Onera
Once the land of the Stone Kings, and the place where men first learned the arts of magic, the lands known collectively as Onera were once home to the oldest of human empires in Thamrysis.
Geography
The land known as Onera is separated primarily into two major regions; Al-Onera being the land north of the Tabalim river and Nur-Onera being the land south of the Tabalim river.
Al-Onera
Geologically, Al-Onera lies primarily on a deep sedimentary rock that gives way to harder crystalline outcroppings in the north, where higher elevations are found on the margins of the foothills of the Parthan Mountains. The Deshstepa (known widely as “The Great Oneran Plain”) plain gently rolls from south of the Tabalim, lying at ninety to 600 meters in elevation, north to the thick, deciduous forests in the Staphtus valley that lies below the Parthan Mountains. In Al-Onera, the most common trees are hornbeam, oak, linden, maple, wild pear, and wild cherry.Nur-Onera
The Deshstepa in the south has numerous ravines and gullies cut by small rivers and steams. To the east, the Kirchwen mountains break up the plain and lead to a low lying valley and lush swampy areas with tall willow trees and cypresses. The eastern side of the Kirchwen mountains is much more forested than the western side, and there are long sections of slow-moving river and creek that create the Lastina (a swamp similar to a bayou) along the banks of the Pruta River as it travels north to join the Tabalim.The Tabalim River
The largest river in all Onera has its headwaters far to the west in the Reiga peaks of The Maw that mark the border to Hyli, and flows eastward past the low lying Deshstepa before reaching the eastern sea in the Ghost Bay. Along the Tablim are many thickly forested plain regions with rich soil.Fauna & Flora
Flora
Al-Onera
In Al-Onera, the most common trees are hornbeam, oak, linden, maple, wild pear, and wild cherry. Great forests of oak cross the northern Deshstepa, where young oaks prevail, but some are trees aged 450-500 years old. In the deepest parts of the wilderness, there are trees from the time of the Oneran Empire that still stand. The open fields and meadows are full of thick and close grasses: Lady's Bedstraw, White Bloodroot, and Hairy Lungwort. There are many grass plants in these forests, and there are many ivies growing on the forest floors or embracing tree trunks. This is in direct contrast to Nur-Onera, where ivies do not grow naturally.Nur-Onera
In Nur-Onera forest tree populations include Silver Linden, Elm, Sycamore, Maple, Dogwood, Bladder Nut, Sheep Berry and Wild Pear, as well as oak and hornbeam. Loranth (an edible plant named also the Wood Garlic or Bear Garlic) grows in great amounts in Nur Oneran woods, but nowhere in Al-Onera.The Tabalim
Floodplain vegetation of the banks of the Tablaim include Oneran saltbush, as well as abundant meadows and some reed swamps. The small berries of the Oneran saltbush vary when ripe between purple, pink, ruby red and sometimes golden yellow or orange, and have soft flesh and a hard seed was eaten, texturally similar to pomegranate. They taste meekly of fish. In high places, which are rarely flooded, there are great forests consisting of long-limbed oaks. The oak-groves located in the floodplains are likely the oldest oak-grove in Onera. There are also great stretches of old black Poplar as the tabalim flows towards Timberland in the west.Fauna
The forests and steppes of Moldova are inhabited by deer, bison, aurochs, roe deer, wild boar, wild ass, cave and brown bears and other large animal species who have been hunted since the time of the early men. Much of Nur-Onera is famous for its rich hunting grounds. Brown hare is found throughout the region, as well as many rodents such as squirrels, rats, and mice. Predatory species include wolf, badger, martens, weasel, ermine, and ferrets. Fox are numerous and live in many forests, as well as in open areas, and are a reliable furrier's prey. Very few wildcats inhabit the region, but the Oneran tiger (a sleek, black pelted predatory cat) can be found in wetlands of the south east. The most populous birds are the lark, jay, blackbird and song thrush. Hawks (especially sparrow hawks) are the primary harrier bird. The Oneran owl permanently lives in forests, and is one of the largest owl in Thamrysis. The Oneran Owl is known for its beautiful plumage and is known as "the King of Night." Perhaps the richest avifauna is found in floodplains, including Geese, Mallards, Spoonbills, Widgeons, Heron, and Marsh hawks. White-tailed Eagle inhabit the floodplain forests, though it is very rare.Natural Resources
Much of Onera is covered by a soil type called chernozem, a fertile black soil rich in humus, with a lighter lime-rich layer beneath. In the highlands, more clay textured soils are found, and the clay from these regions is prized for its use in ceramics. In the driest portions of steppe, red-earth soil is predominant. The soil becomes less fertile in the central regions of the plain, but can still support grape, wheat, barley, tobacco, beet, and sunflower production. The uplands have woodland soils, and the area along the rivers of central Onera has extensive and well-developed vineyards concentrated on the production of dark, red wines.
Other natural resources include coal, found in the mountains in the southern part of the region, phosphorite and gypsum, iron and in the northern mountains a quantity of jade awaits anyone who can mine it. The gypsum of Onera is an opaque white, soft and prized for it's ease in carving.
Alternative Name(s)
The Haunted Land
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