it a sacred but perilous place to traverse. Styx Shard
pop unknown, Pacific Northwest, wild
A wild mountainous shard of redwood forests and rugged cliffs, Styx Shard holds the ruins of several settlements; once settled by humans, it was abandoned after the shard's formation drove creatures living in the extensive cave system belowground to the surface. Nowadays it's largely left untraveled. There's little the shard offers worth confronting the wild beings that call it home. Symerra Shard
pop ~300, Bering Peninsula, shapeshifter/elven
Located in the wilds of the far North, Symerra's shield against the bleak winters is its small cluster of naturally occurring hot springs. It's a small shard, encompassing the valley and ridge that frames the springs, and has a small elven outpost that survives mostly due to providing magical services and worked metal goods to the shapeshifters who hunt the wilds in and around the shard itself. Tangna Shard
pop ~1000, Korean Peninsula, elven/human
Originally an elven settlement when the great centers of elven civilization were focused in the East, Tangna has had a long history as a military stronghold due to its defensible nature. The sheltered inland valley, outer cliffs, and extensive tunnel network under the island were ideal for those who lived there to be truly autonomous, and meant that only its size and the proximity of far more powerful neighbors kept it from forming a kingdom in its own right. It's since dwindled in size, with a population that's become mixed human and elven following the Shattering. Teopan Shard
pop. ~600, Central America, human
Centered around a crater lake, the small human community of Teopan forged a long-ago pact with an ancient Freed Spirit called the Lake Dweller for protection from the shapeshifters who ruled the area. In the days since then the races have made peace with one another, but the humans of the settlement formed Teopan during the Shattering to ensure their longtime protector would live on. Tres Ojos Shard
pop. ~200, Caribbean, human/shapeshifter
Originally meant to preserve the sanctity of long-sacred caves, Tres Ojos instead became a refuge for many of those who followed the ancient ways following the colonization of the Caribbean. Since then its population has dwindled to a fraction of its one-time size, and now precious few even remember the shard's existence. It's thought to be unofficially watched over by the Hidewalker, with the caves thought to be tied in some way to the Dreamroad. Uluru Shard
pop. unknown, Australia, human/shapeshifter
Long sacred to both the shapeshifters and the native humans of the area, the great rock known as Uluru is an ancient spiritual center and a place where the barriers between this world and the Worldshadow is said to be particularly thin. It's said that even those with no connection to the god Lore will sometimes slip across the borders here, walking from one world into another unknowing and unnoticed. The shard has no official population, but its significance and history made preserving it and a great tract of land surrounding it a joint effort between humans and shapeshifters at the time of the Shattering.
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