Ristshan

While the Dwarves of Argenduum know it by a different name, those who live in The Kingdom of Chal call their home continent by the name of Ristshan, and this name has stuck for those who trade with them from elsewhere.
Previously part of the empire of the Icemen along with the southern continent of Nalanosa, Ristshan's untamed forests, jungles, and hills have housed all of the mortal races since their infancy, and today its geography has allowed the expansion of Chal across the center of the continent from its southern coast to the tropical reaches of the north.

Geography

The southern edge of the continent is dominated by the Gulf of Kurstach, said to be shaped like a claw or horseshoe by those who have mapped it. The rivers that lead into this gulf make the surrounding area into a fertile grassland, with some forested portions. Rising up on the southwestern edge of the gulf and forming a range towards the northwest are the Dwarven Peaks, a mountain range that ensures rain for the region and blocks off the western edge from having access to the sea.
Wild and untamed hills and backwoods spread both to the east and far to the north, and while much of the western stretch has been replaced with roads, villages, and farmland, much of it remains for logging. The Eastern Frontier, less easily traversed by rivers to and from the gulf, is relatively untouched apart from the occasional Orcish settlement.
Distinctly in the southern hemisphere, the warmest part of Ristshan is the Rabnack Jungle that stretches across the north near the equator. Its dense undergrowth and indigenous life proves perhaps an even stronger border than the Dwarven Peaks, though it thins out towards the east due to the less reliable rainfall there.
As a whole, the continent takes on something akin to a triangular or heart shape, with the gulf forming a bottom point split in two. Apart from these features, there is a stretch of desert to the west of the peaks, but it has been rarely explored, holding little apparent strategic value.

Fauna & Flora

Goats and deer are common to the forests and mountains of Ristshan, where they have plenty of options for quickly fleeing and hiding. Smaller forest animals such as squirrels, badgers, foxes, and various birds also feature prominently. Of course, many of the more interesting denizens of both are those that can fly. Apart from colorful tropical birds, this includes some of the most imposing predators of the region.
Dominating the hills and mountains are griffons and hippogryffs, both eager to catch any prey caught out in the open, with the exceptions of the packs of wild bulls. These two species tend to be relegated to the mountain foothills, as the few rocs that still roost there consider them easy prey in turn, though their size makes them both disinterested and ill-fit to attack travelers on the dwarven roads themselves.
Caves in the hills are home to all manner of monsters, apart from serving as nests for the aforementioned flying predators. Despite being all but wiped out in the early days of Chal, some less civilized giants still roam the untamed areas of the land away from the eyes of man, and more grotesque beings roam the deeper caves, rarely seeing light.
Finally, the forests are home to more than just smaller life - bears roam the forests, especially where rivers cut through them, and all manner of Fey stalk the brush. Wolves, while not native to the continent, have become invasive in some areas as a consequence of Chal's bustling trade.
The jungles are even more dangerous. Apart from predatory cats, venomous snakes, and territorial gorillas, wyverns have been known to nest in the canopies. The full extent of other monsters is unknown, as simply traversing the undergrowth to explore deeper is a task that the civilized denizens of the continent are ill-equipped for.

Natural Resources

The expansion of the Kingdom of Chal comes as no surprise when one looks at the resources of the land. Cattle, sheep, and horses have been domesticated here, fish are available in the rivers and gulf, and wood is plentiful. Of course, the wanton use of wood is stalled by the presence of Fey, leaving many of the denser forests effectively unusable for this purpose.
Deposits of copper, silver, lead, and iron do exist in varying quantities in the hills of Ristshan, but they are largely untapped, with previous older mines standing abandoned and often monster-infested. As trade with Argenduum increased, many mining efforts by Chal proved too costly to maintain by comparison to dwarven labor, and threats within the caves only added to this.
Another versatile resource, especially along the coast, is the native giant crabs. In ages before metalworking, their light but sturdy shells were frequently used as armor plating by the native tribes. Today, they are still a valuable source of meat due to their size, as prey of a greater size are often more violent, less nutritious, or less easy to catch.

Alternative Name(s)

Havinlod

Type

Continent

Included Locations

• Eastern Frontier
• Kirphace Castle Town
• Port Kurstach

Included Organizations

• The Kingdom of Chal