Shin Ferin can be divided into three distinct zones, running from north to south. Though these zones possess varied geographic features and climates, there are clear geographic, architectural or cultural boundaries dividing them.
The northern most part of the continent is occupied by the Tooloo Tundra, though this is name encompasses several tundras and forests, as well as some small mountainous areas through out the northern third of the continent. The southern border of The Tooloo Tundra is marked by The World Scare Mountains in the east and The Ghost Wood in the west.
South of the Tundra lies the lands of The
Elph Nation, which occupy the Great Plains at the center of the continent, The Painted Desert in the south west and the Great Swamps in the south east. The central part of the continent is both it's most ecologically diverse and most densely populated area, as it is home to seven city states of
The Free Cities and their surrounding settlements.
The Great Swamps empty into the Great Sea in the south. This area of the sea is warmer than most areas, partially sheltered from cold northern currents by the land mass of Shin Ferin and contains a number of islands, some populated, but mostly with small fishing communities. The ownership of these islands is disputed, as some are claimed by the city state of
Kindwater, some are claimed by the city state of
Stone, and others are claimed by the Black Blood Empire. These islands are mostly self governing however, supporting populations of
Zerk, Elph and Beastmen, as well as some
Humans.
In the south of The Painted Desert lies The Wall, a massive canyon which divides the lands of The Elph from the lands of The Black Bloods, and further south at the edge of the desert is The Emerald Sea Jungle. These deep jungles are home to a myriad of creatures, as well as a number of species of Beastmen, the only ones on the continent of Shin Ferin. Though technically claimed by The Black Blood Empire, these jungles remain untamed and mostly uncharted. Further south the jungle thins out and is replaced by a high verdant mountainous region, dotted by cities and forts of the Black Blood Empire, as well as ruins of Human settlements and The Southern Empire.
The Great Plains
The Great Plains occupy most of central Shin Ferin and are relatively flat. Though dotted with small forests and rolling hills, the plains are mostly grasslands. Free Cities farmers favor the meadows on the eastern edges of The Great Plains, however the tall grass of the plains is used by some to graze cattle and the large flat expanses to farm grains.
The Great Plains and settlements throughout are claimed by
Shoar, though they do not exercise much authority over the people living there.
The Ghost Wood
The Ghost Wood is a massive forest that occupies much of the north western portion of the continent. It's dotted with swamps and mashes and is known for frequent rain and little light. The Ghost Wood is also home to the eponymous ghost wood trees, though none but the closest advisors of The Elph Lord know the location of these groves. The Ghost Wood is also home to the city of
Ghostwood, proving that the Elph are not terribly creative when it comes to naming cities.
The Tooloo Tundra
Though technically not a single tundra, but rather a series of tundras, mountainous areas and forests, the Tooloo Tundra is the largest single region of Shin Ferin. It is home to a number of large predators including giant cave bears, dire wolves and speartooth cats, and the waters off it's coast are one of the primary habitats of hunting whales. The Tooloo Tundra is also home to both The White Zerk and the
Beast Giants.
The Painted Desert
The Painted Desert is a large desert in the south west of central Shin Ferin. The low desert is known for it's deep red sands and the high desert for its colorful striated rock formations, canyons and mesas. Most of The Painted Desert is claimed by the city of
Stone, however their boudaries end at The Wall in the south, and the desert extends beyond that before giving way to The Emerald Sea jungle.
The Wall
The Wall is actually a massive canyon that runs along the southern reaches of The Painted Desert. The Southern portions of The Painted Desert are extremely rocky and dotted with deep canyons and large mesas, but The Wall is the largest. Stone claims the wall as part of it's domain and defends it as such. The Wall acts as both a physical and political checkpoint for any who would wish to travel into or out of The Free Cities.
In the east The Wall continues north before giving way to the sandy lower desert, and several settlements are built into this portion of The Wall, the largest of them being
Gapbreak. Though Stone claims The Wall, Gapbreak claims dominion over many of these settlements, however they are largely independent.
The Emerald Sea
The Emerald Sea is the largest jungle in the known world. Only the portion of the jungle on the mainland is considered part of the sea, however many of the islands to the east are covered in similarly dense jungles. The Emerald Sea is home to staggering variety of flora and fauna, including swordbills, whip tail apes and the giant blue tongue lizards. The jungle is also home to The
Green Giants, though their numbers and distribution isn't known.
The
Vashtak first emerged in The Emerald Sea, but they are believed to exist underground throughout the continent, and only emerge in the jungle because it's climate is favorable to them.
The Great Swamps
The Great Swamps are a series of swamps and marshes connected by rivers in the south eastern portion of central Shin Ferin. Though technically charted and populated, the swamps are considered dangerous and best avoided by all except locals. Kindwater is the largest city in the swamps, though not the only one. The Swamps extend into the land claimed by
Haven and the most southern portion of The Gift, but they become much less dense and easier to navigate further north.
The World Scar Mountains
Believed to be the oldest mountains in the world, The World Scar Mountains run through the north eastern half of Shin Ferin. Though The World Scar Mountains are older and softer than The
Urkaise Range, they are similarly barren. Despite their rocky faces, several small settlements exist around the mountains, as well as the Free City of
Sky, which claims the mountains as their territory. Sky is ruled by The Giant Lords and is notably the only Free City where slave hunters are not permitted, as such many escaped slaves consider The World Scar Mountains as a beacon of freedom on the horizon.
Comments