Tarien's Geography
The Known World
With Cedric Kandar II successful circumnavigation of the Azermathia sub-continent in the mid 6th century, AC, all the lands of Tarien, that is to say those which lie between the Darsiac Ocean (west of Prydith and Nerridia ), the Sea of Dreams (east of the Arm of the Gods and Merdenkal ), and the Sintarien Sea (south of Azermathia), have been declared "known". This is not strictly true, of course, as little is known about Frozen Wastes north of the Forsythe's line. But, it was by Imperial decree that Tarien be considered fully mapped and most scholars are loathe to contradict their sources of funding.
Geographic Regions
For simplicity, many scholars have divided Tarien into a number of geographic regions. According to legend, a tutor for Jethrick d'Uthar II came up with the different regions to help the young prince better organize where different nations existed in relation to each other. Of course, given the limitted geographic knowledge of the time, his list excluded the entire southern subcontinent of Azermathia, anything beyond the Soulmeliti Forests to the east, and a number of other parts of what scholars toda consider the Known World. The list, however, has been updated periodically and, according to the department of geography at the University of Karradone, there are now fifteen official geographic regions of Tarien.
These regions do not come without academic contreversy. A number of geographers have expressed displeasure with these regions, noting that they often follow political, rather than geographic boundaries. Other students of history are quick to note that the list will surely evolve as exploration pushes the frontiers of knowledge. Large regions such as the Unexplored South will certainly be broken down into smaller, more manageable areas of study as more about them is known.
Cartographic Lines
Forsythe's Line
This line, existing in the far north of Tarien and named after a long-nosed Eldorian professor who theorized its existence, is typically located just north of most maps, past the point where exploration has been considered of any value. It is north of this line where the days lengthen in summer and shorten in winter to the point that it never sets for several days around the Midsummer Festival and never rises for several days around Darknight.
Anderi's Line
While this line theoretically crosses all of Tarien it was first discovered in Azermathia. It is here that on Midsummer’s Day the sun climbs until it is directly above and Anderi's vision sees through the hearts of all men, allowing Tiras to obscure nothing with her shadows. A great temple to Anderi has been built in Drakkar on this line.
Birds Soar Above the Gates of the University of Karradone
Through storms and calms; braving savages and creatures most foul; and bearing witness upon the very peaks that climb to the heavens; the late Sir Cedric has, like his father before him, brought us much knowledge of Tarien. With his last revelations I hereby declare the age of darkness at an end. The Empire knows all of the world.
Contents
Common Distances
The following chart contains some common distances. All distances are "as the dragon soars", not taking into account the vagaries of road, coastline, or ocean current.
Maps on Tarien
Maps, many extremely crude, therefore exist for much of the known world and, even if many far flung coasts are more hastily drawn guesses, it is enough that geographers at the University of Karradone have at least determined a rough size of the world. Most maps that attempt to include it entirety are roughly 1,000 by 1,000 leagues.