Metea: Cradle of Adventure
Notable For: Hospitality, Agriculture, Vale College
Many Adventures begin in Metea, as the tame geography is ripe with dangers that starting parties can actually handle. Metea has a long tradition as a proving grounds for novice adventurers and as such has sparked a hospitable way of life. Adventurers can generally find a place to rest in the homes of common-folk, fresh blankets, warm food and fine drink provided in exchange for stories of their adventure.
The Meteans are known for their hospitality and craftsmanship. Though the Shattered Isles smokes them in weapons and good crafting, Valenarux ages ahead in the Arcane, Meteans pour every bit of their soul into what they create, growing into a culture of artists. No two Metean blades are alike, barkeeps boast unique flavors at every tavern, no song the same; Meteans choose their craft and strive to make it something unique and that they can be proud of, and, much like the lionhearted adventurers that grace the nation, speak through action and craft.
Geography
Metea is a moderate region in every sense of the word. Summers can be sweltering, but fresh spring & creeks are never far; winter nips with its cold teeth, but the cobblestone homes hold roaring hearth fires. Metea is flanked by the Tyrant Breaker Mountains and the Serpents' Sea and as such experiences a variety of seasons: Winter, Spring(Hurricane Season), Summer, and fall. The topography is hilly just about everywhere: Forests ride the lands wave and aquifer spawned creeks and ponds are commonplace. The only true river running through the region is the Silmer River, named after the shimmering mist that hovers over it in the mornings.
Fauna & Flora
The Forests that dot the land, thanks to the coast, are Coniferous. Evergreens, Cedar, Cypress and Spiralhorn are common place in the vasts forests. A variety of mosses and ferns cling to the forest floors. There are two major forest that sit at opposite ends of the region:
The Silmer Woods- These eastern woods sit upon the hilliest region of Metea. From a distance it resembles a fortress of trees, hills raising towers high above the leafy ramparts-- and in a way, it is a fortress to all manner of magical creature and dangerous monster. Beasts of all kinds, Trolls, Ettercaps, Dryads, Ettins-- and who knows, maybe more monsters will pop out of the wood-works.
The Lakwe Barrens- The Lakwe Barrens covers an area from Avantia to the Dusty Rapids. Dominated by Roaming Pines, gargantuan trees that wander the woods aimlessly, the woods transform on the daily, swathes of shadow moving to reveal fuzzy meadows and smaller Cypress and Cedar trees. Predatory animals are rare here, and those that hunt the woods are Dire Class creatures-- However, would be monster hunters best not track them down as they will be at the mercy of the fey that protect the woods.
The Tyrant Breaker Mountain Range- Holding the line between the Dust Fields and Metea, this range dominates the northern border. The mountains stretch into the clouds, though the slopes and peaks aren't quite extreme. Caravans can make their way through the winding paths, and even the Electric Rail can pass with little trouble. The mountain gets its name from a battle that transpired in the year 5949, where the Tyrant King Udul Storm-snatcher prepared to wash away The Shattered Isles by means of one of The Beast Relics and was defeated: Because of him castles and forts wither away in the peaks. Manticores, griffons, giants, wyverns, bears and, if rumors are to be believed, a golden dragon make the peaks their home.
Natural Resources
With extremely fertile hills, Metea has become Ibivelt's largest food producer: Vegetables, livestock, wines and wheat are some of their most appreciated exports. (Funny Tidbit, due to a mostly agricultural production, commonfolk often have animal epithets such as "the Boar" or "sheep")
History
The Strength of Lions and Mice
Humanities first graced Metea in the 2705 year. Early nomadic settlements of humans wandered the barrens, living a hunter/gatherer lifestyle in the shadow of colossal Lakwe creatures, and Gnome settlements along the Silmer Wood line and the Wind Plains rose around the same time comfortably developing more permanent settlements. Interactions between both groups were amicable, the more formidable Humans trading furs, meats and superior strength for Gnome technology. After generations of interactions, the decade between 2900-2910 saw the first permanent Human and Gnome settlements emerge, Humans adding domesticated Metean Mastiffs and Pine Oxen to Gnome farming. By the early 3000, Metea saw rise to its first city with over 10 million people, that being the pyramid city of Baa'lam. By all recorded accounts, Baa'lam was an arcane superpower, early Human and Gnome wizards expanding the use of Evocation and Abjuration magic to create defenses such as Kylji Gate, wands, and Golems to name a few. Some scholars argue that these advances in magic were far from enough to propulse Metea to a Golden Age, suggesting that, perhaps, Essence casting was at the heart. Not enough evidence exists to support this however.Early Conflicts
Beyond the Dire class creatures from the Lakwe Barrens, Metea only saw two threats within its 345 years of existence. The first came with the Bladed Hurricane Crisis(3040-3045), 5 years of heavy pillaging by Orc raiders from the Southern Salt-lakes. Southern Settlements along the Shard Coast, Shattergate included, were destroyed and Orcs brought both settlements and Orc beasts with them, such as Giant Bats, (List in Progress) into the region: Even now, carved sandstone totems still stand in the wilds, a haunting reminder of the threat in the Serpents Sea. The conflict ended when Baa'lam, with support of the god Orb, ejected the peninsula surrounding the Salt-lakes into the sea. This land exists now as the Horde's Retreat. The Second Came on The Day of Hell's Dawn, A hell-storm of fire that razed the Primeval Jungle, leaving only the Primeval Desert behind. Tribes of Trolls that called the Jungle their home were forced to escape into the Tyrant-Breaker Mountains, pressing deeper into unguarded Metean lands. two decades of skirmishes and slaughter on both sides later, the Troll Tribes were all unified under the Grida Banner lead by Gunmar the All-Devourer; The entire eastern end of Metea was swept away by the trolls, the only protection in the west the Warding of Kylji Gate. A year of vicious fighting saw great losses on both sides, both in numbers and knowledge, but ultimately ended when Metean Artificers constructed the Grida Gate and defeated Gunmar, erasing any presence of the trolls from the Material Plane."You'll know it when you see it. No other land opens its arms as wide as those jade hills; no other place has gleaming eyes of swaying grass, dark juniper forests blushing its cheeks. Truly, no other place seems so inviting and loving-- which makes the dagger in her closed fists even more surprising.
-Avalon, 1st Eagle Knight
Alternative Name(s)
The Greenhorn Hills, The Cradle
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