Syzyguh

Welcome to Syzyguh! This island continent was long ago famous for it's near perfect circular shape. Centuries ago, the giant caldera that had been forming in the center of the island erupted, laying waste to the land, and killing nearly every living thing living on the island. The explosion destroyed a large chunk of land around the caldera, sinking it into the Trackless Sea, and creating what would come to be known as Survivors' Bay. It took centuries for life to return to Syzyguh, and a couple more for man to be confident enough to attempt to settle on its shores. The first noble family to lay claim to the land was House Derax, founding what would eventually become the capitol for the human populace naming it Deraxia.     The Derax were not only seeking to establish a new home for themselves and those who would serve them, but the rare metal known as Tarra that could be mined from the sides of the volcano rising where the Tarra Caldera once slumbered, and erupted. The renowned Ronan and Company was conscripted to bring the metals to the surface but the sulfur and other toxic gases that formed around the volcano drove many Dwarves into an early grave. After years of suffering heavy personnel losses, and barely turning a profit, the Dwarves threatened to abandon the island unless an alternative source of labor could be mustered. House Derax was heavily opposed to slavery becoming a core trade on Syzyguh, however around this time Deraxia had formed into a bustling city, and the second city state, Belen, had just been established on the north-west coast. Crime rates were going up, and jails had quickly filled up with would-be marauders and mercenary companies migrating to Syzyguh in an attempt to take control of the continent, and the valuable metal it held. A prison stronghold was quickly established on the other side of Tarracalda Island and prisoners would find themselves entering the gas filled tunnels to expand them and collect Tarra.              The Destitute Gulag was a success, decreasing fatalities among paid workers, as well as dwindling crime rates, as the threat of being sent to the Gulag struck fear into men more than any noose or executioner's ax ever could. The average prisoner could expect to last no longer than a month in the mines, with the more resilient lasting but a half year. Despite this being the go-to punishment for crimes such as murder and treason, those committing petty theft or even convicted of intent to commit treason could find themselves damned to the Gulag if they crossed the wrong Inspector. When low prisoner counts started effecting Deraxia's profits, militias were drafted to raid the swamps covering the south-east crest of Syzyguh. House Derax had limited forces, and thus never claimed the whole of Syzyguh, and when they arrived in the swamps they found a native population of Lizardfolk who refuted their claims to the area. Raids were conducted, numerous times, and each battle that ended in a defeat for the Lizardfolk resulted in a high prisoner count. These people were "tried" and convicted of treason to House Derax, and sentenced to the Gulag. To this day the population retains high numbers, offering a strong fighting force against the militias each time they're sent in. Failing to report for your draft resulted in the brand of Outcast, and carried the charge of treason with it.                       This has been the way of Syzyguh for nearly one hundred years, in this time a allied kingdom joined House Deraxia on the island, the elves of Asadorei have established themselves as the cultural and religious hub of Syzyguh. When the Elves attempted their own raid against the swamps they were met with a gathering of druids from various race. This group of beastfolk, humans, elves, and gnomes performed a ritual that created a divide between the swamps and the elven capitol of Asadorei resulting in the Unplumbed Sound. This crevice runs 500 feet across all the way through this part of the continent. Efforts to bridge the gap have all failed as a magical force seems to falter any attempts to do so.