The Aurean Lowlands
The Aurean Lowlands are a stretch of relatively flat land between The Dragonpeaks and the Murkwater river. Covered by a mix of farmlands and forests, the lowlands get their name from their position at the heart of the Aurean Empire, where they are often simply called the Heartlands. Though most of the empire has collapsed over the last few centuries, it is still the largest and most powerful in Obseron, a fact which has made large stretches of the lowlands one of the continents safest and most peaceful regions.
The lowlands have been the heart of the Aurean Empire since it conquered the western portion from Zarthax nearly 5,000 years ago. Despite the empire's decline, the lowlands remain one of the most densely populated areas in Obseron and are home to Aureapolis, the continent's largest city. This is in large part because of the regions high fertility, especially along the Paletar and Murkwater rivers, and the regions grain and wine are exported far beyond what remains of the empire.
Geography
The region is dominated by two rivers, the Paletar in the west and Murkwater in the east, along which most of the population is concentrated. Between them in the north is an area of mixed farmlands and forests known as Sebria, while in the south they are divided by the dense and treacherous Goblin Woods. The westernmost portion is covered by The Fangwood, known for the monsterous creatures dwelling within that make passage unsafe. To the east is the kingdom of Abadar, which was historically considered part of the region before its seperation during the collapse of empire two hundred years ago. The massive Dragonpeaks form the western and southern border.
History
In ancient times, before the rise of humans, the lowlands were entirely forested, the woodlands making up a continuous mass from the Fangwood in the west to all the way to Greenwood Valley. After the dragons of The Circle of the Heavens created the Aurean Empire in the Dragonpeaks around 1 AY, a rival group known as The Order of Dakath founded the kingdom of Zarthax along the Paletar. The now more organized humans began the long process of deforestation in the region. When Zarthax was defeated by Aurea in 162 AY, the latter took over the Paletar valley.
At that time the kingdom of Sebria existed in what is now the Aurean province of the same name. It was inhabited by humans and goblinoids that lived together in relative peace. The Aurean Empire conquered the region in 178-226 AY, a very long process involving prolonged guerilla warfare and the destruction of great swaths of forest by dragonfire. Though goblins remained after the conquest, others fled in mass to the deeper forests, and goblins remain a nuisance to those living near the edge of the forests to this day.
The Aurean empire would continue to expand in the area, taking Abadar to the east in 243-248 AY, the rump of Zarthax to the north in 977 AY, and settling Caltheria in the mountains to the south in 2251 AY. After these additions, the lowlands were surrounded on all sides by imperial provinces, and would be until the collapse in 4835 AY. The imperial provinces within the lowlands today are Aureapolis Province, Paletar, Nurrelia, Sebria, and West Murkwater, the last and most recent added during the conquest of Abadar.
Alternative Name(s)
The Heartlands
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