Mar Mabon
Mar Mabon is a vast and rugged island located in the central Helerin Archipelago. Known for its harsh landscapes and the haunting remnants of the ancient Thalissian Empire, Mar Mabon is a land of extremes, with fertile river valleys, desolate deserts, and the towering Burning Peaks dominating the skyline.
With the exception of the Mar Mabon Townships - the towns and cities clustered on the islands northwestern coast - the island is largely unsettled. Its wild regions are home to dangerous creatures, nomadic tribes, and long-abandoned ruins.
Climate
Mar Mabon experiences a dry-summer climate, with scorching temperatures in the south and west, and slightly cooler, more temperate conditions along the northern and eastern coasts. Summers are long and hot, with little rainfall, while winters are mild, though the higher elevations of the Burning Peaks can experience chillier conditions. The island is prone to violent storms, particularly along the northern coast, where strong winds sweep in from the Mabon Channel.Geography
The geography of Mar Mabon is dominated by the central mountain range known as the Burning Peaks, which stretches over 250 miles from the island's centre to its southern tip. These mountains are riddled with volcanic activity, creating a dangerous and unstable landscape of hot springs, lava flows, and geysers. To the west lies the vast Curmon Desert, a sea of shifting sands and parched earth, while to the north, the Jarocan Plain stretches out in a barren, rocky expanse. The fertile river valley of the Thalgas River cuts through the Thalis Plains in the north, offering a rare oasis of greenery. The Gathoran Sands, an arid coastal desert, border the Mabon Channel to the north, and the rugged Shidar Highlands rise to the east, separating the island from the Bay of Tharn. Off Mar Mabon's most easterly point, the towering cliffs of Varshin Islands stand thronged with seabirds, while on the west coast, the dangerous Straits of Charthol separate Mar Mabon from its smaller neighbour, Mar Miskun.Flora
Despite its arid environment, Mar Mabon supports a variety of hardy plant species adapted to the harsh conditions. In the Curmon Desert and Gathoran Sands, Thornfane cacti and Spireleaf succulents dominate the landscape, their water-storing abilities allowing them to survive long periods of drought. In the more temperate river valleys, Larionda shrubs and Gressin provide medicinal seeds and splashes of color. Along the rocky outcrops of the Shattered Fields, the resilient Stonefelt lichen clings to the cliffs, offering a vital source of sustenance for the small creatures that call the barren landscape home.Fauna
Mar Mabon's wildlife is as formidable as its terrain. The Burning Peaks are home to terrifying predators like Basilisks and Pitressa, massive spiders that spin webs across mountain passes. In the plains and deserts, Rhakkor roam, their loud roars reverberating across the landscape, while Blackshell beetles, with their near-impenetrable armour, hunt smaller prey. The Lirketh, a giant serpent, stalks the deeper reaches of the Shidar Highlands, and in the waters of the Mabon Channel, Krethgorr and Lorghee patrol the waters, posing constant threats to sailors and fishermen. The skies are equally dangerous, with Moggrin and Thrasse soaring above, ready to strike at any unwary creature or traveller.Inhabitants
Mar Mabon is home to a diverse array of nomadic tribes, primarily scattered across the northern and central regions of the island. These tribes, including the Baree and Jindin, roam the plains, deserts, and foothills, herding livestock and surviving in the island’s harsh environment. Numerous other tribes have established territories across much of the north, each with its own unique culture, traditions, and relationships with the land. Tribal life is shaped by the rhythms of nature and the need to navigate the dangers posed by both predators and the volatile terrain. Conflicts over resources and territory are common among the tribes, but they are also known to cooperate in times of need. The permanent settlements known as the Mar Mabon Townships are clustered in the northwest. Here the towns of Gathansin and Tabann, and the port cities of Argonsa and Orbont thrive along the coast. These settlements are vital centres of trade and commerce, connecting Mar Mabon to the broader Helerin Archipelago through the Mabon Channel. While these coastal towns remain hubs of activity, much of the island's interior remains untamed. The Thalis Plains, located in the northern heart of the island, were once the center of the great Thalissian Empire. The ruins of ancient cities like Thalis and Tirmallan stand as enduring reminders of this lost civilization, their stone remnants overgrown and abandoned. Despite the fall of the empire, the ruins still draw explorers and treasure hunters, lured by the promise of uncovering forgotten relics and the secrets of the past. Today, the tribes and settlements of Mar Mabon live in the shadow of this ancient history, their lives intertwined with the land that once belonged to a mighty empire.
Type
Island
Location under
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