Ishen
Ishen
A varied continent, some have joked that the gods wanted to include every possible landscape when crafting Ishen. Freezing mountaintops, arid flatlands, and dense jungles are just a few of the places a traveler might find themselves while exploring the continent. North western Ishen is largely uncontrolled, with the Heartridge mountains dominating among its features. While many large cities dot this area, they remain independent and free from outside lords and empires. Along the western and southern coasts stretches the Gadian Empire, believed to be one of the oldest human civilizations. To the north east lie the elven kingdoms of O'ranbelle, Thylnmel and Ishen Allanar. The elven kingdoms remain protected by the thick, ever changing stretches of forest and sea that surround them, all teeming with Fey creatures of every description. The expansive wastelands of the desert contain have stalled further spread of the Empire into the center of Ishen. To the southeast the continent is slowly expanding as lava floes from the Luumasa volcanic range spilling off the coast and into the sea. The range is dominated by mount Saalaayo, a spire rivaling only the Heartridge peaks in height. Inland, the dense jungle wilds of Ogemu thrive on the rich volcanic soil and frequent rains coming in off the coast.Elven kingdoms
The Ishen Allanar are often described, even by other elves, to be nearly indistinguishable from the dryads and other Fey of the region. It was in ancient Allanar texts that the land was originally named Ishen, and as such they claim it as their own despite never leaving their city. The kingdoms of O'ranbelle and Thylnmel frequently war between themselves while also protecting and keeping outsiders away from the elusive Ishen Allanar. O’ranbelle is well known for its druids' skills and affinities for earth and water, while Thylnmel’s priest's skills tend more towards wind and lightning. Both O'ranbelle and Thylnmel are led by monarchs, with advisors appointed by Ishen Allanar's leader, a woman widely believed to be an immortal archfey.
All three kingdoms shift with the ever changing landscape, physically moving in such a way that an outsider might wander for months and never stumble across their location, but O'ranbelle is always found in the forests of the territory's southern region, and Thylnmel amidst the sparse mountains to the east. Ishen Allanar, however, is never found in the same place twice, and folk have even claimed to find it in different places at the same time.
The Gadian Empire
An ancient and sprawling empire, the Gadian Empire came into being as nomadic human tribes gathered and settled the southwest of Ishen roughly sixteen centuries ago. The empire now spans the entirety of the southwest of Ishen, reaching north to the Bay of Charms, and east to the edge of Ogemu. The empire has expanded since its inception, but has not grown significantly for a few hundred years, held back by the inhospitable terrain along its borders.
The capital of the empire began as separate villages formed by the seven tribes who settled the region. Over generations, these villages grew, merging their borders, and over time combining to become the massive “Seven Segmented Heart”, the city of Drinnado.
The southern coast of the empire is warm and often humid during summer months. While the northern tip is much more temperate with frequent freezes and some snow during the winters. Trade is fruitful for the empire, with both domestic and foreign trade flourishing. Ports thrive along the west and south, and roads lead north through the Heartridge and northeast through the wastelands.
The Temsomin islands south of the empire are home to proficient sailors and navigators who for generations have made livings as both ship captains and navigators for merchant and military ships of the empire. Despite a rough and occasionally bloody past, the empire has recently allowed the islands more autonomy and has seen fruitful outcomes from doing so. The culture native to the islands is flourishing, and the area is becoming a popular tourist location for nobles and wealthy merchants.
Ogemu
The jungles of Ogemu are home to an unusually large variety of predators and scavengers, and a large population of poisonous and venomous prey has evolved to compensate. Compared to the rest of Ishen, there is very little in Ogemu that is considered "safe", and will not try to kill travelers or adventurers. Even some of the flora has become carnivorous and should be carefully avoided. Due to the dangers and density of the jungles, much of the area is unexplored and thought to be uninhabited, though there have been reports of humanoid beings spotted by the few who do venture into the region.
Despite the danger the jungles hold much allure for travelers, from exotic fruits and animals for trade to ancient relics of long forgotten civilizations. Many adventurers follow tales of these treasures, and few return - only enough to lure more brave souls into the jungle.
From the jungles wind the mountains and islands of the Luumasa. The range extends inland from the dormant volcano of Saalaayo far out into the ocean where crumbling black mounds mark new isles forming, and billowing clouds of hissing steam hint at new land yet to breach the surface. Geysers and hot springs on Saalaayo's south eastern face make it a sought after location by the sick and wealthy alike, but as no established land route to the area exists it is almost entirely uninhabited and is only reliably reachable by complicated and expensive magical transport.
There are rumors of natural tunnels and caves running deep under the ground connecting the Dwarven Kingdom in the center of the Heartridge to a secret mine and forging site below Saalaayo, but no craftsmen would ever admit to knowledge of such paths. And indeed, an individual could never memorize such a route, stretching over a thousand miles of deep underground twists and turns as it passes beneath the wasteland.
The Dwarven Kingdom
Dwarves are fairly uncommon throughout Ishen. There are families scattered about, some are adventurers or tradesmen, but no large communities exist outside of the Heartridge. Deep in the mountains however, a kingdom thrives, focused on internal bonds and community support. Over millennia they have become masters of farming and husbandry, cultivating crops and livestock that thrive in the subterranean. Most well known to the surface world is their mastery of shaping stone and metal, both for use in tools and weapons and for the beautiful artwork that adorns their cities. Dwarven art is more valuable to a collector in Ishen than similar elven or human works, partly because it is often kept by the artist or given to friends and family. Only rarely will a piece be gifted to a non-dwarven noble, or even more rarely sold to someone outside of the kingdom. Gaining access to the kingdom itself is not difficult, but the dwarves watch outsiders closely and slights or misconducts are forgiven slowly, if at all.
The Wastelands
A single massive desert of sand dunes and sandstone spires, the Wastelands fill the center of the continent, too far from the coasts for significant rainfall. There are no rivers or large bodies of water and only a few streams reach edges of the desert before either drying up or pooling in small oases before soaking into the sand and clay. There are a handful of collectives who live in these wastelands and fiercely protect the borders of their territory and food supplies from the others. These tribes make traveling through the desert even more dangerous than it already is by frequently attacking and raiding merchants and adventurers.
The Northern Trade Cities
North of the Gadian Empire, to the west of the Elven kingdoms, lies a densely populated and metropolitan region of city-states with no central governing power. Each a political power on its own, the cities are governed by counsels of influential merchants, land-owners, and even popular local figures. Due to the lack of central government, many of these developed identities as havens for different racial groups and organizations from other regions in Ishen. This is reflected both in the architecture and art of each city, but also the many goods traded, languages spoken, and holidays celebrated. The trade cities themselves are geographically divided by bordering mountains and rivers as well as the coastline of the continent. The southwest cluster of cities and towns surrounding the Bay of Blue Feathers - known colloquially as "the Blue" - more resemble the cities of the Gadian Empire due to their proximity and constant trade with the empire.
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