Federal Province of Tersten
"Come, be at peace. The bells of Calian cry out for freedom. We have endured, and shall continue to do so."
The Federal Province of Tersten, also known as Tersten County, is considered the heartland of the entire planet. It is the home of the Pinasc people, and the capital province of the Republic of Tersten. It is here that the first colonies of the Pinascimate Penal Authority were established. Following its collapse, the founding of Tersten City has led to the region being the seat of power for the Pinascimate Republic, the Tersten State, and the modern-day Republic of Tersten.
Geography
Geographic Regions of Tersten County
Calian
Tersten City Metropolitan Zone
The Tersten City Metropolitan Zone, or the Greater Tersten City, is the urban build-up surrounding the historic capital of Tersten City. It has grown massively over the past thirty years, expanding to include various satellite towns such as York, Sarar, Wrexham, and Scarborough. As such, the Metropolitan Zone is divided into twelve boroughs, each with their own elected officials and local culture. The region extends from the Sarar Lake to the western side of the Takiwerk River. The oldest part of the Metropolitan Zone is the Borough of the City of Freetown, the site of the historic settlement of Freetown, established by Jonathan Tersten following the flight from Harelstone Prison. The Republic of Tersten has its capial here in Tersten City, with its offices and institutions established in the Borough of the Great Republic, a planned district of the city constructed after the founding of the Republic.West Calian
West Calian is a narrow region of land on the western banks of the Takiwerk River. It lies to the west of the TCMZ, and is a largely rural region, home to small scale mining and logging industries. Its largest city, Takiwerk, is located on the Takiwerk River, and is an important port city, influencing trade downstream towards Priceless. Takiwerk was first established during the Penal Era, giving its name to the major river that flows along its north-eastern shores. Its northern territory brushes against the Granite Coast, with silver mines located near the town of Kidderbach. In the north-east, it bounds North Calian. Its eastern border is the Takiwerk River, with all land on its other side being considered the Tersten City Farmland. The majority of West Calian's settlements were constructed during the Penal Era, with close ties to Harelstone, which lie to the west of Calian.Tersten City Farmlands
The Tersten City Farmlands provide the majority of food consumed by Tersten City and much of Calian. It is a large fertile plain located to the east of the TCMZ. Irrigated by freshwater trickling down from the Harnonstead Mountains, many farming communities have sprang up across the land, a large number of these sponsored by Tersten City directly, and connected to its rail network for rapid transport of goods. Its largest city is Hoodly, where produce is brought to be processed and then sent onwards to the capital. Its northern border is Vasham, while in the east it borders Courstend and Priceless. The Farmland's southern border is the Takiwerk River. Alongside Hoodly, major settlements in the region include London, Farrow, and Burrows, all of which are farming communities and rural type. These rural folk are similar to their Rancher cousins, but consider themselves to be posher, more refined, driving SUVs instead of a horse, and divided among farming corporations and big business as opposed to local communal run efforts.North Calian
North Calian is the least inhabited region of Calian, with its largest city being Little Xutong. It stretches from the Tersten City Metropolitan Zone up to the Harnonstead Mountains, with its most important geographic feature being the Wangjia Lake, the source of the Takiwerk River. It is home to a considerable number of Beiyan settlements, being the majority population around North Calian and Vasham. The Beiyan are the descendants of free individuals who moved to the planet following the establishment of the Penal Authority. Perhaps the most important thing to happen in North Calian in recent years is the arrival of the deposed Manoran Emperor Gros'tahai Kinugal. Following the collapse of his Manoran Empire into the Amara Confederation, he settled in the city of Ilana, in North Calian. From here, he lives out his retirement. There have been an unusually large number of Manoran loyalists arriving on Tersten in the past years, including the arrival of his neice, Kali'tal, the presumptuous heir-apparent to the throne. If the Kinugals seek to restore themselves to the throne, then the base of their operations lie firmly in North Calian.Harelstone
Harelstone Plains
The Harelstone Plains are located to the west of Tersten City. It is here that the first penal colonies were established, taking its name from the Harelstone Prisonestablished along the Tankai River. The land is a network of waterways and rivers flowing into Dowerbridge Vale. Historically, these were used to transport penal colonists from one prison to the next. But today, they are often home to repurposed barges and canal boats, painted vibrant colours and given new life. The countless canals and rivers connect to nearly every town in Harelstone, and are used daily. Much of the land was industrialised during the rule of the Tersten State, forcing any remaining cowboys south into Lawless. Now, the only thing that rides the land are the crisscrossing rail and road networks.Dowerbridge Vale
Western Rift
The Western Rift is the westernmost part of Tersten County. It contains the eastern half of the Samuel Moore Rift Valley, with its political border being defined by Pale Rob's River, which flows out from Lake Carver, which is located outside the valley, and down through the lowlands into Smith's Lake, and then further down into the Samaritan Sea, which makes up the regions south-western border. Further south, the Rift Valley begins as a series of small hills, but swiftly deepens into a sizable trench, with Pale Rob's River flowing into the valley via the White Wash Falls. Most people rely on boat transport to get around, though major highways pass through Smith and Overland on their way into the Federal Province of Mora. In the north, the town of Beaumont marks the northmost settlement, though the land is littered with abandoned villages and settlements established prior to the massive reorganisation of the land under the Tersten State. Much of this land is wooded, with only a few primary roads linking settlements.Adonasamar
Finatawa National Park
While not technically a geographic region in its own right, the Finatawa National Park is a small area to the west of Dowerbridge, and east of the Rift Valley. Finatawa is a volcanic plateau, sandwiched between Dowerbridge, Adonasamar, and the Western Rift. The area takes its name from the settlement of Finatawa, which is located roughly in the middle of the park. The Adona River flows out from Riggs Lake through the park, giving the eastern edges of the park its famous dips, bends, valleys, and forks. The mountainous western edge of the Finatawa National Park are popular climbing and hiking trails. Much of the land is home to an extremely diverse ecosystem, and an area of outstanding natural beauty. The Finata Volcano is considered dormant.Granite Coast
The Granite Coast is a region of North-Central Tersten that borders the North Tersten Ocean. The coast is a cold and frigid tundra, with few major settlements. What little development has taken place has been focused on mining efforts in the far north, including arctic oil drilling. The city of Harlotsville lies on the Derwent River as it makes its way into the North Tersten Ocean. Much of the land around the city is a former marshland, drained of water during the late 30s. The Derwent Estuary is a major shipping route, with the Harlotsville Seaport located within it. Beyond Harlotsville, the city of Northstream is a major industrial hub. In the west, the towns of Gnome, Whitchapel, and Mitchen are considered autonomous communes of the greater Harlotsville Commune, which controls the land west of the Derwent.Pinascimate Mountains
The Pinascimate Mountains run from the eastern edge of the Samaritan Sea, all the way westward to the border between Tersten County and Saralost. The mountains stretch in a roughly straight line east-to-west, with smaller passes and cuts through the mountains. Some of the most developed roads in the area take advantage of these mountain passes, and it is in these highly defendable places that many of the settlements in this area are located. The mountain range connects with Priceless Peak and its local area, though the eastern and western mountains are considered separate, divided by the Takiwerk River. Starting in the west, the Pinascimate Mountains begin to rise up out of the land several miles from the Samaritan Coast, around the region of Adonasamar. Much of the land around here is cool but humid, leading to the growth of vast fur and pine needles across the entire lengths of the mountain ranges, until the mountains grow too high for trees and gives way to alpine tundra. This pattern of rolling forests giving way to mountainous plains continues until the mountains open up into the first of several major passes through the mountain, known as the Limes Pass. The Limes is half-city, half-wall, originally constructed (and named) as an outpost and defensive wall preventing escaped penal colonists from escaping over the Pinascimate Mountains and south towards Nevada. As a defensive structure, The Limes were capable of preventing penal caravans and larger groups from crossing the mountains. However, following the end of the Pinascimate Penal Authority, its use as a defensive structure declined almost overnight. While the city portion of the Limes was maintained, many of the defences in the area were abandoned, leaving behind countless abandoned structures and ruins across the entire Limes Pass. The city was used during the Great Revolution against the People's Republic of Lordania, as a staging ground by the Tersten Resistance for funnelling manpower and resources into north Tersten. In the modern day, the city's loyalty during the Revolution has paid off, with it becoming an important transport link on the route between north and south Tersten. Continuing eastwards, the city of Calom has become the capital of Calomia, a hilly region south of Calian. It was settled as another important transport town, being close to the Treyan Gap, a pass smaller than the Limes, but a mostly smooth gradiant from one side to the other, allowing for the construction of roads and mountain villages, with this area being compared to the Italian-side of the Alps on Earth. The Takiwerk River Valley marks the dividing line beween the East-West Pinascimates and the North-South Pinascimates. The North-South Pinascimates are often referred to as the Priceless Peaks, and are considered a geographic region in their own right.Samaritan Isles
Cormack Islands
The Cormack Islands are the northernmost of the two islands, with its largest island, Veria, visible from the mainland on a clear day. The smaller island, Cáca, lies to the south of Veria. Cáca is the more inhabited of the two, with its largest city located on the south coast of the island, located within a warm and sunny inlet. The islands have a Mediterranean climate, and are inhabited by a mix of Pinasc, Morai, and Samarite Peoples.Kamick Islands
The Kamick Islands lie south of the Cormacks, and are vastly different in terrain and climate. The Kamicks are both mountainous islands, with the northern island home to moist sub-tropical plant and animal life. However, the southern island, Kamcak, is considered more arid, home to a small desert near its mountains. The largest settlement on the island is Kamicka, and is likewise home to a diverse group of peoples from Northern Tersten.Couvalia
Priceless
Priceless is a land known for its natural beauty, focused around the north-easterly Pinascimate Mountains. It is a land of river valleys, mountains, and rolling forests. The Takiwerk River Valley flows through the land, carving a steep canyon known as the Eleven Bend Canyon, as it contains eleven twisting bends. The final two of these bends have been converted into the Eleven Bend Reservoir, which powers the Priceless Dam. Before the construction of the dam in 40PC, many canyons and caves in the area were used as mining sites, before being abandoned and eventually submerged in the newly formed Eleven Bend Reservoir. Residents, who collect their local water from the reservoir, have expressed a serious concern of potential water contamination, as many of these abandoned mines were ran locally, and with insufficient safety procedures. However, government and independent surveys have claimed that the potential for contamination remains low. The tallest mountain in the Federal Province is located here, at Priceless Peak, giving the entire region its name. Around the base of the peaks lies Priceless Town. The Takiwerk River makes up the region's southern border, where it bounds the Pinascimate Mountains and the nation of Calomia. The rolling hills and forests of northern Priceless is home to the Courtsend Autonomous Republic, a densly populated state. Its largest city is Courtsend itself, established way back in the days of the Penal Colonies. It sits where the Courta River flows into the Kristan River, which itself marks the boundary between Priceless and Calian on its route into the Takiwerk. The Courtsend Pass lies to the east of the city, with the Crystal Cut marking a route between the mountains and into the Concórdia Hills. This region was first travelled by escaped penal colonists searching for a new home, with many of their journeys being documented at the Courtsend Museum of Trailblazers.
Concórdia Hills
The Concórdia Hills are located to the east of Priceless and Calian, lying beyond the Pinascimate Mountains. The Concórdia Hills are bound by Vasham and the Pinascimate Mountains to the west. In the south and east, the Barracuda River, Mount Ainsley, and the Ainsley River make up the region's land border with the North Tersten Confederacy. This land lies far from Tersten City, and is divided into two political entities, the Concórdia Republic and the Democratic Socialist Republic of Quincy. Both nations are nominally part of the Republic of Tersten, but in reality are building closer ties to the North Tersten Confederacy as a strong trading partner. It stretches as far as the Gulf of Arctica and the North Tersten Ocean, where it is bounded by the Vasham. The cities of Concórdia and Quincy are the most important cities in the region. However, many smaller towns exist throughout both nations. In Concórdia, these include, Miajilo, Añdejen, Córdoba, and Jana. In Quincy, the towns of Sartopal and Cacierco are major industrial hubs. In the far east, Beluga Point and Damsel make up the Federal Province of Tersten's westernmost border, lying on the Gulf of Arctica.Vasham
Governments
The Federal Province of Tersten is divided into six distinct polities. The majority of the province is controlled directly by the Republic of Tersten, with a Governor appointed to oversee the land. This is often the region that is referred to as Tersten County, for it contains the heartland of Calian, and extends as far as the Samuel Moore Rift Valley.Republic of Tersten
Harlotsville Commune
Democratic Socialist Republic of Quincy
Concórdia Repubic
Courtsend Autonmous Republic
Calomia
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